PLAY. It's what we do.

MUSEUM HOURS

Daily Admission: $13/person

ADMISSION: $13/PERSON over 12 months

A joyful gift for curious children

Museum Gift Cards

Winter Break

Maker's Series

Join us for daily hands-on crafts, games, and creative activities that spark curiosity and keep the winter spirit alive all break long! Each event begins at 9am and lasts throughout the day (or until supplies run out).

Ignite your child's curiosity with

Early Out Camp

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!
Ignite Your Child's Curiosity With

UPCOMING EVENTS

November 2025

Lions Club KidSight Screening

The Mankato Lions Club will visit the Children’s Museum on November 20, 2025 from 4:00-6:00pm for FREE vision screenings for Museum members or paid admission guests. Lions KidSight USA is a nationwide program bringing Lions clubs across the country together to ensure our children receive eye screenings and follow-up care when needed.
20 Nov - 19 Mar
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
December 2025

Math Happens

Join us each and every weekend for Math Happens! A Math Room is a welcoming, hands-on space where visitors of all ages can explore math through play, puzzles, and discovery. Activities are designed to spark curiosity and invite open-ended exploration – no worksheets, no pressure. Just joyful, creative encounters with math in a comfortable setting. […]
14 Dec
12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Imagineering Hour after school program for kids at the Children's Museum Mankato

Imagineering Hour

Head to the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota for the after-school Imagineering Hour, a dedicated time for children to explore their creativity and discover the possibilities of innovation. Held in Cecil’s Imagineering Loft, Imagineering Hour offers a range of open-ended STEAM activities facilitated by our educators. Children might encounter building challenges, cardboard engineering, simple machines, […]
16 Dec
3:00 am - 4:00 pm
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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

What people are saying about CMSM

January 24, 2025, 10:00am:

The Museum will be closed Friday, July 4.

We will reopen Saturday, July 5.