HIGH POINT, N.C., April 28, 2022 – High Point University President Dr. Nido Qubein and HPU First Lady Mariana Qubein were honored during a special event at the children’s museum they made possible, along with tremendous support from many local families.

The Nido and Mariana Qubein Children’s Museum officially opens its doors to the public on Saturday. Tonight, city leaders and benefactors enjoyed a first look at the ultramodern, 75,000-square-foot facility.

Qubein welcomed a crowd of city leaders, community members and families who supported more than a dozen exhibits inside the museum and thanked each of them for their contributions. Before he and HPU First Lady Mariana Qubein, along with the museum’s Executive Director Megan Ward, Board Chair Barry Kitley and High Point Mayor Jay Wagner officially cut the museum’s grand opening ribbon, Qubein also thanked God.

There is nothing that ever happens if God doesn’t bless it,” Qubein told the crowd. “It is the grace of God that has allowed this city to be transformed the way it has. The way we transformed High Point University would not have happened if it weren’t for God almighty. This is why we say at High Point University, we’re a God, family and country school, and why as soon as you walk into the museum you see the words, ‘God Bless America.’”

City Councilman Chris Williams addressed the crowd and thanked the Qubein family and benefactors in attendance for bringing the vision to build a more holistic, vibrant city to fruition. Williams recalled when Qubein first delivered a community speech in 2017, where Qubein challenged local leaders with these questions: “What if there was a baseball stadium in High Point? What if there was a children’s museum in High Point?”

“I’ve stood in awe in three areas of the city in the past five years,” said Williams. “I stood in awe in the middle of the [Truist Point] baseball stadium, and said, ‘I can’t believe this.’ Then I stood in awe at the Qubein Arena and said, ‘I can’t believe this.’ Now I’m standing in awe at the Qubein Children’s Museum and can’t believe this. I love that what Dr. Qubein and HPU do is always beyond success – it’s significance. Success is when you assume opportunity for your benefit. But when you create significance, it’s for someone else. And what they’ve done here for families is create significance.”

The Qubein Children’s Museum is designed to foster learning and serve as a family-friendly attraction in downtown High Point. It features more than a dozen large exhibits, each filled with many hands-on experiences and learning activities.

There are many experiences unique to this museum, including:

A Furniture Design studio that celebrates the city of High Point’s legacy as the Furniture Capital of the World.

A STEAM Lab focused on science, technology, engineering, arts and math.

The GINORMOS Exhibit, inspired by High Point’s largest chest of drawers.

Museum staff involved the community in building the Congdon Hall of Mysteries Toy Collection by inviting them to donate toys from across the decades.

The double-decker carousel is only the second in North Carolina.

Opening day information is available at www.qubeinchildrensmuseum.org