Fort Bend Children's Discovery Center

198 Kempner St.
Sugar Land, TX 77498

Details

Overview
Opened on May 28, 2016, the Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center (FBCDC) is a special project of the nationally acclaimed Children’s Museum of Houston (CMH). Located in the historic Imperial Sugar Char House, FBCDC was established to expand access to high-quality educational and cultural experiences for families in Fort Bend County—offering hands-on learning in science, math, literacy, health, and the arts.

FBCDC is a satellite location of CMH, which has been consistently recognized as one of the top children’s museums in the country. The Discovery Center brings CMH’s proven programming and award-winning approach closer to families in Sugar Land and surrounding areas.

Background & Community Demand

• In 2006, a group of Fort Bend County residents asked the Children’s Museum of Houston to consider establishing a satellite location in Sugar Land.
• In response, CMH conducted pilot programs in temporary retail spaces at Sugar Land Town Square during the summers of 2007 and 2008.
• These six-week Discovery Center “pop-ups” were highly successful and demonstrated strong community interest and support for a permanent location.

Funding & Support

• The vast majority of funding to launch the Discovery Center came directly from Fort Bend County community contributions, according to public remarks at the November 1, 2016 Sugar Land City Council meeting.
• The project was supported by private donors, local foundations, and corporate partners invested in expanding educational resources in the region.

Why It Matters
The Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center fills a critical gap in cultural and educational offerings for young learners in the region. As a partner of one of the top-ranked children’s museums in the nation, FBCDC brings world-class experiences to Sugar Land—supporting lifelong learning, family engagement, and community pride in one of the area’s most historically significant spaces.