J. Willar​d Whitson
Wednesday, February 25, 2026 11:10 am

"KidSenses Children's Museum is proud to announce that USA Today conducted a national poll to determine the best children's museums in the country to visit with your family, and we're in the top ten. We ranked number eight among the hundreds of candidates. I think this is especially remarkable, since many of the other institutions are ten or twenty times the size of our museum and are located in large metropolitan areas", said Willard Whitson, KidSenses Executive Director.

Mr. Whitson believes that a large part of this success is attributable to the museum's extraordinary staff, each of whom works to ensure that every visit is memorable, meaningful, and above all - fun! He went on to say, "Play is the work of childhood. Learning through play is essential for the healthy development of all children.

We currently engage primarily families with children from infants to age ten, and when we open The FACTORY (the museum's new teen learning center), we will provide vital enrichment for children of all ages."

KidSenses Board Member, Caroline Edwards said, "This recognition by USA Today is a testament to the dedication of our staff to Rutherford County and the entire region. We are a vital resource for our children and soon to our teens!" And Board Member David Cameron noted the significant economic impact we've had on this community since opening over two decades ago, and also that, visits to KidSenses benefits all family members.

KidSenses Children's Interactive Museum is located at 172 N. Main Street in Historic Downtown Rutherfordton. For information about the museum and the FACTORY expansion, visit www.kidsenses.org or www.factorymuseum.org.