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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

Sunday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday Closed
Tuesday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

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

December 2024

Math Happens

This program is for all age groups visiting the museum. Volunteers with the Math Happens Foundation facilitate a math playground up in Cecil’s Imagineering Loft on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Activities help children and caregivers grow their math literacy through engaging hands-on puzzles, models, and manipulatives.
15 Dec
12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Magnet Wall in Cecils Imagineering Loft at the Children's Museum in Mankato

STEAM Explorers

STEAM brings together a powerful combination of skills, techniques, and experiments! Join us weekly on Tuesdays from 9-11am and Thursdays from 1-3pm to explore a variety of STEAM related child-led play activities! Weekly activities are based off of the Play Schemas. Each program session will have an option for guests to interact with each component […]
17 Dec
9:00 am - 11:00 am

Baby Play

The goal of this program is to provide infants and toddlers a great opportunity for social connection and play in an aw inspiring environment. Each week will highlight a different play schema or area of development to guide the play invitation that will be facilitated by museum staff. In addition, each 4th Tuesday will include […]
17 Dec
10:00 am - 11:30 am

Art Explorers

Join us in Cecil’s Imagineering Loft for and open studio art experience. We will explore and create with different art mediums each month. Drop in anytime during the program to participate. 2024 Monthly Themes: JANUARY: Clay FEBRUARY: Paper Collage MARCH: Chalk and Charcoal APRIL: Painting MAY: Sculpture SEPTEMBER:  Open Studio (Closed the 10th-13th) OCTOBER:  Nature Art NOVEMBER:  […]
17 Dec
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
We've got the beat in Cecils Imagineering STEAM loft at the Childrens Museum of Southern Minnesota in Mankato

Young Explorers

This program is for all age groups that are visiting the Museum. Activities are inspired by place, seasons, nature, play schemas and child development. On the 2nd Wednesday each month the Young Explorer Program activities are inspired by one of the six areas of wellness (Move, Relax, Eat Well, Sleep, Maintain, Discover) MCHS Family Medicine […]
18 Dec
9:30 am - 11:00 am
Noon Years Eve Children's Museum New Years for kids in Mankato

JP Performance During Young Explorers

JP Fitness will be joining us during our Young Explorers program on the 3rd Wednesday of each month with a little taste of their JP Performance youth class which focuses on fitness and fun! Guests will enjoy a variety of fitness games to promote movement, agility, balance, and strengthen their vestibular system through play.
18 Dec
9:30 am - 11:00 am

Outdoor Explorers

Join us each Wednesday afternoon (all year long) from 1-3pm to discover the outdoors during our Outdoor Explorers Program! Meeting each Wednesday at 1pm in the Loose Parts Play Hub, children and their caregivers can join in a conversation about the season and weather and create a nature journal. Then grab an Explorers Backpack and […]
18 Dec
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Art Explorers

Join us in Cecil’s Imagineering Loft for and open studio art experience. We will explore and create with different art mediums each month. Drop in anytime during the program to participate. 2024 Monthly Themes: JANUARY: Clay FEBRUARY: Paper Collage MARCH: Chalk and Charcoal APRIL: Painting MAY: Sculpture SEPTEMBER:  Open Studio (Closed the 10th-13th) OCTOBER:  Nature Art NOVEMBER:  […]
19 Dec
9:00 am - 11:00 am
Magnet Wall in Cecils Imagineering Loft at the Children's Museum in Mankato

STEAM Explorers

STEAM brings together a powerful combination of skills, techniques, and experiments! Join us weekly on Tuesdays from 9-11am and Thursdays from 1-3pm to explore a variety of STEAM related child-led play activities! Weekly activities are based off of the Play Schemas. Each program session will have an option for guests to interact with each component […]
19 Dec
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Read it Again - Why Repetition Matters

Literacy Explorers

A time to foster early literacy skills through play! This program is designed as a come-and-go experience that is child-led based on their interests. Join us Friday mornings from 9-11am to experience early literacy concepts through signing, talking, reading, writing, and playing! Weekly programs are based off of the 5 Early Literacy practices. Weekly Topics […]
20 Dec
9:00 am - 11:00 am
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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

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