Information
Landmark: Chicago Children's MuseumCity: Chicago
Country: USA Illinois
Continent: North America
Chicago Children's Museum, Chicago, USA Illinois, North America
Overview
At Navy Pier in Chicago, the Chicago Children’s Museum draws families in with hands-on exhibits made just for kids, from bright art corners to playful science labs.It’s a lively place where kids dive into play, discover new things, and get their hands busy building or painting.The museum sparks creativity, sharp thinking, and curiosity in kids of every age with hands-on exhibits and lively programs-picture a room glowing with colorful paintings and curious faces leaning in to explore.Founded in 1982, the Chicago Children’s Museum began in a tiny storefront where crayons and building blocks filled the shelves, and it’s since grown into one of the largest children’s museums in the country.In 1995, it relocated to its roomy spot on Navy Pier, a lively stretch where gulls wheel over the blue expanse of Lake Michigan and tourists stroll along the water’s edge.At Navy Pier, families can pair a trip to the museum with a spin on the Centennial Wheel, a breezy boat tour, or a stroll through the waterfront parks.The museum covers more than 50,000 square feet, with themed exhibits designed for every age and stage-from hands‑on science tables for kids to quiet galleries that draw in adults.The exhibits invite hands-on discovery, drawing kids into science, technology, engineering, art, and culture-whether they’re building a tiny bridge or mixing colors on a light table.The Pritzker Playspace is one of the museum’s main exhibits-a cozy, well-padded area where babies and toddlers can explore safely, crawl over soft shapes, reach for colorful sensory toys, and try early learning stations that spark motor skills and curiosity.Tinkering Lab is a hands-on STEM space where kids dive into tools, wood scraps, and inventive projects that spark problem‑solving and an engineer’s way of thinking.Water Ways is a hands-on water play exhibit where visitors explore flowing streams, build small dams, and guide channels, all while learning the basics of physics and environmental science.Treehouse Trails is a multi-level play space where kids can climb, pretend they’re explorers, and let their imaginations run wild-while learning about nature and ecology, from leafy branches to buzzing bees.Art studios give kids room to paint bright swirls, shape clay into tiny figures, and craft with their hands-sparking self-expression and sharpening fine motor skills.In the Construction Zone, kids grab foam blocks, stack them high, and watch their towers sway as they explore the basics of architecture.Story Hub sparks early literacy and storytelling with hands-on exhibits-picture shelves of bright books, playful puppets, and spaces for kids to dive into make-believe.Every exhibit invites you to touch, listen, and explore, turning learning into something lively and fun.The museum changes certain displays with the seasons and regularly brings in special exhibits that spotlight new themes or cultures, like a hall filled with vibrant lanterns during Lunar New Year.At the Chicago Children’s Museum, you’ll find hands-on programs, lively workshops, and special events that invite kids, families, and teachers to learn, play, and explore together-sometimes with glitter on their fingertips.These include storytimes and live performances that draw kids into the world of books, music, and theater-imagine the rustle of pages and the bright sound of a tambourine.STEM workshops offer hands-on classes and camps where kids build robots, test ideas, and dive into science, technology, engineering, and math.Family programs offer activities where parents and kids can learn side by side, swap stories, and maybe even race to finish a puzzle together.School partnerships offer curriculum-based field trips and outreach programs, carrying the museum’s artifacts and stories straight into the classroom.Sensory-friendly sessions offer set times when kids with sensory sensitivities can explore the museum without the usual noise and bustle, maybe pausing to admire a quiet corner display.The museum’s open most days, staying later on weekends and through the warm summer months when the air smells faintly of fresh-cut grass.They keep it shut on Tuesdays for upkeep and the occasional special event, like setting up string lights for a private dinner.Ticket prices differ for Illinois residents, visitors from out of state, and certain groups-like seniors or students clutching their ID cards.Families with EBT or WIC cards, and military members, can get a discount-just show your card at the register.Kids under a year old get in free-no ticket, no fuss.Buy your tickets ahead of time so you don’t end up stuck in a long, slow-moving line.The space is fully wheelchair accessible, with support for visitors with disabilities-think sensory guides you can hold in your hands and calm, quiet rooms when you need a break.You’ll find stroller parking, quiet spots for nursing, family restrooms, and a cozy café serving fresh snacks and hot drinks.You’ll find the Chicago Children’s Museum at 700 East Grand Avenue on Navy Pier, Chicago, IL 60611, just steps from the water.It’s easy to get there by bus-several CTA routes stop nearby-or by train, with stations only a short walk away.Navy Pier’s garages offer plenty of parking, and during busy times you can snag a discounted spot-maybe right near the elevator.From its spot on Navy Pier, the museum sits just steps from lakefront walking paths, bustling cafés, and lively entertainment venues.Why stop by?At the Chicago Children’s Museum, kids can build, explore, and play, mixing learning with fun in a way that draws families, school groups, and out-of-town visitors alike.It helps kids learn by playing, sparking curiosity, inspiring creativity, and building sharp thinking skills in a warm, safe space where laughter fills the air.On a drizzly afternoon or as one stop on a full Chicago sightseeing tour, the museum offers moments kids carry with them-like the thrill of touching a dinosaur fossil or peering into a sparkling gem case.At the Chicago Children’s Museum, learning sparks to life, ideas take flight, and kids leave with faces still lit from laughter.
