World's largest ant farm unveiled at Winni Children's Museum

LACONIA — The world’s largest ant farm, a six foot three inch long habitat which is three feet and 10 inches wide, was unveiled Saturday at the Winni Children’s Museum, which was holding its first fundraiser, a rummage sale and silent auction.

"It’s unofficially the largest, but won’t be certified until the Guinness people review our application,’’ says Andrea Wilson, executive director of the nonprofit organization which is working to create what will become the largest children’s museum in the state.

She said that the current world’s record for an ant farm is held by Colgate Palmolive’s display in Singapore and immediate certification as the new record holder could have been obtained if the museum had paid to have an official observer at the event.

"But that wasn’t in our budget," says Wilson, who earlier this year announced plans to build a 22,000-square-foot museum at 533 Main Street in space leased from Downtown Crossing LLC, a partnership which took over the property last summer after plans open a Work Out World fitness facility failed.

About 1,000 ants were roaming throughout the ant farm, which was built by Dan Maltais, Wilson’s life partner and business partner, who is property manager for Downtown Crossing.

"My dad and I built them when I was growing up in Gilmanton. I think ant farms are fun," said Maltais, who recently sold a health supplement business that he owned and is working to open a thrift store in the former Double Decker building on Rte. 3 in Belmont.

Maltais said that he and Wilson have been life partners for about 14 years and have traveled extensively but now that they have two children are putting down roots and creating something which will be good for the community and provide learning opportunities for young children.

Wilson said that the museum’s attractions will include an original 1930’s era fire truck and fire safety exhibit, funded by a FEMA grant to the Laconia Fire Department, a dinosaur dig and fossil museum, a child sized bank, post office, grocery store and restaurant, as well as an alternative energy and conservation exhibit, water works and bubble area, a construction zone, which feature Legos and other construction toys, a music wall and instrument exhibit, giant ant farm and insect exhibit, theater and dress up area and over 30 other interactive exhibits and an arts and crafts center.

Wilson, a lifetime resident of the Lakes Region, has a background in retail, having managed a store at Tanger Outlet Factory Stores in Tilton, as well as interior design.

She says that the children’s museum will provide a non-retail activity which is unique in what it offers to the public and can become a major drawing card for the downtown area.

"We’re looking wherever we can for funding, including gifts and grants," says Wilson, who is hoping that many of the exhibits will be ready so that the museum can open by the end of the year or early next year.

She has is recruiting volunteers, including artists in all mediums, and corporate sponsors through Facebook and a website, www.winnikids.org

Maltais said that city manager Scott Myers recently toured the facility and said that he saw great potential.

He said that Myers, who was a four-term mayor in Dover, told him that the children’s museum in Dover is a big draw in the downtown area and enjoys wide support from businesses there who appreciate what it does by attracting more people to the area as potential customers.

CAPTION: Checking out the world's largest ant farm at the Winni Children's Museum in downtown Laconia are Noah Wilson, 10, of Hardwick, Vermont; Briana Wilson, a year old, and her mother, Andrea Wilson, executive director of the museum, which hopes to open by the end of the year. (Roger Amsden/for The Laconia Daily Sun)