THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, September 22, 1995             TAG: 9509220025
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A14  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   31 lines

``CHILDREN'S MUSEUM IS A TREASURE''

Portsmouth's Children's Museum is a treasure! Its developers and Portsmouth are to be congratulated.

I visited the museum twice this summer with my 10-year-old niece. Both of us were delighted with the museum. The bubble room is my favorite exhibit; the rock climb is my niece's.

The Children's Museum staff is courteous, patient and knowledgeable. Their answers to questions enhance the museum's pleasures for children and adults.

The $3 admission makes the museum an entertainment bargain. A child and an adult cannot passively watch a movie as inexpensively as they can actively play and learn at the museum. At most family-entertainment attractions, children are tempted by sales of expensive snacks. At the Children's Museum, they are tempted only to explore and play.

I find the lack of media attention to the museum curious.

In any case, my hat's off to the Children's Museum and to Portsmouth for supporting it.

JULIA P. WILLIAMS

Virginia Beach, Sept. 13, 1995 by CNB