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
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.
We want your art!
Show us your mark making, your finger paintings, Your minimalist, your maximalist, your 2D and 3D, Show us your glue piles and sparkling glitter masterpieces, Show us your detailed lines and intentional forms, Show us your creative language!
Gallery reception for our special artists and their supporters will be on Thursday, August 8th from 5-7pm. Please note that guests must be accompanied by a child.
Sparking our inner child
Welcome to an awe-inspiring event where adults come together to unleash their imagination and craftsmanship through PLAY! Sparking their inner child, teams of 6 will use an array of loose parts to design and build extraordinary exhibits. Spectators are invited to witness their craft firsthand, cheering them on as they bring their visions to life. With interactive experiences, themed challenges, and opportunities for collaboration, this event promises to ignite creativity and foster teamwork like never before.
Ignite Your Child's Curiosity With
Join us for an awe-inspiring summer filled with opportunities for children to use their curiosity, collaboration, communication, critical thinking and creativity! Choose one day or all of the days of our interactive day camps or secure our 3-day camps. They will all be a summer highlight!
Proudly Presented By: Xcel Energy Foundation
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.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Pollinator Explorers
Baby Play
Young Explorers
Bookmobile
Living Earth Center Visit
Pollinator Explorers
Lions Club KidSight Screening
STEAM Fridays
MCHS Healthy Habits
Pollinator Explorers
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.”