Minnesota's Best Children's Museums

Located on the West shore of Bde Maka Ska in Minneapolis, The Bakken Museum inspires children to learn and make the world a better place through science, technology, and the humanities. The museum features interactive exhibits for all ages and offers spaces to make movies, test out some of Ben Franklin's favorite experiments, and more.

The Bell Museum takes visitors on a journey through the natural history of the area, with intricate wildlife dioramas (designed and painted by influential artist Francis Lee Jaques) and a life-sized woolly mammoth. The museum also features the country’s first seamless dome planetarium. Closed Mondays.

This northeast Minnesota museum lets kids dig for dinosaur fossils, learn about geography, navigate a maze and operate a replica dam. It’s open six days a week in summer and Fridays and Saturdays in fall and winter, and the admission includes access to the attached Judy Garland Museum. There, “Wizard of Oz” fans can see memorabilia from the classic movie, including a 3,000 piece exhibit and the carriage from the iconic Emerald City scene. 

This children's museum in Mankato connects visitors to the surrounding area with hands-on exhibits about farming, quarrying, engineering and more. Babies and toddlers can romp on the Play Porch (inspired by the Betsy-Tacy novels by Mankato native Maud Hart Lovelace), while teens and adults can get a taste of STEM education in the Makers Space.

The 10,000-square-foot Duluth Children's Museum features a dinosaur dig area, an engineering lab, an interactive bank and stock market, a magnetic wall and more, in addition to special exhibits. Other highlights include two real field jackets: plaster casings that paleontologists use to safely transport fossils and other delicate specimens. The museum is focused on furthering its STEM education opportunities, in addition to appealing to the younger set.

One of Minnesota’s newest museums, the Great River Children’s Museum in downtown St. Cloud opened in June 2025 with eight incredible indoor and outdoor play exhibits. Kids of all ages will enjoy exhibits like Climber to the Clouds, an interactive 30-foot climb space that teaches kids about weather; Great Big River, a massive water table that celebrates the Mississippi River; Everyday Engineering’s construction zones, magnetic gear walls, and more; and the Tinker Workshop where kids can fuel their inspiration for crafting, painting, building and printmaking.

Located in Bemidji, this museum splits its 7,500-square-foot space among more than 40 hands-on, interactive exhibits, including live animals, a hot air balloon, a tractor, a pitching cage, and a unique nature- and science-oriented gift shop.

The Minneapolis Institute of Art (a.k.a. Mia) hosts several family-focused events. Family Day is held on the second Sunday of every month and features such free programming as hands-on art activities, storytelling, artist demonstrations, gallery hunts, and self-guided tours. For extra fun, use one of the scavenger hunts Mia provides online; they can be easily adapted to fit your kids' ages and capabilities.

Make new friends and introduce your child to the wonders of art in a comfortable, kid-friendly setting at Mini Mia. This free program for children ages 0-5 and their caregivers takes place on the first Wednesday of every month and includes a special gallery tour, movement class, and story time.

If you want a chance to experiment, Art Play! focuses on a different medium each month. Start by finding works in that style within Mia's collections. Then, create your own piece of artwork in one of their studios. This is a carefree, no-judgment, no-rules space — playful and full of hands-on fun.

The Family Center is always available and a great place for kiddos to blow off steam. It also offers a private bathroom and a nursing area. Top the day with lunch at Agra Culture Cafe and a quick game of "I-Spy" in The Mia Store!

Often touted as one of the best of its kind in the country, the Minnesota Children’s Museum in downtown St. Paul features 65,000 square feet of fun and welcomes more than 400,000 visitors a year. The museum is organized into different "worlds," which focus on topics including the environment, art, science and exploration.

Putting the power of play to work to help kids develop skills, a sense of place and purpose, Otter Cove Children’s Museum in Fergus Falls offers innovative programs and immersive exhibits such as a mock animal hospital and a stage where kids can put on a show.

The Science Museum of Minnesota's vibrant, open space spans four floors of engaging exhibits on everything from dinosaurs to the human body, the Mississippi River, race, questionable medical devices, and Legos.

More of a moviegoer? Kids love the museum's giant, 90-foot Omnitheater.

You can also check out SPARK Children's Museum of Rochester, Inc., located in an expanded space at the Apache Mall. They offer interactive experiences for all ages, promoting learning about the world, each other, and local environments through hands-on exploration and play. Explore exhibits and participate in programs focused on STEM, literacy, cultural awareness, and health and wellness. Join us for activities like yoga, dance, art projects, and more.

The Walker welcomes all families; kids 18 and under receive free admission, and they host special programming all year round. The Walker has also created downloadable BINGO, Seek & Find, and Scavenger Hunts, guaranteeing hours of fun for you and your children.

Technically, you wouldn't even need to step into the Walker to have your kids burn off some energy (although it's a lot of fun inside, too). With more than 60 sculptures from the Walker's collection in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, kids will love exploring the 11 acres of art. It also provides an infinite number of unique photo and selfie opportunities!

In addition, the first Saturday of each month provides free admission for families to explore the museum, make art, and watch kid-friendly short films. The second Sunday morning of the month invites kids and teens (and adults) with sensory processing differences to explore the museum in a calm environment.

Future scientists and engineers will find many ways to stimulate their brains at this interactive Twin Cities museum. In the Design Lab, families can make their own catapults, experiment with circuits and learn about wind power. The Sensor Zone lets kids explore light, sound and thermal energy.

Don’t miss the K’Nex Ball Machine, a giant kinetic sculpture built by a University of Minnesota student. Standing 23 feet tall and incorporating more than 100,000 K’Nex pieces, the lobby structure runs all day transporting plastic balls around tracks, down ramps and chutes, and up elevators.

Find more family-friendly things to do in Minnesota.