Play Like Jack and Annie at the Magic House

One of my kids’ favorite outings is a visit to the Magic House in Kirkwood. Especially with the major addition that was finished a couple of years ago, we can never get tired of the hands-on fun.

This year, the Magic House will draw many Jack and Annie fans for their Magic Tree House exhibit. Located in the Once Upon a Time gallery, the presentation features scenes from the popular books about time travel by author Mary Pope Osborne.

We were excited to visit the exhibit because my son has enjoyed several Magic Tree House books, but it was immediately clear that having read the books was not a prerequisite for a great time.

We made plans to head straight for the exhibit and leave any extra time for other favorites, such as the Lego car races and playing in the pizza restaurant. I was surprised later when I looked at my watch after a bit and realized that we had already been in the Magic Tree House display for over an hour and the kids were far from finished exploring.

The exhibit features scenes from three popular Treehouse books: Civil War on Sunday, Thanksgiving on Thursday and Twister on Tuesday.

In the Civil War on Sunday exhibit, kids can experience Clara Barton’s Civil War medical camp, complete with a hospital tent, bandages, crutches and cots for recovery. The site also has a trunk with period army uniforms and aprons for nurses. Near the tent there are also games that were played by soldiers, like checkers and a dice game.

My husband and I took turns playing the Civil War board games with my son while our girls were nearby planning a big Thanksgiving feast.

The Thanksgiving on Thursday area has everything kids need to pretend they’re joining Jack and Annie on their Pilgrim adventure to Plymouth Bay. There is a garden next to the kitchen where a “fire” is roasting a turkey on a spit next to hanging pot for mixing stew. The built-in shelves around the fireplace house plenty of dishes for play cooking.

Next to the kitchen, there is a full feast laid out on a long table, where kids can pretend to share in a Thanksgiving meal together. After their meal, they exit to a clam digging spot, complete with a boat and sand.

The Twister on Tuesday site has a big train engine where kids can climb in and play, and a one-room schoolhouse with benches for students and slates for writing practice.

While we had to give our kids ample warning when it was nearing time to go, in the event that a child might get bored waiting for siblings to finish playing in the Magic Tree House exhibit, there is still more to do. At the tree house entrance to the exhibit, there are shelves with not only Magic Tree House books, but also many other books featuring related subjects.

When visitors leave, they can pick up Jack’s Notebook, filled with hidden messages, secret codes and puzzles to solve.

The Magic Tree House exhibit will be at the Magic House until Sept. 9. The exhibit is free with paid admission to the Magic House.