SHORT ANSWERS to Marta Lourenco's questions
1) How long did it exist?
It was replaced sometime in the early 1990's by two other galleries
oriented for young audiences.  You could probably find accurate dates for
when it opened and closed by inquiring at the Science Museum Library in
London.
FAX 01-938-8118.  The Documentation Centre of the Science Museum might also
be helpful (can email to [log in to unmask])

2) Why did it close?
Apparently for the usual reasons - the exhibits were broken beyond repair,
getting worn out, and/or very dated; new plans were made and carried out
for expanded galleries for younger visitors which replaced the old
Children's Gallery.  The official sources noted above should also be able
to give more information.

LONG ANSWER AND OTHER REMARKS:
The old Children's Gallery was one of the most beloved exhibitions of the
National Science Museum.  It was decades ahead of it's time in being an
area designed specifically for children in an otherwise "adult"-oriented
museum.   It was also prescient in emphasizing interactive style exhibits
for young audiences.  The Children's Gallery  was highly influential for
Frank Oppenheimer in his vision for the exhibit style of the Exploratorium.


The Children's Gallery area gradually shrank as other gallery areas in the
basement were redone.  I saw the Children's Gallery in 1991 but many of the
exhibits that British friends told me were their childhood favorites were
not there anymore.  When I next visited the Science Museum in 1995 they
were rebuilding a very large area in the basement including the Children's
Gallery.  This was part of a large 3 year long refurbishment &
redevelopment of the basement galleries carried out under the direction of
Gillian Thomas, formerly of Eureka! in Halifax, now at the Bristol 2000
Millennium project.

These new basement galleries opened in late 1995 or early 1996 as "Things"
for children 7-11 years old; "The Garden", a gallery for children 3 - 6
years old; and "The Secret Life of the Home", a redesign of the old
Domestic Appliances gallery.  There are spiral wire bound catalogues for
"The Garden" and "Things" that include a description of exhibits but also
excellent writing about other activities to try at home or school and
remarks about how to help children learn about science style topics.
 You can order a catalogue of Science Museum publications - FAX 44-(0)
171-938-8213, or just order these books only.
 You can also order these specific books by major credit card (they ship
worldwide) 44 (0) 171 938 8255 at the Dillons-run Science Museum Store.


Claire Pillsbury