diff --git a/packages/animations/CHANGELOG.md b/packages/animations/CHANGELOG.md
index 1630957ffa5..1cb8e8afe76 100644
--- a/packages/animations/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/packages/animations/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
-## NEXT
+## 2.1.0
 
 * Updates minimum supported SDK version to Flutter 3.29/Dart 3.7.
+* Make `OpenContainerState` public.
 
 ## 2.0.11
 
diff --git a/packages/animations/lib/src/open_container.dart b/packages/animations/lib/src/open_container.dart
index 59d33e350e2..129a5be3443 100644
--- a/packages/animations/lib/src/open_container.dart
+++ b/packages/animations/lib/src/open_container.dart
@@ -260,10 +260,17 @@ class OpenContainer<T extends Object?> extends StatefulWidget {
   final Clip clipBehavior;
 
   @override
-  State<OpenContainer<T?>> createState() => _OpenContainerState<T>();
+  State<OpenContainer<T?>> createState() => OpenContainerState<T>();
 }
 
-class _OpenContainerState<T> extends State<OpenContainer<T?>> {
+/// State for a [OpenContainer].
+///
+/// The [OpenContainerState.openContainer] can be triggered either by:
+/// 1. Explicitly calling from [OpenContainerState] via a [GlobalKey].
+/// 2. By tapping the [OpenContainer] widget itself,
+///    if [OpenContainer.tappable] is true.
+@optionalTypeArgs
+class OpenContainerState<T> extends State<OpenContainer<T?>> {
   // Key used in [_OpenContainerRoute] to hide the widget returned by
   // [OpenContainer.openBuilder] in the source route while the container is
   // opening/open. A copy of that widget is included in the
@@ -276,6 +283,8 @@ class _OpenContainerState<T> extends State<OpenContainer<T?>> {
   // same widget included in the [_OpenContainerRoute] where it fades out.
   final GlobalKey _closedBuilderKey = GlobalKey();
 
+  /// Open the container using the given middle color and specific route,
+  /// then call `onClosed` with the returned data after popped.
   Future<void> openContainer() async {
     final Color middleColor =
         widget.middleColor ?? Theme.of(context).canvasColor;
diff --git a/packages/animations/pubspec.yaml b/packages/animations/pubspec.yaml
index 96a682100af..74fe71ac736 100644
--- a/packages/animations/pubspec.yaml
+++ b/packages/animations/pubspec.yaml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ name: animations
 description: Fancy pre-built animations that can easily be integrated into any Flutter application.
 repository: https://github.com/flutter/packages/tree/main/packages/animations
 issue_tracker: https://github.com/flutter/flutter/issues?q=is%3Aissue+is%3Aopen+label%3A%22p%3A+animations%22
-version: 2.0.11
+version: 2.1.0
 
 environment:
   sdk: ^3.7.0
diff --git a/packages/animations/test/open_container_test.dart b/packages/animations/test/open_container_test.dart
index f397daf7cda..aa57c8a1edb 100644
--- a/packages/animations/test/open_container_test.dart
+++ b/packages/animations/test/open_container_test.dart
@@ -7,6 +7,36 @@ import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
 import 'package:flutter_test/flutter_test.dart';
 
 void main() {
+  testWidgets('Can be opened via GlobalKey', (WidgetTester tester) async {
+    final GlobalKey<OpenContainerState> openContainerKey =
+        GlobalKey<OpenContainerState>();
+
+    await tester.pumpWidget(
+      _boilerplate(
+        child: Center(
+          child: OpenContainer(
+            key: openContainerKey,
+            closedBuilder: (BuildContext context, VoidCallback _) {
+              return const Text('Closed');
+            },
+            openBuilder: (BuildContext context, VoidCallback _) {
+              return const Text('Open');
+            },
+          ),
+        ),
+      ),
+    );
+
+    expect(find.text('Closed'), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(find.text('Open'), findsNothing);
+
+    openContainerKey.currentState!.openContainer();
+    await tester.pumpAndSettle();
+
+    expect(find.text('Closed'), findsNothing);
+    expect(find.text('Open'), findsOneWidget);
+  });
+
   testWidgets('Container opens - Fade (by default)', (
     WidgetTester tester,
   ) async {
@@ -1861,6 +1891,7 @@ class _SizableContainerState extends State<_SizableContainer> {
 
   double get size => _size;
   late double _size;
+
   set size(double value) {
     if (value == _size) {
       return;