Des Moines Children's Museum

Des Moines Children's Museum We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization recognizing our goal of opening the first children's museum in the Des Moines metro. Come out and play!!
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We started as a "museum without walls" bringing fun to the community with temporary and traveling exhibits. We now have a museum WITH walls featuring many fun permanent exhibits! We are located on the lower level of Valley West Mall in West Des Moines, Iowa! Our mission is to build the foundation of lifelong learning by promoting the power of play.

Fall into fun this hot week at the Museum!Monday: OobleckTuesday: Pipe Cleaner Worry DollsWednesday: Musical Instruments...
08/31/2026

Fall into fun this hot week at the Museum!

Monday: Oobleck
Tuesday: Pipe Cleaner Worry Dolls
Wednesday: Musical Instruments
Thursday: How Does A Cactus Drink?
Friday: Cotton Ball Guanacos
Saturday: Bird Seed Sensory Bin

The fourth Friday of each month is our Sensory Friendly play time for children on the autism spectrum or with other sens...
08/27/2026

The fourth Friday of each month is our Sensory Friendly play time for children on the autism spectrum or with other sensory sensitivities and their families to connect and explore in a calm and quieter space.

All regular exhibits will be open. We will have sensory bins, communication boards, and a low light calming space.

It's crazy to think September is next week already! To celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, we will have a specia...
08/25/2026

It's crazy to think September is next week already! To celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, we will have a special story time Wednesday afternoons in Spanish. Take a look at the other activities happening throughout September in the Museum.

Happy First Week of the new school year! While school may be in session, we still have plenty of fun learning happening ...
08/24/2026

Happy First Week of the new school year! While school may be in session, we still have plenty of fun learning happening at the Museum

Monday: Apple slime
Tuesday: Fashion Designer
Wednesday: Ants On A Log
Thursday: Pack A Lunch
Friday: Apple Print Painting
Saturday: Space Sensory Bin

Thank you to for bringing out their trailer to the Museum on Monday! Kids got to learn all about corn and biofuels whil...
08/21/2026

Thank you to for bringing out their trailer to the Museum on Monday! Kids got to learn all about corn and biofuels while having some fun. We love having visitors share in our mission of building the foundation of lifelong learning through the power of play.

Join us with a special guest author for story time tomorrow morning at 10:30 a.m.
08/19/2026

Join us with a special guest author for story time tomorrow morning at 10:30 a.m.

It's the last week of summer vacation and we're bringing in some extra fun! The Iowa Corn trailer will be here Monday mo...
08/17/2026

It's the last week of summer vacation and we're bringing in some extra fun! The Iowa Corn trailer will be here Monday morning from 10 a.m. - noon, we will have extra activities in the party rooms M-F for Art Week, and Everybody Wins! Iowa will be doing the last story time of the summer at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

Here's a look at the other activities this week:

Monday: Shaving Cream Tables
Tuesday: Dino Skeleton
Wednesday: Sequins Play Dough
Thursday: Mondrain Play Dough
Friday: Eraser Prints
Saturday: Zen Garden Sensory Bin

Come out and experience the Iowa Corn Education Trailer next Monday!Not everyone can visit a farm or an ethanol plant, s...
08/11/2026

Come out and experience the Iowa Corn Education Trailer next Monday!

Not everyone can visit a farm or an ethanol plant, so Iowa Corn is bringing the experience to the Des Moines Children’s Museum with their mobile education trailer! The trailer will provide a fun, interactive experience for attendees to learn all about corn and biofuels.

The trailer will be set up in the parking lot outside of our doors (in the southwest corner of the mall parking lot). The trailer is free to explore and brought to you by Iowa Corn and the Des Moines Children’s Museum.

Join us for a week of fun and hands-on learning. All activities are included with admission. Bring the family and make m...
08/10/2026

Join us for a week of fun and hands-on learning. All activities are included with admission. Bring the family and make memories!

Monday: Bean Mosaic
Tuesday: Exploding Watermelon
Wednesday: Tissue Paper Art
Thursday: Henri Matisse Collage Art
Friday: Chalk Paint
Saturday: Spray Painting

We love our Tuesdays with Everybody Wins! Iowa! We have been so fortunate to partner with them this summer.
08/07/2026

We love our Tuesdays with Everybody Wins! Iowa! We have been so fortunate to partner with them this summer.

An imaginative journey into a child's inspiring inner garden… beautifully illustrated to help children explore emotions with joy and confidence.

Address

1551 Valley West Drive #108
West Des Moines, IA
50266

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 6:30pm
Thursday 9:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 9:30am - 4:30pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+15152188344

Website

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