FAQ About Grand Rapids Children's Museum

The Grand Rapids Children's Museum includes two floors of hands-on interactive exhibits geared for kids 2-10 old. Exhibits range from a building zone and bubble tower to a “little” version of Grand Rapids that lets kids count money, shop for groceries, mail a package and more. Visit Rapid River Farm to experience what it’s like to live, work and play on a farm and Weathering Emotions to explore emotions like happiness and sadness through the wonders of nature. Watch bees build a honeycomb and fill it with honey. Put on a lab coat and get work in a child-sized dental office. There are many more exhibits, and they change on a regular basis, so there’s always something new. The Museum also offers daily activities, a Tots & Coffee Club, sensory playtimes and more.

The Grand Rapids Children's Museum is made for kids! It provides an environment for play that helps kids build creative thinking, collaboration, problem solving, physical skills and social emotional skills. 

The Museum is open 9am-4pm Monday-Saturday and noon-4pm Sundays. It is open until 8pm on the 3rd Thursday of each month. It is closed Mondays, New Year's Eve, New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

In 2026, the Museum will also be closed May 15-22 and Sept 6-11.

General admission is $12 for ages 1-64 and $11 for seniors (65+). Family members of active military members, healthcare workers, first responders and school faculty with proper ID can enter for a $10 admission fee. There is a fee of $3 for attending 3^rd Thursdays, a special 4-8pm playtime on the 3^rd Thursday of the month.

Note that adults are not permitted to enter the museum without children, and children under 18 are not permitted in the museum without adult supervision (anyone 18 and older). 

Purchase Attraction Pass GR for FREE admission to the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum and five other local museums, plus a host of other perks. One-day and two-day passes are available, with different pricing for children, adults and seniors.

Through Museums for All, EBT or WIC cardholders can pay just $1.75 (up to 12 people can enter per card) for admission. The ACM Reciprocal Network provides 50% off general admission for up to six members from the same household, including the cardholder. The ASTC Passport Program allows free admission for the cardholder and up to five family members from the same household. (Grand Rapids Children’s Museum must be more than 90 miles away from your home residence and the science center or museum you belong to.) The Museums on Us program offers one free admission to Bank of America or Merrill cardholders on select weekends.

Tickets are available at the Museum, though gift passes (in the form of e-tickets) can be purchased online here.

Yes, the Grand Rapids Children's Museum is accessible to all visitors. Push-button-activated entrance doors and wide, level paths accommodate strollers and wheelchairs. An elevator is available for transport between the two floors. Sensory tool kits can be checked out at the front desk to enrich the Museum experience for kids who need a little extra support. There are family restrooms and a lactation room. Visit the Accessible Grand Rapids page on Wheel the World for third party-verified accessibility information on the Children’s Museum and scroll down for accessibility guidance developed by Disability Advocates of Kent County.

The Grand Rapids Children’s Museum is located in downtown Grand Rapids, which sits at the junction of two major expressways: I-196 and US-131. The Museum is situated at one end of Monroe Center St., a half-mile boulevard lined with restaurants and shops. It is around the corner from the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, Grand Rapids Public Library and Veterans Memorial Park. It is a short walk from the Museum to 300+ restaurants, shops, cultural attractions and entertainment venues. Visitors can also take the free DASH shuttle to get around downtown.

There is abundant parking throughout the downtown area. View the downtown parking map – the Grand Rapids Children's Museum is the white building (adjacent to a blue one) at Monroe Center and Division Ave., at the extreme east and middle part of the map. Park in a DASH lot for as little as $3 a day and take the free DASH bus to the Museum – the bus stops right around the corner – and throughout downtown GR.

No, and no food or beverages are allowed inside Grand Rapids Children's Museum. The Museum encourages you to enjoy food and beverages before or after your visit. There are 170+ restaurants within comfortable walking distance, including many along Monroe Center St., which dead-ends at the Museum. 

Yes, the Thingamajigs Gift Shop on the first floor of the Museum offers educational toys for all ages, including toys, games and gifts that support creative play. Gift Shop hours generally match Museum hours.