Children's Museums

A Hands-On Learning Adventure, p.2



The Children's Museum of Memphis

2525 Central Avenue
Memphis, TN 38104
General info: (901) 458-2678 or (901) 320-3170

"…encourages the curiosity and imagination of children and their families through interactive exhibitions, programs and resources that help demystify the arts, sciences, humanities and technology." Many interactive exhibits! These include Kid's Market (children shop for their own groceries in this detailed supermarket complete with scanners that really work!), Bank (children cash a check to get play money, then try to crack open two safes), CityFriends, Garage, Playscape, Skyscraper ("This towering eight-story vertical maze challenges children while keeping them safe in their exploration.), Your House/My House and Recycle Factory.

Capital Children's Museum

800 3rd St. NE
Washington, DC 20002
General info: (202) 675-4120

Hands on. "Children are encouraged to explore by touching, climbing, tasting and using their imagination to learn about the world around them. Children visiting CCM can explore a prehistoric cave, make hot cocoa and learn the culture of our closest neighbors in Mexico, learn why gas is heavier than liquid in the CMA Chemical Science Center, star in a cartoon in the Chuck Jones Animation Studio and drive a Metro bus in Cityscapes. CCM also offers special programs and activities all year long."

Chicago Children's Museum

700 East Grand Avenue at Navy Pier
Chicago, IL 60611
General info: (312) 527-1000

Hands on! Even the web site is fun! Exhibits include Inventing Lab, WaterWays, Playmaze (kid-size city), Safe and Sound (look at x-rays, sit in an ambulance, learn how to play it safe), Dinosaur Expedition, Face to Face (Dealing with Prejudice and Discrimination), Kovler Family Climbing Schooner (board the schooner and up the riggings, up three stories!), Kids on the Fly (an exhibit at O'Hare Airport).

The Children's Museum of Houston

1500 Binz
Houston, TX 77004
General info: (713) 522-1138

Hands on! One of the most visited children's museums for it size in the country. Exhibits include The PG&E Corporation EcoStation (insect collecting, tree rubbings, water quality testing, decomposition observation, soil type exploration and make-and-take activities), Think Tank, ("With a little help from Felicia Fact Finder, Carlos the Curios, Isaac I've Got It! and Rosie Risk It, you will be solving riddles, crazy brain games, mind teasers and more…"), How Does It Work, Yalalag: A mountain village in Mexico, Bubble Lab, TotSpot, Kid TV, Farm To Market, Cyber Clubhouse, Expressions (open-air art studio allows kids to be creative without the worry of being too messy), Kid's Hall (traveling art exhibits), Allen Family Courtyard, Red Caboose, Babbling Bayou (encourages children to explore waterplay by launching boats, ducks and more along a twisting bayou textured by a fountain and zany water spouts) and Victorian Playhouse.

Grand Rapids Children's Museum

22 Sheldon Avenue, NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
General info: (616) 235-4726

Hands on. Home to Penrod's New Home, a story about a resident pigeon and the founding of the GRCM. Written by three GRCM founders, Carla Morris, Georgia Gietzen and Aleicia Woodrick and illustrated by Holland artist Joel Tanis.

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis

3000 N. Meridian Street
Indianapolis, IN 46208
General info: (317) 334-3322

Hands on! Exhibits include the Carousel, Wishes and Dreams: "The young and not-so-young will delight in the carousel and its new starry surroundings.

"Originally installed in a local amusement park in 1917, the carousel is history you can ride and is now wheelchair-accessible. The CineDome Theater: a 76-foot domed, large-format theater, is an innovative and exciting medium to present entertaining and educational films. The CineDome offers viewers of all ages a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to peer into the mouth of volcanoes, travel to distant points around the globe and soar on the wings of eagles."

Omaha Children's Museum

500 South 20th Street
Omaha, NE 68102
General info: (402) 342-6164

Hands on! Exhibits include Main Street (A microcosm of life in an Omaha neighborhood, including post office and supermarket.), Creativity Center ("Using an array of recycled materials and endless pots of paint and glue, visitors are free to jump in, get messy and express their creativity!"), Rainbow Farm for children 4 years and younger ("Experience life on the farm and enjoy developmental activities in this area designed especially for toddler-age children."), Charlie Campbell Science and Technology Center (hands-on, interactive science activities for children of all ages), Baker's Supermarket Exhibit ("Scale model of an actual Baker's Supermarket complete with miniature working checkstands, shelving, products and service center.") and Cox TV Station.

Austin Children's Museum

201 Colorado Street
Austin, TX 78701
General info: (512) 472-2499

Hands on! Exhibits include Global City Works ("exhibit includes eight role-play environments in which children can explore how people work, live, and play together in a diverse, global city"), Infant and Toddler Playscape, Time Tower ("A climbing playscape where children can discover Austin history from mastodons to microchips."), Weather Corner, and KACM, Austin's newest radio station for children.

Fascinate-U Children's Museum

116 Green Street
Fayetteville, NC 28301
General info: (910) 433-1573

Hands on! "…a place where children can explore their world the way they learn best through creative role-playing, manipulation and interaction with each other and objects around them." Exhibits include Dental Office, Broadcast News, City Bank, Doctor's Office, Under Construction, Utility Works, Fayetteville News, City Works, Judge's Podium, Gro-Right Grocery and Deli, Theater, Post Office, Fire Station and City Hall.

Habitot Children's Museum

2065 Kittredge Street
Berkeley, CA 94707
General info: (510) 647-1111

Ages infancy through preschool. Hands on. Exhibits include Performance Stage and Costume Closet, Small-Scale Town, Infant and Toddler Garden, Wind Tunnel Science Lab, WaterWorks water play and learning gallery and Back To The Farm.

Children's Museum of La Crosse (Gertrude Salzer Gordon Children's Museum)

207 Fifth Avenue South
La Crosse, WI 54601
General info: (608)784-2652

Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose

180 Woz Way
San Jose, CA 95110
General info: (408) 298-5437

Hands on! Exhibits include Streets ("Take an excursion down the Museum's streets to investigate the sights, sounds and textures of city life.") Current Connections ("Gain an understanding of how electricity is generated, using people-powered generators, how it is distributed, and how ultimately how it is converted to other forms of energy.") West Wing, Jesse's Clubhouse ("Crawl and clamber through a multilevel tower.")Step Into The Past, Kids' Bank ("Learn about the ebb and flow of a currency system from deposits to withdrawals using a variety of cranks, pedals and levers.") Bubbalogna ("explore the principles and properties of the fascinating, yet unpredictable world of bubbles") Post Office, Magic Beans Creative People, Take Another Look ("Look. Look again, differently. In this vast and incredible world, there is always something new to see.") Rhythm, Garden, Alice ("Shrink and grow, visit a tea party and encounter different animals as you enter Alice's unique and curious world.") and ZoomZone ("Adopt the exploratory "ZOOM spirit" to try out and create activities. The ZoomZone features brainteasers and math puzzles, word games and a place to write poems, short stories and a science activity station.")

The Imaginarium Science Discovery Center

737 West Fifth Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99501
General info: (907) 276-3179

Hands on! Exhibits include Alaska Marine Life, Reptiles, Mission to Mars, Galaxy Room / Planetarium, Physics of Toys and Bubble Lab.

Montshire Museum of Science

One Montshire Road
Norwich, VT
General info: (802) 649-2200

A hands-on museum with dozens of exciting exhibits, relating to the natural and physical sciences, ecology and technology. There are also several outside walking trails. Exhibits include Andy's Place, Anti-Gravity Mirror, Bikevator, Bring Your Own Bug, Bubbles, Duck-in Kaleidoscope, Leafcutter Ants, Light, Vision and Mirrors, The Lighthouse Little Cat's Feet, Monarch, North Woods, Polygon Mirrors, Reptiles, Science Park, Soda Fountain, Tower Clock, Weather, Fluorescence and Looking Inside.

Go to the next page!

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Links, information and more for you

A Visit to the Planetarium
Backyard Discovery Zones
A Visit to the Zoo
Directory of family articles
Directory of all articles

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About the author: Amanda Formaro is the entrepreneurial mother of four children. Subscribe to her free weekly kid's craft newsletter, Busy Little Hands, by sending any e-mail message to kidscrafts-on@mail-list.com or by visiting her web site at www.familycorner.com.