Mission:

Madison Children’s Museum connects children with their families, their communities, and the world beyond through discovery learning and creative play.

History:

Early childhood specialists founded Madison Children’s Museum in 1980. Volunteers oversaw traveling exhibits and a temporary home at the Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters, until the popular program found a home in a warehouse on West Washington Ave, followed by a move to 100 State Street in 1991.

Expansion began again in 2005 when MCM acquired a $5 million, five-story building through the generosity of W. Jerome Frautschi. Renovation joined innovation with a $10 million capital campaign highlighting recycled materials, local builders, and a rooftop garden. Through these efforts, MCM has become a national leader in museum practices.

Our Hamilton Street facility opened its doors in August 2010, serving a bigger audience in a learning playground emphasizing art, science, history, culture, health, and civic engagement.