POTSDAM — The North Country Children’s Museum’s second-floor expansion, partially funded by the village’s 2019 Downtown Revitalization Initiative award, is now open.

This $3.8 million project is a brand-new space and features six interactive exhibits designed for children ages 12 and younger. The museum on Raymond Street originally opened in 2018.

“Opening the second floor is a milestone that reflects seven years of vision, collaboration, and persistence,” North Country Children’s Museum Executive Director Sharon V. Williams said in a statement. “What began as an ambitious idea has become a vibrant new space where children and families can learn, create, and connect. We are deeply grateful to our partners, supporters, and community who believed in this project from the beginning and helped bring it to life for the children of the North Country.”

The Music and Sound Lab is all about seeing sound and making music. It shows the inner workings of a piano with a specially designed, entirely see-through “clear piano.” Voices become ripples in sand as a Chladni plate creates a visual representation of sound waves. A Theremin, a unique instrument invented by a Russian physicist, invites kids to make music with a wave of their hands. A visual experience with sound and music, this exhibit also features a Mohawk Sound Wall with replicas of three different Mohawk rattles and a water drum.

The Peek-A-Boo Corner is a quiet enclosed infant play area offering a space for tummy time, baby play, or nursing. With windows that look out onto the second floor of the museum, the area allows parents to keep an eye on older children while giving their infants and babies a place to rest, play, and explore.

The Physics Trail shows kids how clouds are created as water vapor collects at the indoor cloud maker and launch a powerful puff of air with the kid-powered air cannon. A giant bug-eye lens offers a new look at light and color, giving kids a chance to see their world through the eyes of an insect. The filaments of a hands-on Plasma Ball dance as they respond to touch and sound.

Addie’s Opera House gives kids an all-access, hands-on experience of the inner workings of a theater house. Run the light board, manage the ticket booth, or get wrapped up in the excitement of the backstage dressing room. This kid-sized opera house invites young thespians into dramatic play both on and off the stage.

The Amish House is a Swartzentruber-style home was handmade by local Amish builders to reflect their way of life. A two-story playhouse with a porch and garden, this replica of an Amish home allows kids to experience the day-to-day life of an Amish family. It includes a pump sink, cook and heat stoves, baby bed, and clothesline.

The Maple Forest Climber is a forest-themed climbing structure with a central climbing column that leads to a rooftop lookout. Kids can explore the pulley-powered sit-and-lift seat and floor-level climbers or use their strength to reach the top of the town.

The project received numerous grants for its expansion, including $1.4 million from the state DRI, $200,000 from New York State Homes and Community Renewal’s New York Main Street Program, $155,200 from Empire State Development’s Regional Council Capital Fund, and $141,000 from the New York State Council on the Arts. The museum also recently received a $49,500 grant from NYSCA for more access to arts and cultural programs.

Empire State Development previously supported the establishment of the museum with a $120,000 RCCF grant in 2016 for the purchase and renovation of the museum’s building and establishment of a permanent cultural space.