Information
Landmark: DuPage Children's MuseumCity: Naperville
Country: USA Illinois
Continent: North America
DuPage Children's Museum, Naperville, USA Illinois, North America
Overview
At DuPage Children’s Museum in Naperville, Illinois, kids from newborns to ten can dive into colorful exhibits, build, tinker, and discover the joy of learning through hands-on play.People know it for hands-on exhibits that spark curiosity, sharpen problem-solving, and fuel creativity, all while making STEM-science, technology, engineering, and math-feel as fun as building a paper rocket with your kids.Founded in 1987, the museum began as a small local project with a few hands-on exhibits, and over the years it’s grown into one of the Midwest’s top destinations for children.The mission is to spark kids’ curiosity and creativity, offering lively, hands-on moments-like building a tower that wobbles-where learning grows naturally through play.DCM opens its doors to every child, making sure kids of all abilities and backgrounds feel at home-whether they arrive with a wheelchair, a sketchbook, or just boundless curiosity.The address is 301 N, easy to spot with the red brick building right on the corner.Washington Street in Naperville, IL 60540 sits right in the heart of downtown, just a short walk from the Metra station, so catching a train is quick and easy.You can park right on site, or choose a nearby lot or a quiet side street.The museum’s doors and halls are easy to navigate in a wheelchair, and it offers thoughtful touches-like quiet rooms and step stools-for children and families with special needs.The museum covers more than 17,000 square feet, with exhibits spread through lively, hands-on zones where you might hear children’s laughter echo off the walls.Bean Sprouts Café serves up wholesome, allergy-friendly snacks and meals, from crisp apple slices to warm veggie wraps, perfect for both kids and grown-ups.At The Explorer Store, visitors can browse shelves of colorful puzzles, engaging books, and unique souvenirs to take home.Family restrooms, cozy nursing rooms, and easy stroller rentals make visits more comfortable, whether you’re changing a diaper or giving tired feet a break.Key exhibits and hands-on moments await in *The Questioneers: Read*, from colorful story panels to a cozy corner stacked with books.What's your question?Take a moment-let your mind wander like steam curling from a hot mug.Go on-play!Drawing from a beloved children’s book series, the exhibit brings to life familiar faces-Ada Twist with her curious eyes, Rosie Revere clutching a toolbox, and Iggy Peck grinning beside a tall, wobbly tower.It packs in STEM activities that get kids asking questions, tinkering with ideas, and cracking problems through hands-on challenges in engineering, physics, and inventive projects-like building a tiny bridge that really holds weight.AWEsome Water is a sprawling, hands-on play zone where kids guide streams through pumps, dams, and winding canals, discovering how water moves while exploring physics, engineering, and the environment.This exhibit invites hands-on discovery, blending curious experiments with splashes you can hear and feel-all in a safe space.Studio A is a lively art space where kids can dive into painting, shape clay into tiny animals, sketch their ideas, and craft with colorful paper.It helps kids express themselves and build fine motor skills through guided activities and a mix of materials, from soft clay to bright markers.Make It Move is a hands-on engineering exhibit where kids build and test their own vehicles, watching wheels spin and feeling the drag of friction as they explore motion and mechanics.Comes with ramps, tracks, and sturdy construction pieces-everything you need to build, test, and tinker.Little Builders is a play zone made for toddlers, filled with giant foam blocks and other soft pieces that invite them to stack, build, and explore their budding spatial and motor skills.Adaptive Play Time offers special sessions for kids with sensory sensitivities or other needs, where the lights are soft, the noise stays low, and the atmosphere feels safe and welcoming.Private Play Time: After the doors close, your group can roam the museum in peace-perfect for birthdays, special gatherings, or any night you want the place to yourselves.We offer themed workshops in art, science, and engineering, held on a regular schedule, where you learn new skills by building guided projects-like crafting a tiny wind-powered car.Seasonal events bring holidays, cultural festivals, and STEM themes to life with hands-on activities and lively performances, from lantern-making tables to music that fills the air.The museum’s educational philosophy comes alive through hands-on experiences-think touching cool stone, hearing a faint echo-that spark curiosity and draw on all the senses.The exhibits are built to suit different ages and grow with a child’s curiosity, letting them poke, press, and discover ideas in their own time.Educators and volunteers help children explore by guiding playful, open-ended activities-like building a fort from blankets-and encouraging curious questions.We’re open Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. with extra evening hours for special events, and weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission’s about $19 for adults and kids over a year old, seniors get a discount, and babies under one are free-no ticket needed.Members get in free and can take advantage of extras like a welcome drink at the door.Buy your tickets ahead of time-it’ll make getting through the gate quick and easy.The museum welcomes families, offering stroller access, quiet corners, and amenities that make visits easier for parents and caregivers.At DuPage Children’s Museum, kids dive into hands-on fun, exploring STEM ideas, sparking creativity, and building social skills through lively exhibits and interactive programs-think tinkering with gears or painting under bright splashes of color.Families and teachers across the region turn to it for guidance, finding it sparks a lifelong curiosity and a genuine love of learning-like the thrill a child feels when cracking open a new book.
