Austin, TX

Austin Children's Museum

Address: 201 Colorado St., Austin TX, 78701 - MAP
Phone: (512) 472-2499
Web: www.austinkids.org

The Austin Children's Museum is a fun and stimulating experience that encourages young visitors to explore, learn and play within its 12,500 square feet of interactive spaces and places.

The museum began simply enough. It was essentially a museum without walls, and its founders took exhibits and programs to libraries, malls, schools and parks beginning in 1983.

After much success, the 'traveling' museum in 1987 found a permanent location, which it quickly outgrew. A major $4.8 million expansion in 1997 brought the Austin Children's Museum to its now-permanent location downtown at the Dell Discovery Center.

Exhibits spark the imagination and open the door to new experiences, all while using a proven tool to maintain a child's interest: Fun!

At the Austin Children's Museum, young patrons are encouraged to interact with every exhibit. Strumming a guitar, building a skyscraper, and rolling in a wildflower bed are just a few of the hands-on activities offered to children.

Permanent exhibits include:

• En Mi Familia - Created in cooperation with nationally acclaimed artist Carmen Lomas Garza. This exhibit explores family traditions across different cultures. What do families eat for dinner? What do they do for entertainment? You'll find out and get a chance to participate in this exhibit.
• Funstruction Zone - This three-level active play zone features kid-friendly construction materials, tools and operable equipment. Count, measure, sort and build.
• Global City - Explore how people work, live and play together in a global city.
• Rising Star Ranch (For children under 2 years) - Skip over the musical frog pond, run your hands through the wildflower bed and explore the ranch house & barn.