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Among the many educational exhibits at the Madison Children's Museum is an authentically restored, late-1830s log home typical of the size and type built by Madison’s earliest European settlers. The cabin was recovered from a Walworth County homestead with help from the Nature Conservancy and professionally restored on a corner of the museum’s parking lot. Image courtesy of Madison Children's Museum.

Fire damages Wisconsin children’s museum

Catherine Saunders-Watson
Catherine Saunders-Watson

Among the many educational exhibits at the Madison Children's Museum is an authentically restored, late-1830s log home typical of the size and type built by Madison’s earliest European settlers. The cabin was recovered from a Walworth County homestead with help from the Nature Conservancy and professionally restored on a corner of the museum’s parking lot. Image courtesy of Madison Children's Museum.
Among the many educational exhibits at the Madison Children’s Museum is an authentically restored, late-1830s log home typical of the size and type built by Madison’s earliest European settlers. The cabin was recovered from a Walworth County homestead with help from the Nature Conservancy and professionally restored on a corner of the museum’s parking lot. Image courtesy of Madison Children’s Museum.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) – A small fire has damaged the soon-to-be-open Madison Children’s Museum.

But officials say it won’t derail the museum’s grand opening on August 14 and 15.

The museum has moved to a new facility on Capitol Square from State Street.

Fire officials responded to the fourth-floor staff kitchen at about 4:45 a.m. Tuesday. A museum press release says the fire was caused by a faulty coffee pot and damaged the kitchen cabinets and ceiling.

Ruth Shelly, the museum’s executive director, says fire department estimates are between $40,000 to $50,000, but insurance adjusters are investigating to determine a more specific estimate.

They also have to clean up the water from the sprinkler system.

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AP-CS-08-03-10 1340EDT