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New Children’s Museum Coming to Downtown Hillsboro Will Make You “FLIP”

Downtown Hillsboro will be the new home of a hands-on interactive children’s museum starting in 2025. The FLIP Museum is preparing to open inside the Terrace Plaza Building on 3rd Avenue.  

FLIP Mobile MuseumThe FLIP Museum currently functions as a mobile museum, primarily throughout Washington County, and will be geared toward children ages 0 to 10 — with all ages welcome.  

“Over the past two years, The FLIP Mobile Museum has been really well received by the community in Hillsboro,” said Jack Graham, founder of The FLIP Museum. “We’ve been working with the Hillsboro School District and cultural arts organizations, and we are excited to expand those partnerships with an indoor museum.” 

Exhibits at The FLIP Museum will include a variety of experience-based play in art, STEM, and cultural experiences. 

Curated play activities will be both fun and designed to help build community and connections. Children can experiment while gaining confidence, social/emotional skills, and development through play.  

Connection to Community 

 

Flip logo

The FLIP Museum was founded in 2021 by a group of parents and child advocates who were determined to fill the gap left by the closure of the Portland Children’s Museum. Since that time, they have been creating accessible, inclusive pop-up spaces for children and families throughout Washington County. 

The name FLIP has two unique origins: it's the nickname of Graham’s daughter, and it’s an acronym for the organization’s core values: Fun, Learning, Inspiration, and Play! 

The FLIP Museum will attract youth and families, creative professionals, visitors, and a diverse range of talent to Hillsboro, enhancing the city’s cultural and economic vitality. The FLIP Museum has over 30 community partners, strong support from families across the region, and a history of collaboration and impact in Hillsboro.  

The location in Downtown — and the Cultural Arts District — supports FLIP's goals to provide interactive exhibits, opportunities for artists, and community programming that reflects the diverse needs and interest of families in Hillsboro.  

The FLIP Museum plans to continue to run its mobile children’s museum along with the new permanent location. 

“It’s really important to us to be able to reach children and families where they are,” Graham said. “We want to ensure that every child has an opportunity to engage in this type of play. It needs to be accessible to everyone.” 

In addition, The FLIP Museum accomplishes one of the Hillsboro 2035 Community Plan’s initiatives to have a full-service children’s museum as a destination attraction.  

The new, permanent location will continue the museum’s ongoing partnership with local nonprofit organizations and schools. The FLIP Museum will integrate arts and culture into immersive experiences that celebrate diverse traditions, cultural events, and community exhibits and art geared toward celebrating the diversity our community throughout the year.  

Request for Proposals  

In August 2024, the City of Hillsboro put out a request for proposal for the sublease of the 7,000+ square feet of storefront of the Terrace Plaza Building located on 3rd Avenue in Downtown Hillsboro.  

The City’s request for proposal saw several strong applications, with each applicant proposing unique benefits to Hillsboro’s quality of life and community-driven goals. 

The FLIP Museum’s proposal stood out for its: 

  • opportunities for impact 

  • commitment to inclusion and equity 

  • strong business plan 

  • opportunities for professional and youth artists 

  • opportunities for cultural tourism 

  • connection to community-driven City plans  

“FLIP will draw thousands of visitors of all ages to Downtown," said Bridie Harrington, Cultural Arts District Manager for the City of Hillsboro. "Visitors will have meaningful creative and learning experiences, and have the opportunity to explore local restaurants, coffee shops, stores, galleries, theatres, and parks. We’re thrilled for them to grow strong roots in Hillsboro.” 

Another Downtown Destination 

While The FLIP Museum will cater to Hillsboro community members, the space will be accessible to people from all over the region and is expected to welcome more than 40,000 visitors a year.  

“The idea of an accessible children’s museum started out as a seed, an idea,” said Melissa Hong, Executive Director of The FLIP Museum. “Over the past two years, we’ve been watering the seed through strong partnerships with Washington County, nonprofit organizations, and the Hillsboro School District. Now, with the support of the City of Hillsboro, we’re seeing the idea sprout into a permanent museum.”   

In the coming months, The FLIP Museum will renovate the space, seek out volunteers, and launch a fundraising campaign to support its educational work. 

“Ultimately, we want to grow a garden, and have children’s museums across the Metro area,” Graham said. “Hillsboro is helping us bloom.”  

The sub-lease of the Terrace Plaza Building is pending approval from the City of Hillsboro Finance Committee and City Council.  

Learn more about The FLIP Museum on its website. 

 

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