USA TODAY 10Best
Explore, play, and discover: 10 best children's museums in the US
Best Children's Museum (2024)
It can be a challenge to keep kids entertained, especially on rainy days that limit what you can do outdoors. Luckily, these 10 museums — chosen by an expert panel and voted by readers as the best in the United States — offer interactive and engaging experiences that enthrall and educate kids and adults alike.
- Chicago Children's Museum - Chicago, Illinois
- City Museum - St. Louis, Missouri
- Children of Gettysburg 1863 - Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
- Marbles Kids Museum - Raleigh, North Carolina
- Please Touch Museum - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- The Children's Museum - Cincinnati, Ohio
- Kohl Children's Museum - Glenview, Illinois
- Mississippi Children's Museum - Jackson, Mississippi
- Children's Museum of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- The Children's Museum of Indianapolis - Indianapolis, Indiana
Photo courtesy of Chicago Children's Museum
No. 10:
The interactive exhibits within the walls of the Chicago Children’s Museum, situated on Navy Pier, encourage the young and the young at heart to play, learn, and connect with the world around them. In the three floors of hands-on and sensory exhibits, kids can dig for dinosaur bones, shop in a kid-size grocery store, participate in a free family art workshop, learn about fire safety through play, and explore the science behind Chicago’s iconic skyscrapers.
No. 9:
Housed in the 600,000-square-foot former warehouse of the International Shoe Company, the City Museum in St. Louis, Missouri, has a bit of everything — the world's largest jungle gym, a 10-story spiral slide, and a rooftop garden with stellar views of the city.
Photo courtesy of Gettysburg Foundation
No. 8:
Children of Gettysburg 1863 breaks down one of the Civil War’s most famous battles into kid-friendly, interactive activities and lessons that center around the lives of the young people who lived through it. From story scavenger hunts to hands-on exhibits, it’s the perfect place for a budding history buff to get a better understanding of American history.
Photo courtesy of Marbles Kids Museum
No. 7:
Despite the name, there’s so much more to this exciting museum than marbles (though you can actually find over a million of them in one of the museum’s walls). In fact, this kid-centric space offers youngsters tons of fun by way of exhibits like ImagiFab (where they can construct and create to their heart’s delight) and EcoSphere (perfect for teaching the importance of wind, solar, and hydropower), as well as fun events like the Bike Rodeo and FairyTale Tea.
Photo courtesy of J. Fusco for VISIT PHILADELPHIA
No. 6:
Philadelphia's Please Touch Museum offers two floors of exhibits that kids are actively encouraged to touch. Little ones can build at the Imagination Playground or go down the rabbit hole to a Wonderland-inspired play station. A historic and recently refurbished carousel is a great way to end a visit on a high note. The museum also hosts a variety of family-friendly programs, so there's always something new to explore.
Photo courtesy of Cincinnati Museum Center
No. 5:
Kids 10 and under will enjoy hands-on fun with the engaging exhibits at The Children's Museum in Cincinnati. Seven themed areas, like The Energy Zone and Kids' Town, offer the opportunity for kids to learn, climb, and explore.
Photo courtesy of TK Photography Chicago
No. 4:
With a special emphasis on early childhood learning, the Kohl Children's Museum just outside Chicago features 17 interactive exhibits. Kids get creative at Adventures in Art, practice social skills at Cooperation Station, make a splash at Water Works, and connect with nature in the outdoor Habitat Park. The museum is designed for children under 8 years of age.
Photo courtesy of Haleigh Collins, Mississippi Children's Museum
No. 3:
Dynamic hands-on exhibits and learning programs make the Mississippi Children's Museum an engaging and fun place for kiddos. This children's museum places an emphasis on the areas of literacy, health and nutrition, cultural arts, STEAM, and Mississippi heritage with its eight galleries and seasonal exhibits.
Photo courtesy of Children's Museum of Pittsburgh
No. 2:
Inside the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, visitors can explore numerous hands-on, interactive exhibit areas meant to spark curiosity. The Garage is the place to explore things that bounce, race, and roll, while the Art Studio allows kids to express their creativity through various art forms. And the Kindness Gallery lets kids try different forms of communication to send messages of empathy and kindness.
Photo courtesy of The Children's Museum of indianapolis
No. 1:
A favorite Indy attraction, The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is the largest museum of its kind in the world, encompassing nearly 30 acres of fun-filled exhibits. Kids can snap a selfie with a T. rex, explore outer space through the lens of NASA’s Project Mercury, travel overseas without a passport in "Take Me There: Greece," and play one of 12 sports outdoors in a fabulous interactive sports park with health in mind.
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Jenny Peters
Jenny Peters – aka Jet Set Jen – is a Los... Read More
Jenny Peters – aka Jet Set Jen – is a Los Angeles-based freelance journalist, editor and party columnist specializing in travel, entertainment, film, food, wine, fashion and the other good things in life. She is a founding/voting member of the Critics Choice Association, who present the Critics’ Choice Awards every January. Her favorite places to be are on the beach in Southern California playing volleyball, scuba diving with the sharks in warm tropical waters or strolling the streets and soaking in the atmosphere of one of the world's great cities (New Orleans and Florence are her favorites).
Jenny Peters
Jenny Peters – aka Jet Set Jen – is a Los Angeles-based freelance journalist, editor and party columnist specializing in travel, entertainment, film, food, wine, fashion and the other good things in life. She is a founding/voting member of the Critics Choice Association, who present the Critics’ Choice Awards every January. Her favorite places to be are on the beach in Southern California playing volleyball, scuba diving with the sharks in warm tropical waters or strolling the streets and soaking in the atmosphere of one of the world's great cities (New Orleans and Florence are her favorites).
Jessica James
Jessica James is an award-winning novelist and... Read More
Jessica James is an award-winning novelist and freelance writer who shares her passion for history and travel by writing about historical destinations and off-the-beaten path sites across the United States. Her blog Past Lane Travels has been named the #1 history and travel blog in the USA, and features many regional destinations that are often overlooked. You can find out more about her books at www.jessicajamesbooks.com.
Jessica James
Jessica James is an award-winning novelist and freelance writer who shares her passion for history and travel by writing about historical destinations and off-the-beaten path sites across the United States. Her blog Past Lane Travels has been named the #1 history and travel blog in the USA, and features many regional destinations that are often overlooked. You can find out more about her books at www.jessicajamesbooks.com.
Joanne and Tony DiBona
Joanne and Tony DiBona know a thing or two about... Read More
Joanne and Tony DiBona know a thing or two about creating photo galleries to share their personal travel experiences around the world with their readers. Their articles have been featured on 10Best for the past decade, as well as in national and international print and online media. Their awards for photography and journalism fill up an entire wall in their office, the most recent being a top national award for their US and international galleries published on 10Best. Follow their travel adventures on their scenic photography website and travel blog. Have a question about travel? Contact them on their Instagram and Facebook pages.
Joanne and Tony DiBona
Joanne and Tony DiBona know a thing or two about creating photo galleries to share their personal travel experiences around the world with their readers. Their articles have been featured on 10Best for the past decade, as well as in national and international print and online media. Their awards for photography and journalism fill up an entire wall in their office, the most recent being a top national award for their US and international galleries published on 10Best. Follow their travel adventures on their scenic photography website and travel blog. Have a question about travel? Contact them on their Instagram and Facebook pages.
Karen Dawkins
An avid traveler with an eye on getting the best... Read More
An avid traveler with an eye on getting the best bang for the buck, Karen Dawkins shares destination guides, activity reviews and travel tips at Family Travels on a Budget and in many other publications. Writing since 2012, her family travel blog has evolved in recent years to include popular articles on travel with teens and adults only getaways in the United States and beyond.
Karen Dawkins
An avid traveler with an eye on getting the best bang for the buck, Karen Dawkins shares destination guides, activity reviews and travel tips at Family Travels on a Budget and in many other publications. Writing since 2012, her family travel blog has evolved in recent years to include popular articles on travel with teens and adults only getaways in the United States and beyond.
Kyle McCarthy
Kyle McCarthy is the co-founder and editor of... Read More
Kyle McCarthy is the co-founder and editor of Family Travel Forum, the trusted resource for family vacation planners since 1996. FTF’s award-winning publications: MyFamilyTravels.com, America’s Most Popular Family Vacations and The Family Vacationist e-newsletter provide destination reviews, tips and seasonal roundups for all aspects of travel. Ms. McCarthy, author of a dozen Frommer’s guidebooks, also contributes to US News, CNN and other publications. She can be found on most social networks @familytravelforum.
Kyle McCarthy
Kyle McCarthy is the co-founder and editor of Family Travel Forum, the trusted resource for family vacation planners since 1996. FTF’s award-winning publications: MyFamilyTravels.com, America’s Most Popular Family Vacations and The Family Vacationist e-newsletter provide destination reviews, tips and seasonal roundups for all aspects of travel. Ms. McCarthy, author of a dozen Frommer’s guidebooks, also contributes to US News, CNN and other publications. She can be found on most social networks @familytravelforum.
Catherine Smith
Catherine Smith, Readers' Choice Awards... Read More
Catherine Smith, Readers' Choice Awards Production Manager and Social Media Director for USA TODAY 10Best, has a special interest in unique culinary experiences and off-the-beaten-path adventures. Catherine is the founder of Her Bags Were Packed where she focuses on helping women release emotional baggage through solo travel and self-discovery.
Catherine Smith
Catherine Smith, Readers' Choice Awards Production Manager and Social Media Director for USA TODAY 10Best, has a special interest in unique culinary experiences and off-the-beaten-path adventures. Catherine is the founder of Her Bags Were Packed where she focuses on helping women release emotional baggage through solo travel and self-discovery.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
