The acclaimed PBS KIDS® series produced by GBH Kids, MOLLY OF DENALI®, is brought to life when SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS’ newest cultural exhibit, Molly of Denali: An Alaskan Adventure, opens to the public on MAY 27, 2023.
Set in the fictitious rural Alaskan village of Qyah, the show follows the adventures of Molly Mabray, her family, friends, and dog Suki and is infused with Alaska Native values, history, traditions and language.
“We are very excited to present the Molly of Denali exhibition at the Springfield Museums this summer,” said Kay Simpson, President & CEO of the Springfield Museums. “Not only is this family-friendly exhibition fun, interactive and educational, but it also supports our strong commitment to updating our exhibitions and programs with authentic stories about Native peoples.”
The exhibit showcases Alaska and Molly’s life in both the summer and winter seasons. Visitors can pretend to fly a replica bush plane, drive a snowmobile and navigate a snow maze in snowshoes. The center of the exhibit features the Trading Post and the Tribal Hall from the series where guests will have the opportunity to explore the great outdoors of Alaska and Alaska Native life including camping, ice fishing, discovering replica ice sculptures and caring for sled dogs.
“It’s so important for children and their families to learn about different ways of life all over the world,” said Jenny Powers, Director of the Science Museum at the Springfield Museums. “This is a wonderful opportunity for families in our region to explore what life is like in another part of the United States, and to learn more about Indigenous culture. We hope that children will connect with Molly and that this exhibit will inspire them to want to learn more!”
Reflecting the series’ educational focus on introducing Informational Text (IT) curriculum to young learners, technology is integrated throughout the exhibit, including opportunities for visitors to be part of Molly’s vlog, games, and other hand-on activities and apps available on the PBS KIDS® website. Visitors will explore Alaska Native cultures with interactive learning opportunities at the Tribal Hall and the Trading Post will feature Alaska’s geography, unique activities and native animals.
Molly of Denali: An Alaskan Adventure is a nationally traveling exhibit created by The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum in collaboration with GBH Kids and a team of Alaska Native advisors.
The exhibit is scheduled to open to the public on MAY 27, 2023 and will remain at the SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS through SEPT. 3, 2023. Molly of Denali: An Alaskan Adventure is included with admission to the Museum.
About The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum
The Magic House is a not-for-profit participatory museum that provides hands-on learning experiences that spark imagination, pique curiosity, enhance creativity and develop problem-solving skills within a place of beauty, wonder, joy and magic. Serving more than 550,000 visitors annually, The Magic House opened in 1979 and has 55,000 square feet of hands-on exhibits. In 2019, the Museum opened an all-new satellite makerspace in the City of St. Louis on Delmar Boulevard, located between the Central West End and the Delmar Loop. For additional information, please call or text 314.822.8900 or visit The Magic House online at www.magichouse.org.
About MOLLY OF DENALI®
MOLLY OF DENALI is produced by GBH and its animation partner, Atomic Cartoons. MOLLY OF DENALI involves Alaska Native voices in all aspects of the production, both on screen and behind the scenes. Every Indigenous character is voiced by an Indigenous actor, including Molly, voiced by Alaska Native actress Sovereign Bill (Tlingit and Muckleshoot).
Support for MOLLY OF DENALI is provided by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, the GBH Kids Catalyst Fund, and by public television viewers. Corporate funding is provided by Target.
Alaska Native collaborators: Wilson Justin, Lorraine David, Rochelle Adams, Dewey Kk’oleyo Hoffman, and Princess Johnson. Language Advisors: Allan Hayton, Aassanaaq Kairaiuak, Joel Isaak, Lance X’unei Twitchell, Lorraine David, and Marjorie Tahbone. Informational text advisor: Nell K. Duke.
About GBH Kids
GBH Kids is one of the top producers for public media, creating educational content for kids, parents, caregivers and teachers, including iconic PBS KIDS programs such as the award-winning ARTHUR and MOLLY OF DENALI, digital series such as SCRIBBLES AND INK, games, apps and podcasts. GBH Kids, based in Boston, also works closely with PBS LearningMedia, providing digital curricula for more than 2 million teachers across all 50 states. GBH Kids is committed to equity and access to educational media and the healthy development of all children. As the inventor of closed captioning and audio description, GBH is dedicated to making media accessible and inclusive. Find more information at gbh.org/kids.