9 best children’s museums in Wisconsin

Here are 9 children’s museums your kids are bound to love, from STEM and agriculture to dinosaurs and a blast from the 1840s past.

Summer is winding down, but it feels like the temperature is still rising here in Wisconsin. If you’re looking for something fun to do with the kids before they head back to school, consider beating the heat by visiting a children’s museum your child will love.

All of these Wisconsin children’s museums are the perfect combination of hands-on exhibits and education — what better way to combat the summer slide than with a trip to these locations that mix learning and play?

From STEM and agriculture to dinosaurs and a blast from the 1840s past, there is a museum on this list that promises fun for the whole family.

Betty Brinn’s Children’s Museum 

929 E Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee

Since 1995, Betty Brinn has been a staple for hands-on early education enthusiasts. The museum exhibits include educational elements promoting school readiness, including early literacy, beginning math and science concepts, problem-solving, and social skills.

Who will love it: Betty Brinn is a fan-favorite for kids who love to participate in hands-on exploring at children’s museums. There are six different exhibits featured, including Hot Lava, Let’s Play Railway, Home Town, Pocket Park, Velocity, and Be a Maker.

Membership: Annual cost depending on the plan ($120 – $250)

Cost: $13 weekdays, $14 weekends

*Free admission is offered on the 3rd Thursday of every month

Photo courtesy of Michael Barera/CC BY-SA 4.0.

Discovery World

500 N Harbor Drive, Milwaukee

If your kids want a chance to discover science and all its practical and fantastical applications, Discovery World is the place to be! This interactive museum’s exhibits are broken into two main categories:  an aquatic side and a techno side.

Who will love it: Both young and older kids will enjoy all the experiences Discovery World has to offer — most revolve around STEM. 

Membership: Annual cost depending on the plan ($50 – $170)

Cost: Adults $24, Kids $20 (aged 3-7), Kids 2 and under free

Photo courtesy of SidewalkMD/CC BY-SA 4.0.

Dinosaur Discovery Museum

5608 10th Avenue, Kenosha

Kenosha’s Dinosaur Discovery Museum features experiences on their main level and lower level. On the main level, visitors will find Little Clint — the story of a baby dino and interactive activities. The lower level is home to the Carthage Institute of Paleontology lab with a bay window so visitors can sneak a peak at fossils.  

Who will love it: Kiddos who are intro dinos and want to learn about paleontology. 

Membership: N/A 

Cost: Admission is free — donations are accepted and appreciated.

Old World Wisconsin

W372 S9727 WI-67, Eagle

Travel back in time to a simpler time with a visit to Old World Wisconsin. This museum offers 23 different indoor and outdoor experiences throughout 60 authentically restored historic buildings, including homes, farms, stores, and workshops. 

Who will love it: Kids interested in learning about Wisconsin’s history and how life was on the farm and homestead from the 1840s to 1910.

Membership: N/A

Cost: Adults and teens $20, Kids $13 (aged 5 – 12), Kids 5 and under free

Madison Children’s Museum

100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison

Madison’s Children’s Museum is all about nurturing children’s creativity and curiosity. Here your kiddo can check out nine different exhibits centered on the ideas of Access, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: the art studio, community, nice age trail, possible-opolis, rooftop ramble, stair trek, trash lab, wildernest, and wondergroud.

Who will love it: Kids young and older will enjoy this museum, with many opportunities for hands-on activities. A favorite for many is the rooftop ramble, where they can meet the famous rooftop chickens and free-flying homing pigeons. 

Membership: Annual cost depending on the plan ($120 – $350)

Cost: $12 for adults or children 

*A $1 discount is available per ticket when you purchase online.

Photo courtesy of Michael Barera/CC BY-SA 4.0.

Above and Beyond Children’s Museum

 902 N 8th St #4005, Sheboygan

Take your explorer adventuring and check out nearly 10,000 square feet of fun at Above and Beyond Children’s Museum. This non-profit has been around for over 30 years and started out as a traveling road show with hands-on activities for children.

Who will love it: The museum has three floors that feature 8 different exhibits, including a sky crawl from one space to another (yes, adults can travel through this too!)

Membership: Annual cost depending on the plan ($30 – $250)

Cost: $8 for adults or children

Photo courtesy of CC BY-SA 2.5.

Black Earth Children’s Museum

1131 Mills Street, Black Earth, WI 53515

This museum in Black Earth is a community-funded museum that believes the small size of their museum promotes a welcoming environment — they stay true to their motto of “small town, big fun!”

Who will love it: Their vision is to focus on fun and play that is educational for kiddos and relaxing for parents. Here you can find a toy library, special events like art classes and yoga, and more.

Membership: N/A

Cost: $6 per person

Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center

7001 Gass Lake Road, Manitowoc

The Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center is where curiosity grows. This discovery center includes hands-on exhibits, a virtual tour of a modern dairy farm, and even a birthing barn to see how calves come into this world and how they’re taken care of.

Who will love it: If your kiddo is interested in farming, agriculture, and what it’s like to work with farm animals, this experience is for you. They’ll learn about what life is like on a farm and discover how modern farming technology plays an important role.

Membership Required: Annual cost depending on the plan ($30 – $100)

Cost: Adults $18, Kids and teens $10 (aged 3 – 18), Kids 2 and under free

Explore Children’s Museum

1433 W Main Street, Sun Prairie

Sun Prairie’s Explore Children’s Museum is dedicated to providing meaningful opportunities, participating in purposeful play, and promoting lifelong learning. This museum caters to a younger demographic, designed for young, developing minds. 

Who will love it: The exhibits in this museum were specifically designed for children ages 0-8 with developmental factors in mind. You can find activities rooted in STEM, and imaginative play, and allow kids to further develop their large motor skills.

Membership: Annual cost $135

Cost: $8 per person

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.