After the Portland Children's Museum closed in 2021, the Portland Metro Area became the only metro area without a children's museum. It was a perfect storm of factors related to the COVID pandemic. However, the need for a children's museum in the community never went away.

The FLIP Museum was formed in September 2021 to fill the void and reimagine what a children's museum could be for our diverse region. How could one museum serve the children across such a large geographic area? The answer was to start with a mobile museum, visiting children and families where they were. Through the generous support of many passionate community members, FLIP launched its mobile food cart / play kitchen in April 2022. One year later, Washington County HHS provided substantial funding to allow FLIP to hire staff and begin serving schools, family shelters, and community events full-time. Later that year, FLIP began exhibit installations in community centers and libraries, adding more play to spaces where families gather.

While the mobile museum and exhibit installations have allowed FLIP to prioritize equity and serving a wide geographic area, they were never intended to replace a brick-and-mortar museum. So, through the support of the City of Hillsboro and Hillsboro Parks and Recreation, FLIP opened its first location in downtown Hillsboro on Dec. 18th, 2024. While the space is small, FLIP has packed the space with a wide range of exhibits designed to encourage play and hands-on learning in children up to age 10, at least. There are also rotating crafts and activities, often highlighting the diverse cultures that make up our community.

While FLIP has accomplished a lot in just 4 years, there is a lot more we want to do. As we look to expand our mobile outreach and open a large museum in Portland, we want to ensure the Hillsboro location continues to thrive and offer new exhibits and programs. These days, nonprofits need financial support from the community more than ever. Please consider supporting FLIP as a part of your year-end giving, this year and every year.

FLIP's 2nd Annual Family-Friendly Fundraiser and Auction

at Oak Knoll Winery