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: $10/person
ADMISSION: $10/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.
CMSM is excited to announce the expansion of our Access for All program with a new initiative for families with newborns and infants! Gateway to Baby Play Memberships are available to families of newborns and first-time parents up to their child’s first birthday. This Membership includes free admission for two parents and their baby until their first birthday. To obtain a Gateway to Baby Play Museum Membership, simply fill out the application here and return to CMSM.
Now Open!
the children's museum's biggest exhibit ever
UPCOMING EVENTS
STEAM Explorers
Baby Play
Art Explorers in Cecil’s Imagineering Loft
Young Explorers
Outdoor Explorers
Coding with KIBO
Bookmobile
Art Explorers in Cecil’s Imagineering Loft
LEGO® Explorers
Baby & Kids Expo at MCHS Event Center
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.
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
Share the Love: February “MyPlace” Fundraising Drive
The Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota was founded in 2006 by community members, educators, and business leaders who wanted a safe and inviting place for children to play, learn, and grow. With hard work and the dedication of many team members over many years, in 2015, the current location opened and continues to grow. On
Five Reasons to Engage in Music Every Day with Children
Lower stress levels, better sleep, increased learning. At the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota, we’re always listing the benefits of play, but this week, we’re looking at a part of play that truly appeals to all ages: music! We have had many musical events at the Museum, and 2023 will bring many more. Everyone knows
Indoor Messy Play with Kids
Making a huge mess with paints or clay or mud in the backyard or the driveway is easy to do in the warm months. We encourage it at the Museum in our Mud Kitchen! But when the weather is not so delightful, the thought of making huge messes inside for the sake of play is