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.
be uniquely you!
Josh Madson’s Community Collage Photo Portrait Session is coming to CMSM! Here’s the deal, plain and simple. We want to make a collage of all your beautiful faces. You, yeah YOU. You live in or around Mankato? Then yes, YOU. We’re gonna take your picture and put it up in a gallery show with you and all the awesome people that live around you and with you in your community. Ok, now that’s been said.
Access to this event is included with a Museum Membership or a daily admission.
NEW at the Museum
Let your child ignite their natural curiosity through the power of play in an awe-inspiring environment! Each camp will have the opportunity to engage in specific programming topics for the group. Opportunities for exploration of the Museum environment and programs will be a part of each experience. The Community Room will be “Camp Central” and campers will be able to engage together as a group in that space for directly supervised experiences created for each camp. Whether you are looking for something for your child to do on a day off of school or an opportunity to explore the camp theme there will be something for everyone!
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
Pet Expo Bird Visit
Math Happens
STEAM Explorers
Early Experiences Camp
Baby Play
Art Explorers
Young Explorers
Outdoor Explorers
Art Explorers
STEAM 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.”