Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota

Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota Ignite a lifelong love of learning by engaging children's natural curiosity in interactive ways!
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The Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is full of opportunities for discovery, development, and hands-on play. The Museum is many things: a mission, a place, and an organization -- but it is entirely devoted to serving children, families, and the greater community. Opened in May of 2015 at its fantastic, and permanent location in Mankato, Minne

sota, the Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota features exhibits, activities, and spaces to engage all ages. From the Betsy Tacy-inspired Play Porch to the mind-inspiring attractions of the Whiz Bang exhibit, and with a towering Mankato Clinic Tree of Forts Climber so tall that it burst through the roof, there's plenty to do and see -- all within a safe, inviting, and comfortable space. The Children's Museum of Minnesota exists thanks to the support of dozens of businesses, hundreds of families, many wonderful volunteers, and the entire Greater Mankato community. Tens of thousands of visitors have already enjoyed the Museum at its previous locations since 2009. With the continued help and enthusiasm of all who have supported us, we can't wait to put smiles on many more faces -- for generations to come.

Thursday, June 18 | 4:30-5:30pmGet ready for some tail-wagging fun! 🐾 A group of friendly volunteers from the Alliance o...
06/05/2026

Thursday, June 18 | 4:30-5:30pm
Get ready for some tail-wagging fun! 🐾 A group of friendly volunteers from the Alliance of Therapy Dogs will be visiting the Museum with their amazing canine companions. These specially trained pups are calm, gentle, and love meeting new friends. You might find them visiting schools, hospitals, libraries, and museums—anywhere they can help brighten someone’s day! Therapy dogs spread happiness, help people feel relaxed, and encourage smiles and connection. Unlike service dogs, they team up with their handlers to share comfort and joy with everyone they meet.

This program is included with Museum Daily Admission or Membership

Our Curiosity Campers are having a blast at Messy Masterpieces this morning! Shaving cream painting, flower hammering on...
06/03/2026

Our Curiosity Campers are having a blast at Messy Masterpieces this morning! Shaving cream painting, flower hammering on canvas bags and playing in the mud kitchen!
Interested in signing up for our half day camps?
Check them out here:
Summer Camps https://share.google/iFt1Vuulq3XykALxB

Member discounts and scholarships are available!

The Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota is excited to offer KinderKids Drama & Acting Classes!Tailored for children ...
06/03/2026

The Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota is excited to offer KinderKids Drama & Acting Classes!

Tailored for children in Pre-K or Kindergarten, this program assists in developing your child’s communication skills and boosting their confidence from the start. In our Kinder Kids program, every student will actively participate in creative drama activities aimed at improving speaking skills, boosting confidence, and fostering creative learning and early social skills.
Ray Smart (“Mr. Ray”) has a Master’s degree in Education and has spent the past 8 years serving over 1500 students in the Mankato area earning the 2023 Spirit of Youth Award from Mankato Public Schools.
The class includes 4 sessions, each session will be 30 minutes long and will be using Drama Kids curriculum as the core mode of instruction. The last 10 minutes of the first 3 classes will focus on building a character that students will perform during our fourth and final class of the session - Parents will be invited to watch!

Class Dates:
June | 12 & 26
July | 10 & 17

TIME: 9:30-10am

Ages: 4-6 years old
Cost: Free, registration required
Class Capacity : 15
Parents do not attend but are required to stay onsite during the entire 30 min session

Register Here: https://ecom.roller.app/cmsouthernmn/programregistration3/en-us/product/1962834?date=2026-06-12

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

In collaboration with Mayo Clinic Health System, these summer programs celebrate summer activities and healthy habits! C...
06/02/2026

In collaboration with Mayo Clinic Health System, these summer programs celebrate summer activities and healthy habits! Covering topics like First Aide and CPR, being active and eating healthy, guests can enjoy infused water, crafts, informational hand outs and activities that support MCHS's Slim Your Screentime initiative!

Dates | Times | Topics
☀️June 12 | 10-11:30am | Summer Safety, First Aide and CPR
🏊‍♀️July 10 | 10-11:30am | Being Active
🍎August 14 | 10-11:30am | Nutrition and Allergies

Congratulations to the winners of the John Deer pedal tractor! We hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thank you to Kibb...
06/02/2026

Congratulations to the winners of the John Deer pedal tractor! We hope you enjoy it for years to come!
Thank you to Kibble Equipment for donating the tractor to Ag Education Day 💚

06/02/2026

One more shout out to our event sponsors for another amazing year of AG Education! We appreciate you!



Grover Farm Trucking
Strobel Farms

Minnesota Foundation for Agriculture

Check out the summer line up of weekly programs! Something new to learn and discover everyday at the Children's Museum o...
06/01/2026

Check out the summer line up of weekly programs! Something new to learn and discover everyday at the Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota!
Check our website for a full calendar of programs and events!
https://www.cmsouthernmn.org/programming-events/

Program sponsors:
STEAM Explorers - The Thin Film Technology and HickoryTech Funds of the Mankato Area Foundation
Pollinator Explorers - CenterPoint Energy Foundation
Art Explorers - This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

At the Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to learn, play, and expl...
06/01/2026

At the Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to learn, play, and explore through camp experiences. Thanks to the generous support of our camp sponsor, Xcel Energy Foundation, Curiosity Camp scholarships are available to help make camp accessible for more families in our community.

Scholarship Applications can be found here:
https://forms.roller.app/ #/cmsouthernmn/13677d1ef69e4dd/form

Join us on Saturday June 13th from 10am to noon to celebrate the start of summer with our Butterfly House Opening Day! E...
05/31/2026

Join us on Saturday June 13th from 10am to noon to celebrate the start of summer with our Butterfly House Opening Day! Enjoy a fun-filled day with colorful activities, friendly llamas, and pollinators galore. Explore the beauty of Minnesota Native butterflies and other essential pollinators while experiencing interactive activities for the whole family. It’s the perfect way to welcome the season with nature, learning, and community fun!

With special guests from Happy Jolly Llama! 🦙

This event is included with Museum admission or membership.

This event is part of our Pollinators at Play exhibit powered by the CenterPoint Energy Foundation.

We are so excited to offer Musikgarten classes here at the museum for infants and preschooler/toddlers! These hands on c...
05/29/2026

We are so excited to offer Musikgarten classes here at the museum for infants and preschooler/toddlers! These hands on classes for child and caregiver provide not only exploration of songs, music and instruments but also help build fundamental milestone skills such as language, movement, and sensory input! A great way to bond with your little one.

Dates:
Session 1: June 2, 9,16,23
or
Session 2: July 28 August 4,18,25

Times:
Preschool/Toddler Course | 9:30-10:15am
Infant Course | 10:30-11am

🎵These classes are free but require registration
🎵They are not included in Museum admission so if you would like to stay and play, please purchase daily admission at the front desk.

Register here:
https://ecom.roller.app/cmsouthernmn/website/en-us/products

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Address

224 Lamm Street
Mankato, MN
56001

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 7pm
Friday 9am - 4pm
Saturday 9am - 4pm
Sunday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

+15073860279

Website

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