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Our Mission:

Ignite the natural curiosity of every child through the power of play in a dynamic, awe-inspiring environment

PLAY. It's what we do.

MUSEUM HOURS

Daily Admission: $13/person

Sunday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday Closed
Tuesday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

ADMISSION: $13/PERSON over 12 months

A membership to the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota includes unlimited access to the Museum’s galleries during regular business hours, special discounts in the Museum gift shop, and invitations to exclusive members-only events for less than $13 a month! The Museum offers a variety of membership packages to suit the needs of individuals, families, and groups.

Browse the Museum’s membership packages to find an option that works best for you. Contact Museum staff for further details.

Become a member of Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota and enjoy unlimited family time!

UPCOMING EVENTS

November 2023
Art Explorers in Cecils Imagineering Loft at the Childrens Museum of Southern Minnesota in Mankato

Art Explorers in Cecil’s Imagineering Loft

Join us in Cecil’s Imagineering Loft for a make-and-take art experience. We will explore and create with different art mediums each month: 2023 Monthly Themes: JANUARY: Clay and Playdough FEBRUARY: Paper Collage MARCH: Exploring Pencils and Shading APRIL: Finger Painting MAY: Mosaics JUNE:  Gross Motor Art JULY:  Collaborative Art AUGUST:  Wall Tapestries SEPTEMBER:  Open Studio (Closed …

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30 Nov
9:00 am - 11:00 am

Gingerbread House Workshops

Start or Continue a Holiday tradition. Come and build a gingerbread house with everything provided for you! We will even clean up the mess! Decorate a gingerbread house at the Museum, where you’ll get a pre-constructed house and a variety of decorative foods! Design your festive dream home, then leave the mess behind! Work on …

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30 Nov
3:30 pm - 6:30 pm
December 2023
Read it Again - Why Repetition Matters

Literacy Explorers

A time to foster early literacy skills through play! This program is designed as a come-and-go experience that is child-led based on their interests. Join us Friday mornings from 9-11am to experience literacy through signing, talking, reading, writing, and playing! ...
01 Dec
9:00 am - 11:00 am

Gingerbread House Workshops

Start or Continue a Holiday tradition. Come and build a gingerbread house with everything provided for you! We will even clean up the mess! Decorate a gingerbread house at the Museum, where you’ll get a pre-constructed house and a variety of decorative foods! Design your festive dream home, then leave the mess behind! Work on …

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02 Dec
9:30 am - 12:00 pm

MathHappens

Join volunteers from the MathHappens Foundation in Cecil’s Imagineering Loft to explore mathematical thinking through puzzles, crafts, games and more. Activities are designed for children aged 2 and up. Saturday 12pm-4pm Sunday 12pm-4pm ...
02 Dec
12:00 pm - 4:00 pm

MathHappens

Join volunteers from the MathHappens Foundation in Cecil’s Imagineering Loft to explore mathematical thinking through puzzles, crafts, games and more. Activities are designed for children aged 2 and up. Saturday 12pm-4pm Sunday 12pm-4pm ...
03 Dec
12:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Gingerbread House Workshops

Start or Continue a Holiday tradition. Come and build a gingerbread house with everything provided for you! We will even clean up the mess! Decorate a gingerbread house at the Museum, where you’ll get a pre-constructed house and a variety of decorative foods! Design your festive dream home, then leave the mess behind! Work on …

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03 Dec
12:30 pm - 3:30 pm

December Baby Play

Join us on the Infant and Toddler Play Porch! With a goal to support first-time parents or those who are caring for an infant, the Museum staff – who have a background in and a passion for early childhood development, will offer content specific to our birth to two age range.  Although topics such as …

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05 Dec
10:00 am - 11:30 am
Art Explorers in Cecils Imagineering Loft at the Childrens Museum of Southern Minnesota in Mankato

Art Explorers in Cecil’s Imagineering Loft

Join us in Cecil’s Imagineering Loft for a make-and-take art experience. We will explore and create with different art mediums each month: 2023 Monthly Themes: JANUARY: Clay and Playdough FEBRUARY: Paper Collage MARCH: Exploring Pencils and Shading APRIL: Finger Painting MAY: Mosaics JUNE:  Gross Motor Art JULY:  Collaborative Art AUGUST:  Wall Tapestries SEPTEMBER:  Open Studio (Closed …

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05 Dec
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
We've got the beat in Cecils Imagineering STEAM loft at the Childrens Museum of Southern Minnesota in Mankato

December Young Explorers

On the 2nd Wednesday each month throughout the year, Young Explorer program activities inspired by one of the six areas of wellness (Move, Relax, Eat Well, Sleep, Maintain, Discover) will be offered to drop-in visitors. MCHS Family Medicine and Pediatrics providers support program activities by sharing tips and information during sessions, and being available for …

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06 Dec
9:30 am - 11:30 am
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Exhibits

At the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota, each exhibit is intentionally designed as a robust educational resource that contributes to the well-being of children and the community. Our exhibits are created with an understanding of children’s development and based on local settings and landmarks with play potential for children, their parents, grandparents, caregivers, and teachers to explore, think, discover, learn, and enjoy.

Explore

Children learn best through hands-on play.

Discover

The Museum environment captivates children with a wide variety of interactive exhibits.

Think

Young minds need challenges and experiences to grow!

Learn

Exhibits are thoughtfully designed to spark curiosity and imagination.

Enjoy

Not only is play an incredible source of fun, but it is also crucial to children’s well-being.

Explore Exhibits Mankato Clinic Tree of Forts cargo nets climber treehouse Childrens Museum of Southern Minnesota

Impact Stories

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"A Place for Everyone"

“The Children’s Museum is a place where everyone can and be welcome and find some thing that they’re interested in. If you’ve never been here, I’d say get down here right away!”

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"I can’t explain how grateful I am for the Children's Museum"

“I love that my kids can come to the Children’s Museum, be creative and imaginative and make friends in the process. We visit weekly and every time we leave each of my four kids has made a new friend.”

What people are saying about CMSM