Pretend City Sparks Curiosity With New Electricity Exhibit
Pretend City, which opened in Irvine in 2009, is a 28,000-square-foot interactive children's museum designed as a miniature city. The museum’s latest exhibit will introduce children to electricity and electrical safety.
Photo credit Taylor Hillo
Pretend City Children's Museum in Irvine is igniting curiosity among its young visitors. The museum has opened a new interactive exhibit designed to educate children about electricity and electrical safety through hands-on play.
The exhibit, developed with support from Southern California Edison, allows children to role-play as utility workers, drive a child-sized SCE truck, and complete missions that explore how energy works.
"Introducing children to big ideas, like how energy works, helps build confidence and curiosity that can last a lifetime," said Gabriela Ornelas, a spokesperson for Southern California Edison. "Our hope is that through Pretend City's new energy exploration experience, children will learn about electricity, teamwork and problem-solving in fun, accessible and meaningful ways."
The exhibit was created with the help of a $25,000 grant from Edison International. Pretend City says the exhibit is meant to make a concept children encounter every day feel tangible and understandable.
"We want children to understand that electricity is all around them and part of their everyday lives," said Ellen Pais, Chief Executive Officer of Pretend City. "Through play, and through conversations with their adults, they can start to see how things work while also building confidence and curiosity."
Cynthia Quimby's 9-year-old daughter dresses up in SCE personal protective equipment at Pretend City Children's Museum. The museum also features kid-sized versions of everyday places such as a grocery store, library, police station and fire station. The surroundings allow children up to age 8 to explore real-world roles through imaginative play.
Photo credit Taylor Hillo
That goal of making big concepts feel accessible also drove the decision to focus specifically on electricity and safety. "Electricity is an essential part of how our communities function," Pais said. "We wanted to create a space where children can experience these concepts in a hands-on and age-appropriate way. It also helps us introduce safety in a way that feels approachable and makes sense for young children."
Early response from visitors has been encouraging. "The response has been very positive," Pais said. "Children are connecting the dots between what they experience here and what they see in their everyday lives."
One moment in particular stood out to staff when a child who had recently lived through a power outage wanted to jump in and help restore power. "Moments like that show us the exhibit is not only engaging, but helping children make real-world connections," Pais said.
The Edison International Foundation awarded Pretend City with an additional $25,000 grant to help fund field trips for students from low-income and Title I schools. The grant will expand access to Pretend City's educational programs.
Since opening, Pretend City has welcomed more than 2.6 million visitors. The museum is also planning a major expansion, with a 72,000-square-foot facility currently under construction. The new location in the Great Park is expected to open in early 2028.