Starting June 22, families can visit The Magic House to experience a new nationally traveling exhibit, Alma's Way: Welcome to My Neighborhood!, an immersive exhibit developed and fabricated by The Magic House in collaboration with Fred Rogers Productions. The exhibit is based on Alma’s Way, the hit animated series on PBS KIDS®. The series follows the neighborhood adventures of 6-year-old Alma Rivera, a proud, confident Puerto Rican girl who lives in the Bronx with her family and a diverse group of friends and neighbors.
The familiar environments from the show come to life as visitors are transported to Alma’s vibrant neighborhood in the Bronx to explore:
Alma’s Family Duplex: Step inside Alma's welcoming Family Duplex, where generations come together to share traditions. Learn to make mofongo, a Puerto Rican dish, or immerse yourself in the sounds of Puerto Rican music by playing instruments like maracas and hand drums. Outside, play hopscotch on the sidewalk or have a barbecue in the backyard.
Bodega: Explore a Bangladeshi Bronx Bodega, a small neighborhood store that is full of a variety of items like food, drinks, snacks, school supplies, household items, and souvenirs. Contribute to a collaborative community mural, adding a creative touch to the vibrant streetscape.
Community Center: Discover the rich heritage of Puerto Rican culture at the Community Center, where you can participate in Bomba dance lessons and learn to play the Bomba drums.
Pet Clinic: Become a veterinarian like Alma’s papi, Dr. Rivera, and perform check-ups while learning about fascinating creatures like parrots, lizards, and red-eyed tree frogs, then create your own video inspired by Dr. Rivera’s internet animal show.
6 Train: Take a subway ride aboard the 6 train, play The Alma Train game, and be a conductor like Alma’s Tía Gloria.
Park: Go on a quest to find coquÍs, tiny frogs native to Puerto Rico. Enjoy a game of checkers, climb on rock formations, or decorate a cardboard clubhouse.
Alma's Way: Welcome to My Neighborhood! is free with Museum admission and will be at The Magic House from June 22 through January 5, when it will begin traveling to other children’s museums around the country.