‘Mr. 4 million’: Arlington boy is lucky visitor to Imagine Children’s Museum

EVERETT — Aaron Weinstock has a story to tell his grandkids and a legacy to pass down to his great-great grandkids.

And, get this, he’s only in kindergarten.

In August, the 5-year-old Arlington boy was the 4 millionth visitor to Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett. Aaron was given a lifetime family membership and a special “million bubble salute” on the museum’s rooftop playground.

“He tells everyone he was the 4 millionth customer and that he never has to pay to go to the museum for the rest of his life,” said his mom, Justine Weinstock.

“It feels great,” said Aaron, a kindergarten student at Our Lady of Hope in Everett. “My favorite thing in the world is playing at the Children’s Museum.”

Aaron was with his 9-year-old brother and family friends when the epic moment struck. He was simply the lucky kid in the right place at the right time.

“There was a bunch of bubbles,” Aaron said.

In addition to the lifetime membership, Aaron was gifted a T-shirt and a stuffed Bigfoot.

“Mr. 4 Million,” as Imagine CEO Elizabeth “Elee” Wood affectionately calls him, was the star of the day.

The milestone was a long time coming for the museum, which first opened its doors in 1991.

“It’s a remarkable achievement,” Wood said. “We keep extensive records, so we knew we were getting close to hitting 4 million visitors.”

To mark the occasion, Wood said the team wanted to do a bubble salute that was 4 million bubbles strong.

Then, they did the math.

“Four million bubbles would mean running seven bubble cannons for 35 minutes, which is really long,” Wood said. “We decided a million would probably suffice.”

Planning the grand celebration included making sure everybody in the museum that day would be part of it, she said.

The countdown ended Aug. 28, as Aaron crossed the threshold into the museum.

“I donned my admiral’s hat and my sparkly boa, and I went up to meet him,” Wood said.

The million bubble blast lasted 15 minutes.

“Aaron was beyond elated,” Wood recalled. “His grin is just burned into my memory. He was giddy. There was joy and happiness from all the other people there and the kids dancing all over the place.”

Imagine Children’s Museum operated in small leased spaces until 2004, when it settled into a permanent home at the corner of Hoyt Avenue and Wall Street. In 2010, the millionth visitor was greeted with fanfare.

The museum expanded in 2022 with a new three-story, $25 million wing. It is the largest children’s museum in the Pacific Northwest.

Today, nearly 300,000 visitors annually explore its 68,000 square feet of exhibits, which include labs, camps, arts and STEM activities.

Aaron’s favorite parts of the museum? The airplane and the woodland tree house with Bigfoot.

Other exhibits include a bus, tool tinker shop, wind tunnel, tugboat and a veterinarian clinic.

Expect the unexpected. You just never know when the next big bubble salute will happen.

Andrea Brown is a freelance writer and former employee of the Everett Herald.

Admission details

Admission is $22 for ages 1 and older.

Half-Price Tuesdays: Admission is $11.

Free Last Half-Hour: Free admission from 3:30 to 4 p.m.

Member-Only Time: Sundays from 9-10 a.m., members and their guests get exclusive access to the museum’s new expansion.

Third Friday of Every Month: Free admission from 5-9 p.m. Next date: Dec. 20.