Information
Landmark: Hands-on House Children’s MuseumCity: Lancaster
Country: USA Pennsylvania
Continent: North America
Hands-on House Children’s Museum, Lancaster, USA Pennsylvania, North America
Overview
Hands-on House Children’s Museum, a nonprofit in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, invites kids ages 2 to 10 and their caregivers to explore interactive exhibits-think bright play kitchens and button-filled panels built just for curious hands.The museum’s mission is to spark learning through play, offering hands-on exhibits and lively programs that inspire creativity, invite discovery, and introduce young minds to STEM-science, technology, engineering, and math.You’ll find the museum at 721 Landis Valley Road in Lancaster, PA 17601, nestled just off a quiet stretch of pavement.You can drive right up, and there’s plenty of parking waiting just outside the door.The museum is built to feel safe and inviting, a place where families and little ones can wander freely, pausing to touch a smooth wooden rail or linger by a bright, colorful display.We’re open Tuesday–Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; closed Mondays.Admission is $12 for kids ages 2–10, $10.50 for adults, $3 for SNAP cardholders, $9 for active or retired military, and free for members as well as nurses or aides with ID-think of it as a warm welcome at the front gate.Each summer, the Blue Star Museum program welcomes military families with free admission-step inside, cool air greeting you as doors swing open.At Hands-on House, kids dive into vibrant exhibits and playful learning areas that spark curiosity, encourage exploration, and turn imagination into action.The Village is a small, lively neighborhood with a grocery market, a friendly vet’s office, an ice cream truck jingling down the street, and a cozy post office.In this space, kids discover the different roles people have in a community, chatting with friends and diving into make-believe-maybe running a pretend bakery or fixing a toy car.The Village Farm is an agricultural-themed spot, complete with a rumbling life-sized tractor, a red barn, a cozy hen house, and a leafy apple tree.It shows kids how farming works, how to care for animals, and why agriculture matters in daily life-like the milk in their cereal each morning.The Tech Lab buzzes with hands-on tech and creative projects, from a Draw-Alive digital art table where sketches leap to life, to a nimble mini robotic arm, a bright piano, and floor games that sharpen hand-eye coordination and problem-solving.Step into the ABC Construction Zone, a lively exhibit where you can try your hand at running a crane, work at buzzing tool stations, and watch the “Amazing Airways” wall send bright ribbons swirling through the air.It sparks curiosity about engineering by turning it into playful experiments, like building a tiny bridge out of blocks.Mason’s Active Adventure Garden is an outdoor playground packed with slides, winding tunnels, a pirate ship, a sandy pit for digging, a cozy playhouse, and a STEM-inspired nature trail lined with bright green leaves.This place invites you to move, wander, and discover the world outdoors-maybe stop to feel the rough bark of an old oak.The Play Lab is a lively, ever-changing exhibit space that switches themes each month-one week you might step into a jungle, the next into a moonlit city.Here, kids dive into STEM challenges, sift through colorful sensory bins, and get messy with creative art projects.A skilled teacher is on hand to help and guide children as they explore and learn, whether it’s sounding out new words or solving a tricky puzzle.Hands-on House offers free weekly classes in art, STEM, and literacy-always included with admission-inviting kids to keep learning and creating, whether they’re painting bright paper suns or building tall block towers.Summer camps build around lively themes that spark curiosity-think painting under the pines or testing homemade rockets-inviting kids to dive into hands-on projects and explore on their own.Sensory Friendly Sundays offer a special session each month, giving kids with sensory sensitivities a calm space where the lights are softer and the noise stays low.Birthday Parties: Celebrate with a private package that covers admission, a cozy party room just for you, and bright, colorful supplies to make the day unforgettable.Hands-on House takes learning on the road, bringing lively, hands-on programs straight into classrooms and community centers where kids can touch and explore.Visitor Information and Tips: Always keep children with a responsible adult, and watch them closely-one grown‑up for every four kids works best, especially when things get busy.You can bring a stroller, but in a few exhibit spaces-like the narrow hallway by the butterfly room-it’s easier to get around without one.You can’t bring outside food into the museum, but there’s a picnic area outside where you can sit under the shade and eat.You’re welcome to take photos for yourself, but if they’re for business, get approval first.Visitors with sensory needs can borrow noise-dampening headphones at no cost, ready at the desk with their soft, padded ear cups.At Hands-on House, learning comes alive through playful, interactive moments-like building towers or exploring textures-that spark cognitive growth, social skills, and physical coordination.The museum’s exhibits invite kids to explore, solve puzzles, get creative, and connect with others-like building a tower together-sparking curiosity that can last a lifetime.You can find Hands-on House Children’s Museum at 721 Landis Valley Road in Lancaster, PA 17601, or give them a call at (717) 569-5437.Inside, kids explore bright, interactive exhibits that spark curiosity and invite discovery, making it a treasured spot for families and teachers across Lancaster and nearby towns.
