A Decade of Play: Celebrating 10 Years of Itty Bitty Magic City

This summer, Birmingham’s littlest learners—and the grownups who love them—are invited to join the Not‑So‑Itty‑Bitty Birthday Party on Saturday, August 2, 2025, from 10 AM to 5 PM at McWane Science Center. What began a decade ago as a bold early‑childhood play space has become a beloved cornerstone of discovery, and now it’s time to celebrate!

From Early Dreams to Big Impact

• May 2015 marked the grand opening of Itty Bitty Magic City, a 10,000‑square‑foot exhibit designed just for children ages newborn to kindergarten. It recreated an entire miniature city—complete with a farm, fire station, diner, veter­inary clinic, garage, grocery market, tot spot, water‑play area, and a climbing structure—to inspire learning through play.
• Built through a five‑year planning effort and funded via a $5 million capital investment—backed by public/private partnerships including the City of Birmingham—this was McWane Science Center’s largest expansion to date.
• In its first year alone, Itty Bitty Magic City welcomed over 300,000 visitors, offering more than 1,100 programs geared toward early childhood engagement.

Why It Matters: Ten Years of Wonder

Over the past ten years, Itty Bitty Magic City has:

• Engaged thousands of young minds with the power of creative, hands-on play at just the right developmental stage
• Reinforced McWane’s mission “to spark wonder and curiosity about our world through hands-on science experiences” by making early STEM learning accessible and playful
• Embedded itself in Birmingham’s cultural fabric, sparking imagination in families across the region and fueling early childhood education outreach efforts

“Itty Bitty Magic City ensures that our youngest visitors have access to the most relevant, stimulating, and educational experiences possible,” says Kayley Cook, Director of Museum Engagement at McWane Science Center. “As the fields of STEM continue to evolve, so too must the environments we create for children to explore them.”

10 Fun Facts for 10 Years of Itty Bitty Magic City

Even frequent visitors may have missed some of these fun details hiding in plain sight:

1. There are over 430 props throughout the exhibit—including plush animals, wooden trains, and tiny market food. Two full sets are rotated weekly!
2. The floor under the climbing structure glows! It’s called Starlight Hollow, and it lights up when kids move across it.
3. The Tinker Shop, launched in 2022, quickly became a favorite, drawing 175–200 participants each month.
4. There are hidden artist signatures in the murals—Easter eggs from the original graphic design team.
5. A cozy Nursing Room, added in 2024, celebrates its first birthday this September.
6. The IBMC Farm is home to a barn owl, and the tree next to the Itty Bitty house hides more tiny creatures.
7. The mail is real! It’s addressed to exhibits like the Firehouse, Garage, and Pet Vet.
8. The train table is one of a kind, handcrafted in-house by McWane’s Exhibits team.
9. STEM Facilitators host Tiny Tot Trivia throughout the day—winners get their very own Itty Bitty sticker.
10. In October, the IBMC Farm planter gets transformed into a pumpkin patch.

Join the Celebration!

Whether you’re a Birmingham local or visiting from afar, August 2, 2025 is your chance to celebrate ten years of magical learning. Bring your little ones, revisit favorite exhibits, and try the special birthday programming that day. Admission to all activities is included with general museum entry.

👉 For all details, see McWane’s official event page and our feature article on Bham Now.

Here’s to ten years of nurturing curious minds in Birmingham!