The Inter-Mountain photo by Taylor McKinnie Interact Children’s Museum officials signed a lease for the Dann Building on the corner of Davis Avenue and Third Street in Elkins Tuesday morning. From left are Carol Schuler; Elkins-Randolph County Chamber of Commerce Director of Educational Programming Lisa Messinger Woods; Interact Children’s Museum Board member and Chamber Executive Director Karrah Washington; Elkins Mayor Jerry Marco; Museum Board President Lisa Hammond Martin; Museum Board Vice President Sydney West; Museum Board member Bre George; CPA Kristie Vandevander; state Senator Robbie Morris; and Museum Board Treasurer Michael Hayes.

ELKINS — The Interact Children’s Museum has found a “new home” in the historic Dann Building in downtown Elkins, and officials say it is expected to open its doors early 2026.

On Tuesday, the ICM Board of Directors signed a two-year lease with Seneca Mall LLC for use of the Dann Building on the corner of Davis Avenue and Third Street.

The location will “serve as the new home of Interact and give families from throughout the region a play to visit and enjoy,” an ICM release announcing the move stated. Since 2019, the Interact Children’s Museum has operated as a mobile museum.

“This is an exciting day for the board, volunteers and our supporters,” President of the Interact Children’s Museum board Lisa Hammond Martin said in the release. “We have been working to find a home for a long time. Everyone seems to really enjoy our mobile events. In fact, in the past year, we have participated in about 20 events at schools and in the community. But having this downtown location is a great step forward for how we can serve area children and families, including those outside Randolph County.”

The ICM’s goal is to have the space ready for the public by February 2026. The owners of the Dann Building, the release states, will be renovating the space before ICM volunteers move-in to “paint and create a unique place for children to play, learn and create.”

In June, the ICM had reached 60% of its Phase One goal towards purchasing the Clubhouse at Colonial Estates off of Lough Lane as a permanent location. After signing the lease on the Dann Building on Tuesday, Martin explained that while they still have plans to have a permanent location, the ICM wanted to have something for the interim.

“We started saying, ‘You know, maybe it makes more sense for us to do something in the interim to make sure this is going to work out, to get more visibility,'” Martin told The Inter-Mountain. “(The Dann Building) was offered to us by Seneca Mall LLC and we said, ‘Wow. This makes so much sense.’ It makes a lot of sense for right now.”

Martin explained that the future is uncertain after the two-year lease is up at the Dann Building, but if the Clubhouse at Colonial Estates is still available, it might be a good solution.

“We’re just really open to possibilities,” Martin said. “Honestly, (the Dann Building) is a smaller space than what (the Clubhouse) is, but we can get into it for less money and open the doors, which is what the whole point has been.”

Mobile events are also still in the works this fall for the ICM, the release states. On Sept. 19, football fans are invited to tailgate with the ICM from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. prior to the Elkins High School Homecoming game against Buckhannon-Upshur High School.

On Sept. 28, the ICM will be hosting a hands-on event following the Mountain State Forest Festival Children’s Parade, as well as on Kids Day in the Park on Oct. 2.

“We greatly appreciate everyone who has contributed to our Open the Door campaign,” Martin said in the release. “Because of you, we’re doing it! Our new home will be very visible to the community and available for families and visitors to Elkins.

“We want to create something truly amazing now and hope to keep growing in the future, so with your help we will continue our fundraising efforts. We are here to make a difference for children and you help make that possible. We look forward to welcoming everyone to the Dann Building this winter.”

To volunteer or contribute to the Interact Children’s Museum, contact Martin at interactmuseum@gmail.com and visit online at www.interactchildrensmuseum.org.