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
Come Play!
ADMISSION: $9/PERSON, AGES 1+
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 only $9 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.
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the children's museum's biggest exhibit ever
UPCOMING EVENTS
Composting is Cool!
Baby Play
Art Explorers in Cecil’s Imagineering Loft
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.
Think
Young minds need challenges and experiences to grow!
Discover
The Museum environment captivates children with a wide variety of interactive exhibits.
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.
Impact Stories
"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!”
"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
THE LATEST FROM THE CMSM Blog
Summer Activities, Exhibits, and Programs at the Children’s Museum
The weather is finally getting warmer after another long Minnesota winter, area farmers are busy planting their fields with this year’s crop, and kids are growing more excited by the day for the last day of school. With summer break just around the corner, you may be greeted with a tinge of hesitation – wondering
CMSM Acquires Additional Land for Future Expansion
Spring has sprung here at the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota, and like the leaves on the apple tree in the Dotson Back 40 we are all about growth! On April 20th Museum CEO Louise Dickmeyer announced the purchase of the half-acre lot adjacent to our existing building and grounds. Long time Museum supporters
DIG IT! is HERE! A Word of Thanks from Exhibit Designer Deb Johnson
The DIG IT! exhibit actually began in 1998, after the St. Peter tornado. My son, Hans, was 2 years old. He learned about the construction industry first hand as we walked around town and sat in every bulldozer and excavator we could find. We watched people show up for each other as the town rebuilt