A New Adventure Awaits at Dover’s Children’s Museum

Planning a family day in Dover? There’s a new reason to grab your socks and head to the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire.

The museum’s newest exhibit, a 30-foot rainbow-hued Climber, invites children to explore a towering collection of colorful platforms. Created especially for the museum by Luckey Climbers, the structure features molded plastic platforms surrounded by vinyl-coated cable netting, giving kids a space to choose their route, challenge themselves and see the museum from a different perspective.

At the October 1 unveiling, Museum President Jane Bard shared that Dover is now home to one of approximately 250 Luckey Climbers worldwide, calling the exhibit a “landmark destination for families.”

Sweeping, petal-like platforms glow in shades of blue, green, pink and purple, creating a canopy of color that stretches toward the museum’s rafters. Integrated LED lights give the Climber a changing palette, from cool ocean hues to a bright rainbow. Bard noted that the colors can even be adjusted for different occasions, adding another playful touch to this blend of art, architecture and adventure.

Museum President Jane Bard speaks to the crowd during the recent unveiling of the new Climber exhibit.

For Melissa Launder, Membership & Business Programs Manager at the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce, the appeal was immediate.

“My first thought when I saw the climber was ‘I want to climb this!’” said Launder, who attended the unveiling.

She watched eager children explore at their own pace, with adventurous climbers heading to the top and more hesitant children finding room to try just a step or two.

The unveiling welcomed community members and supporters who helped bring the project to life. Contributions from local businesses and donors made this ambitious addition possible, showing what community support can create for Dover’s families and visitors. Adults may get their turn, too. Bard shared that special adult-only events, known as Grown-Up Play Dates, will offer opportunities for grown-ups to experience the Climber themselves.

Launder also sees the new exhibit as a draw for the wider community.

“Given there are so few climbers in this region, having one in Dover makes the Children's Museum of NH even more of a destination than it already was,” she said.

For visiting families, it’s another reason to make a day of Dover with time for lunch, a treat or a stroll through downtown’s local shops.