Information
Landmark: Children’s Museum of the Shoals (CMS)City: Athens AL
Country: USA Alabama
Continent: North America
Children’s Museum of the Shoals (CMS), Athens AL, USA Alabama, North America
Overview
In Florence, Alabama, the Children’s Museum of the Shoals invites kids to touch, build, and play, sparking curiosity, imagination, and discovery while weaving in the rich culture, science, and history of the Tennessee Valley.
In northwest Alabama, it’s one of the most family-friendly spots around, offering hands-on exhibits and a place where the community comes together to learn and connect.
In the mid-1990s, local educator and community leader Anne Bradshaw Craig joined forces with civic supporters to bring a new idea to life-a children’s museum in Florence, a place where kids could explore, touch, and learn in a space made just for them.
By 1995, the project had earned nonprofit status, and with help from volunteers, local shops, and families, the museum found a home just inside Deibert Park’s gate.
The museum opened its doors in 2001, inside a restored building that once stood as part of the Deibert family’s old farm estate.
The first exhibits featured a flowing model of the Tennessee River, a playful make‑believe grocery store, and a handful of themed play areas.
It shut its doors in 2015 for renovations, then, after a burst of fundraising and a fresh board lineup, welcomed visitors back in 2017 with brighter, more spacious exhibits.
The museum stretches over two main indoor floors, with sunlight spilling into outdoor spaces designed for hands-on learning.
It’s built to invite interaction, so kids can dive into play-whether they’re acting out a story, building a block tower, tinkering with a science project, or splashing paint across a page.
On the ground floor, you’ll find Wee Explore-a cozy, safe spot where toddlers can crawl, stack soft blocks, and explore gentle sensory activities made just for them.
This Little Piggy is a lively, farm‑themed exhibit where kids can touch soft hay, meet friendly animals, and discover how farms bring food to their tables.
Construction Zone - a hands-on spot where kids stack blocks, grab tools, and dream up bold little engineering projects.
The Anderson Science Center buzzes with hands-on experiments, sparks curiosity through discovery, and brings STEM learning to life.
The Lego Room bursts with colorful bricks, ready for endless, open-ended creations-imagine snapping two bright red pieces together and watching ideas take shape.
Party/Creation Station-a bright, flexible space where you can paint, craft, celebrate birthdays, or gather for lively workshops.
On the second floor, the Renaissance Castle invites kids to slip into velvet tunics and crowns, then dive into a lively medieval world of costumes and make‑believe.
Tennessee River Campsite ties right into the local landscape and outdoor spirit, with canvas tents pitched under tall pines and a few rustic props scattered around.
At Shoals Sound Stage, the spirit of Muscle Shoals music comes alive, handing kids guitars, drums, and a brightly lit stage to play their hearts out.
Cliff Cave bursts with mystery, its cool stone walls and echoing chambers sparking the urge to explore and chase adventure.
Rockin’ Restaurant-a pint‑sized diner where kids whip up pretend pancakes, take orders, and serve plates with a grin.
Puppet Tree-a playful little stage where stories spring to life and performances dance in the warm glow of the lights.
Pet Vet lets kids learn responsibility and empathy as they bandage a puppy’s paw or feed a sleepy kitten.
Bank of the South is a hands-on exhibit where kids step into the role of bankers, counting crisp bills and learning how money works.
Nursery – a cozy play space stocked with dolls, a tiny crib, and other caregiving toys.
The outdoor area at the mine site is themed around Alabama’s geological history and mining traditions, with weathered rock displays that hint at the state’s rugged past.
Dino Dig is a sandy pit where kids can dig up buried fossils and dinosaur bones, brushing away the grains like tiny paleontologists.
CMS Garage - a lively transportation exhibit showcasing vehicles and hands-on mechanical fun, from gleaming vintage cars to gears you can spin yourself.
The Outdoor Classroom hosts seasonal programs where students explore nature, study the environment, and learn by getting their hands in the soil.
The museum keeps its calendar full all year, offering programs that go far beyond the exhibits-like STEM camps where kids dive into science, technology, engineering, and math through messy, hands-on experiments.
Join our art workshops-paint with bold colors, shape clay into tiny figures, or dive into themed sessions like “Impressionism for Kids.” We also host themed days, from a splash-filled “Water Day” in summer to hands-on geology digs and farm-life activities.
Sewing Saturdays-where you pick up real, hands-on skills while turning fabric and thread into something uniquely yours.
Special Needs Programs welcome every child, offering activities shaped to fit different abilities-like art projects where each kid can paint in their own way.
Birthday parties and field trips, tailored for schools and families, with details as personal as picking the cake’s frosting.
These programs weave into local culture and history, shaping the Shoals’ identity as a place where blues riffs echo from back porches, fields stretch with crops, and the river hums through daily life.
The museum rests in Deibert Park, where you can wander shady trails, hear children laughing on the playground, and take in the quiet beauty of the surrounding trees.
CMS isn’t just a place for shows-it’s a cultural anchor, rooted in the community, where learning grows from the history and stories of the land.
The Shoals Sound Stage ties straight into Muscle Shoals’ worldwide music legacy, echoing the same soulful notes that once spilled from its studios.
The Tennessee River Campsite is woven into the land’s curves and its long story, from limestone bluffs to the slow sweep of the water.
The agricultural exhibits bring the region’s farming traditions to life, from the smell of fresh hay to the gleam of old steel plows.
The nonprofit runs on the energy of local volunteers, small donations, and a network of partners.
Local schools often bring their students here for field trips, and the museum has turned into a lively workshop for trying out fresh, hands-on ways to spark curiosity in young learners.
You’ll find us at 2810 Darby Drive in Florence, Alabama, right inside the green paths of Deibert Park.
We’re open Wednesday to Saturday from 9 a.m.
to 4 p.m., when the sunlight still spills across the front steps.
Closed Sunday through Tuesday and on major holidays.
Admission is $10 a person, and little ones 18 months or younger get in free-no ticket needed.
You’ll find plenty of free parking at Deibert Park, and it’s just steps from the grass and shady trails-perfect for pairing a museum visit with some fresh air.
The Children’s Museum of the Shoals feels like part playhouse, part science lab, and part cultural museum, all built low and bright so kids can explore every corner.
Rather than standing back and just looking, kids can press buttons, stack blocks, slip into costumes, and make something of their own.
They believe learning should spark curiosity, invite hands-on exploration, and grow from the sights, sounds, and stories of the local community.
It’s still one of the Shoals’ most treasured spots for families, blending hands-on fun with learning so kids can discover science, history, art, and everyday skills-like tying a proper knot-while celebrating the Tennessee Valley’s unique heritage.
In northwest Alabama, it’s one of the most family-friendly spots around, offering hands-on exhibits and a place where the community comes together to learn and connect.
In the mid-1990s, local educator and community leader Anne Bradshaw Craig joined forces with civic supporters to bring a new idea to life-a children’s museum in Florence, a place where kids could explore, touch, and learn in a space made just for them.
By 1995, the project had earned nonprofit status, and with help from volunteers, local shops, and families, the museum found a home just inside Deibert Park’s gate.
The museum opened its doors in 2001, inside a restored building that once stood as part of the Deibert family’s old farm estate.
The first exhibits featured a flowing model of the Tennessee River, a playful make‑believe grocery store, and a handful of themed play areas.
It shut its doors in 2015 for renovations, then, after a burst of fundraising and a fresh board lineup, welcomed visitors back in 2017 with brighter, more spacious exhibits.
The museum stretches over two main indoor floors, with sunlight spilling into outdoor spaces designed for hands-on learning.
It’s built to invite interaction, so kids can dive into play-whether they’re acting out a story, building a block tower, tinkering with a science project, or splashing paint across a page.
On the ground floor, you’ll find Wee Explore-a cozy, safe spot where toddlers can crawl, stack soft blocks, and explore gentle sensory activities made just for them.
This Little Piggy is a lively, farm‑themed exhibit where kids can touch soft hay, meet friendly animals, and discover how farms bring food to their tables.
Construction Zone - a hands-on spot where kids stack blocks, grab tools, and dream up bold little engineering projects.
The Anderson Science Center buzzes with hands-on experiments, sparks curiosity through discovery, and brings STEM learning to life.
The Lego Room bursts with colorful bricks, ready for endless, open-ended creations-imagine snapping two bright red pieces together and watching ideas take shape.
Party/Creation Station-a bright, flexible space where you can paint, craft, celebrate birthdays, or gather for lively workshops.
On the second floor, the Renaissance Castle invites kids to slip into velvet tunics and crowns, then dive into a lively medieval world of costumes and make‑believe.
Tennessee River Campsite ties right into the local landscape and outdoor spirit, with canvas tents pitched under tall pines and a few rustic props scattered around.
At Shoals Sound Stage, the spirit of Muscle Shoals music comes alive, handing kids guitars, drums, and a brightly lit stage to play their hearts out.
Cliff Cave bursts with mystery, its cool stone walls and echoing chambers sparking the urge to explore and chase adventure.
Rockin’ Restaurant-a pint‑sized diner where kids whip up pretend pancakes, take orders, and serve plates with a grin.
Puppet Tree-a playful little stage where stories spring to life and performances dance in the warm glow of the lights.
Pet Vet lets kids learn responsibility and empathy as they bandage a puppy’s paw or feed a sleepy kitten.
Bank of the South is a hands-on exhibit where kids step into the role of bankers, counting crisp bills and learning how money works.
Nursery – a cozy play space stocked with dolls, a tiny crib, and other caregiving toys.
The outdoor area at the mine site is themed around Alabama’s geological history and mining traditions, with weathered rock displays that hint at the state’s rugged past.
Dino Dig is a sandy pit where kids can dig up buried fossils and dinosaur bones, brushing away the grains like tiny paleontologists.
CMS Garage - a lively transportation exhibit showcasing vehicles and hands-on mechanical fun, from gleaming vintage cars to gears you can spin yourself.
The Outdoor Classroom hosts seasonal programs where students explore nature, study the environment, and learn by getting their hands in the soil.
The museum keeps its calendar full all year, offering programs that go far beyond the exhibits-like STEM camps where kids dive into science, technology, engineering, and math through messy, hands-on experiments.
Join our art workshops-paint with bold colors, shape clay into tiny figures, or dive into themed sessions like “Impressionism for Kids.” We also host themed days, from a splash-filled “Water Day” in summer to hands-on geology digs and farm-life activities.
Sewing Saturdays-where you pick up real, hands-on skills while turning fabric and thread into something uniquely yours.
Special Needs Programs welcome every child, offering activities shaped to fit different abilities-like art projects where each kid can paint in their own way.
Birthday parties and field trips, tailored for schools and families, with details as personal as picking the cake’s frosting.
These programs weave into local culture and history, shaping the Shoals’ identity as a place where blues riffs echo from back porches, fields stretch with crops, and the river hums through daily life.
The museum rests in Deibert Park, where you can wander shady trails, hear children laughing on the playground, and take in the quiet beauty of the surrounding trees.
CMS isn’t just a place for shows-it’s a cultural anchor, rooted in the community, where learning grows from the history and stories of the land.
The Shoals Sound Stage ties straight into Muscle Shoals’ worldwide music legacy, echoing the same soulful notes that once spilled from its studios.
The Tennessee River Campsite is woven into the land’s curves and its long story, from limestone bluffs to the slow sweep of the water.
The agricultural exhibits bring the region’s farming traditions to life, from the smell of fresh hay to the gleam of old steel plows.
The nonprofit runs on the energy of local volunteers, small donations, and a network of partners.
Local schools often bring their students here for field trips, and the museum has turned into a lively workshop for trying out fresh, hands-on ways to spark curiosity in young learners.
You’ll find us at 2810 Darby Drive in Florence, Alabama, right inside the green paths of Deibert Park.
We’re open Wednesday to Saturday from 9 a.m.
to 4 p.m., when the sunlight still spills across the front steps.
Closed Sunday through Tuesday and on major holidays.
Admission is $10 a person, and little ones 18 months or younger get in free-no ticket needed.
You’ll find plenty of free parking at Deibert Park, and it’s just steps from the grass and shady trails-perfect for pairing a museum visit with some fresh air.
The Children’s Museum of the Shoals feels like part playhouse, part science lab, and part cultural museum, all built low and bright so kids can explore every corner.
Rather than standing back and just looking, kids can press buttons, stack blocks, slip into costumes, and make something of their own.
They believe learning should spark curiosity, invite hands-on exploration, and grow from the sights, sounds, and stories of the local community.
It’s still one of the Shoals’ most treasured spots for families, blending hands-on fun with learning so kids can discover science, history, art, and everyday skills-like tying a proper knot-while celebrating the Tennessee Valley’s unique heritage.
