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.

Become a member of Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota and enjoy unlimited family time!
Ignite Your Child's Curiosity With

UPCOMING EVENTS

August 2025

Summer Curiosity Camp – Earth Elements

Join us for an awe-inspiring summer filled with opportunities for children to use their curiosity, collaboration, communication, critical thinking and creativity! Our 3-day camps will all be a summer highlight! Earth Elements – August 12th-14th A sensory lovers delight! Get ready to squish and mold with some clay creations! As well as diving headfirst into […]
12 Aug
9:00 am - 4:00 pm

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 […]
12 Aug
10:00 am - 11:30 am

Summer Curiosity Camp – Earth Elements

Join us for an awe-inspiring summer filled with opportunities for children to use their curiosity, collaboration, communication, critical thinking and creativity! Our 3-day camps will all be a summer highlight! Earth Elements – August 12th-14th A sensory lovers delight! Get ready to squish and mold with some clay creations! As well as diving headfirst into […]
13 Aug
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Young Explorers Weekly Programming at the Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota in Mankato

Young Explorers

Join us quarterly for the Young Explorers Program! Meet a Mayo Family Medicine Resident and dive into fun, hands-on learning through play-based activities and curious questions. Perfect for little minds ready to explore the world around them!
13 Aug
9:30 am - 11:00 am
North Mankato Taylor Library Bookmobile

Bookmobile

The North Mankato Taylor Library Bookmobile makes weekly stops at the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota on Wednesday afternoons from 2-3pm. Join us for story time on the Lauri Kuch Memorial Stage each week!
13 Aug
2:00 pm - 3:00 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

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

January 24, 2025, 10:00am:

The Museum will be closed Friday, July 4.

We will reopen Saturday, July 5.

The Museum will be Closing at 2pm on
November 16 for a Private Event