New York is known for its fair share of world-class museums, and within the mix are a number of kid-friendly museums that explore art, history, science, STEM, air, and space in fun, hands-on ways, where kids have a ton of fun while learning new things (mom-win!). And the offerings are diverse—Get a glimpse of what it was like to grow up in turn-of-the-century Manhattan at the Dimena Children’s Museum in NYC, step inside the world’s very first children’s museum in Brooklyn, or visit the longest continually farmed site in New York State at the Queens County Farm Museum—scroll down to find a place for your family’s next adventure. (featured photo credit: istock/wdstock)
New York Kid-Friendly Museums
Brooklyn
Brooklyn Children’s Museum
As the world’s first children’s museum, the Brooklyn Children’s Museum has been educating kids since 1899. The modern iteration is three floors of interactive exhibits and hands-on cultural and science programs for ages 6 months to 10 years. Kids will love the new AirMaze, a 20-foot-tall pressurized air system consisting of over 250 feet of tubes, valves, and blowers, or head outdoors on the rooftop terrace to The Nest, an interactive playscape inspired by the baya weaver bird’s unique nests. World Brooklyn is another engaging exhibit that lets kids explore kid-sized shops modeled on real ones in Brooklyn.
145 Brooklyn Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11213
As the world’s first children’s museum, the Brooklyn Children’s Museum has been educating kids since 1899. The modern iteration is three floors of interactive exhibits and hands-on cultural and science programs for ages 6 months to 10 years. Kids will love the new AirMaze, a 20-foot-tall pressurized air system consisting of over 250 feet of tubes, valves, and blowers, or head outdoors on the rooftop terrace to The Nest, an interactive playscape inspired by the baya weaver bird’s unique nests. World Brooklyn is another engaging exhibit that lets kids explore kid-sized shops modeled on real ones in Brooklyn.
145 Brooklyn Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11213
Bronx
Bronx Children’s Museum
What started as an outreach program transformed into a 10,000 foot active exhibit space for people of all ages. Your family can experience STEAM-based art, dramatic role-play, and scientific exploration at this NY museum. Exhibits like The Waterways, a 35-foot-long water table that mimics the Bronx River, Harlem River, and Orchard Beach, or The Woods explore natural features of the Bronx, and there’s a chance to build your own beaver lodge. While you are there, visit The Bronx’s first dedicated children’s bookstore called The Book Bodega.
725 Exterior Street, 2nd Floor, Bronx, NY 10451
What started as an outreach program transformed into a 10,000 foot active exhibit space for people of all ages. Your family can experience STEAM-based art, dramatic role-play, and scientific exploration at this NY museum. Exhibits like The Waterways, a 35-foot-long water table that mimics the Bronx River, Harlem River, and Orchard Beach, or The Woods explore natural features of the Bronx, and there’s a chance to build your own beaver lodge. While you are there, visit The Bronx’s first dedicated children’s bookstore called The Book Bodega.
725 Exterior Street, 2nd Floor, Bronx, NY 10451
Long Island
Children’s Museum of the East End
Founded by a group of mothers seeking more educational opportunities for their children on the East End of Long Island, this museum encourages playing and hands-on activities that boost learning and fun. Your littles can operate their own farmstead, get cooking in the diner and food truck, find out about wind power in a windmill, or learn physics and math on the 9-hole mini golf course. The Rainbow Music Garden, Art Studio, and Library are other popular spots to spend the day.
Founded by a group of mothers seeking more educational opportunities for their children on the East End of Long Island, this museum encourages playing and hands-on activities that boost learning and fun. Your littles can operate their own farmstead, get cooking in the diner and food truck, find out about wind power in a windmill, or learn physics and math on the 9-hole mini golf course. The Rainbow Music Garden, Art Studio, and Library are other popular spots to spend the day.
376 Bridgehampton/Sag Harbor Turnpike, P.O. Box 316, Bridgehampton, NY 11932
Cradle of Aviation Museum
For kids who love planes and space, the Donald Everett Axinn Air & Space Museum Hall features 75 aircraft and spacecraft that chronicle over 100 years of aerospace history. Your kids can learn about everything from the Jet Age to World War I while seeing hot air balloons and an actual Lunar Module at this unique NY museum. There is also a full-dome Planetarium, Hangar Two Jet Gallery, and a Pan Am exhibit. Don’t miss the Junior Jet Club for aviators ages 6 and under, where they can build and explore between the exhibits.
Charles Lindbergh Boulevard, Garden City, NY 11530
For kids who love planes and space, the Donald Everett Axinn Air & Space Museum Hall features 75 aircraft and spacecraft that chronicle over 100 years of aerospace history. Your kids can learn about everything from the Jet Age to World War I while seeing hot air balloons and an actual Lunar Module at this unique NY museum. There is also a full-dome Planetarium, Hangar Two Jet Gallery, and a Pan Am exhibit. Don’t miss the Junior Jet Club for aviators ages 6 and under, where they can build and explore between the exhibits.
Charles Lindbergh Boulevard, Garden City, NY 11530
Long Island Children’s Museum
With 14 interactive exhibits plus live theater, art spaces, and daily activities, your kids can explore, play, and create at the Long Island Children’s Museum. Learn about the sea with Saltwater Stories, see how comic books are made with Rick Parker: Never Stop Drawing, or step inside a bubble at the Bubble exhibit. Look out for their events, including Mini Mingle, the Little Learners Art Lab, and STEM Explorers.
11 Davis Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530
With 14 interactive exhibits plus live theater, art spaces, and daily activities, your kids can explore, play, and create at the Long Island Children’s Museum. Learn about the sea with Saltwater Stories, see how comic books are made with Rick Parker: Never Stop Drawing, or step inside a bubble at the Bubble exhibit. Look out for their events, including Mini Mingle, the Little Learners Art Lab, and STEM Explorers.
11 Davis Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530
Manhattan
American Museum of Natural History
This museum is probably most famous for its fossil halls, and for a good reason—those giant dinosaurs are pretty awesome to see up close for kids and adults alike. But there’s so much more to learn about and discover here, such as exhibits about ocean life, gems and minerals, human evolution, and the Hayden Planetarium. If your children have had a chance to see “A Night at the Museum,” they’ll be super psyched to see the parts of the facility featured in the movie (yes, “Dum Dum” has a special spot on the 3rd floor). And the recently opened Gilder Center includes a butterfly vivarium and Invisible Worlds, an immersive experience that shows how all life on Earth is connected.
200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024
This museum is probably most famous for its fossil halls, and for a good reason—those giant dinosaurs are pretty awesome to see up close for kids and adults alike. But there’s so much more to learn about and discover here, such as exhibits about ocean life, gems and minerals, human evolution, and the Hayden Planetarium. If your children have had a chance to see “A Night at the Museum,” they’ll be super psyched to see the parts of the facility featured in the movie (yes, “Dum Dum” has a special spot on the 3rd floor). And the recently opened Gilder Center includes a butterfly vivarium and Invisible Worlds, an immersive experience that shows how all life on Earth is connected.
200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024
Children’s Museum of Manhattan
This welcoming and fun space is perfect for little ones, with exhibits that inspire connection, exploration and play. Step into the Superpowered Metropolis, a comic book version of NYC that lets your child be the hero, or take on an exciting animal rescue mission with Dora and Diego in a Nickelodeon-sponsored exhibit. If the weather allows, splash around at a 22-foot-long outdoor water table that offers hands-on entertainment while teaching them valuable lessons about the city’s water system and the environment.
The Tisch Building, 212 West 83rd Street, New York, NY 10024
This welcoming and fun space is perfect for little ones, with exhibits that inspire connection, exploration and play. Step into the Superpowered Metropolis, a comic book version of NYC that lets your child be the hero, or take on an exciting animal rescue mission with Dora and Diego in a Nickelodeon-sponsored exhibit. If the weather allows, splash around at a 22-foot-long outdoor water table that offers hands-on entertainment while teaching them valuable lessons about the city’s water system and the environment.
The Tisch Building, 212 West 83rd Street, New York, NY 10024
DiMenna Children’s History Museum
Geared toward kids ages 8-13, this museum will take the family on a fascinating journey through 350 years of New York City history. You’ll learn about famous historical figures crucial to shaping the city, like Alexander Hamilton (yes, that guy from the musical!). There are also exhibits on lesser-known young people in the last century, such as the children who rode orphan trains from NYC to rural America and the newsboys and girls who sold newspapers on city streets. The American Dreamers exhibit features images of New Yorkers, past and present, and a photo booth that lets children snap photos and add the occupation they hope to have when they’re grown up.
The New York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West at 77th Street, New York, NY 10024
Geared toward kids ages 8-13, this museum will take the family on a fascinating journey through 350 years of New York City history. You’ll learn about famous historical figures crucial to shaping the city, like Alexander Hamilton (yes, that guy from the musical!). There are also exhibits on lesser-known young people in the last century, such as the children who rode orphan trains from NYC to rural America and the newsboys and girls who sold newspapers on city streets. The American Dreamers exhibit features images of New Yorkers, past and present, and a photo booth that lets children snap photos and add the occupation they hope to have when they’re grown up.
The New York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West at 77th Street, New York, NY 10024
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
Located on the iconic aircraft carrier Intrepid, this museum offers an educational, immersive experience the whole family will love. Young astronauts-in-training can explore the space shuttle Enterprise and make fascinating discoveries throughout 17 exhibit zones in the Space Shuttle Pavilion. A virtual flight zone and seeing restored aircraft, including the famed Concorde, will inspire the imagination.
Pier 86, West 46th St & 12th Avenue, New York, NY 10036
The Museum of the City of New York
Founded in 1923, this NY museum includes everything from a man’s suit worn to George Washington’s Inaugural Ball to the Carrie Walter Stettheimer dollhouse, which contains incredible miniature works. The Museum’s collection contains approximately 750,000 objects, including prints, photographs, decorative arts, costumes, paintings, sculpture, toys, and theatrical memorabilia. Look out for scavenger hunts and event opportunities for the whole family throughout the year.
1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street, New York, NY 10029
Founded in 1923, this NY museum includes everything from a man’s suit worn to George Washington’s Inaugural Ball to the Carrie Walter Stettheimer dollhouse, which contains incredible miniature works. The Museum’s collection contains approximately 750,000 objects, including prints, photographs, decorative arts, costumes, paintings, sculpture, toys, and theatrical memorabilia. Look out for scavenger hunts and event opportunities for the whole family throughout the year.
1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street, New York, NY 10029
South Street Seaport Museum
Take a tour of the 1885 tall ship Wavertree and show your kids firsthand how people lived and worked on this cargo sailing vessel. After, explore the Ambrose, a National Historic Landmark that was the first lightship to guard the largest shipping channel in and out of New York and New Jersey ports. And during the summer, enjoy a cruise on W.O. Decker, the last remaining wooden tugboat built in New York.
12 Fulton Street, New York, NY 10038
Take a tour of the 1885 tall ship Wavertree and show your kids firsthand how people lived and worked on this cargo sailing vessel. After, explore the Ambrose, a National Historic Landmark that was the first lightship to guard the largest shipping channel in and out of New York and New Jersey ports. And during the summer, enjoy a cruise on W.O. Decker, the last remaining wooden tugboat built in New York.
12 Fulton Street, New York, NY 10038
Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling
With artist-led workshops, story hour, and Toddler Time with Evan V, this NY Museum couldn’t be anymore kid-friendly. Specifically designed for children ages 3-8, Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling uses art and storytelling to spark young imaginations and help foster their language, literacy, and problem-solving skills. Drop into the Studio Lab, where kids can work with hands-on projects that explore the themes and ideas of the current exhibits.
898 Saint Nicholas Avenue at 155th Street, New York, NY 10032
With artist-led workshops, story hour, and Toddler Time with Evan V, this NY Museum couldn’t be anymore kid-friendly. Specifically designed for children ages 3-8, Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling uses art and storytelling to spark young imaginations and help foster their language, literacy, and problem-solving skills. Drop into the Studio Lab, where kids can work with hands-on projects that explore the themes and ideas of the current exhibits.
898 Saint Nicholas Avenue at 155th Street, New York, NY 10032
Queens
STEM comes to life at this Queens museum, where kids can blend fun with STEAM through hands-on science and exploration. Step into CityWorks and learn all about infrastructure functions, city transportation, water and wastewater, sanitation, and construction and urban development. Connected Worlds is another unique spot where you can be integrated into an animated world or have fun with bubbles at The Big Bubble Experiment.
47-01 111 Street, Corona, NY 11368
47-01 111 Street, Corona, NY 11368
Rockland
Trailside Museums & Zoo
Learn about the natural wonders and cultural history of the Hudson Valley, which is home to non-releasable and orphaned native animals. The Trailside Museums & Zoo allows you to see native wildlife close up in exhibits as you walk through the forest and see native gardens. The self-guided nature trail features small signs that serve as naturalist guides, while larger signs interpret ecological and historical stories. They also host hikes monthly so that you can learn more about the area.
Service Road, Tomkins Cove, NY 10986
Learn about the natural wonders and cultural history of the Hudson Valley, which is home to non-releasable and orphaned native animals. The Trailside Museums & Zoo allows you to see native wildlife close up in exhibits as you walk through the forest and see native gardens. The self-guided nature trail features small signs that serve as naturalist guides, while larger signs interpret ecological and historical stories. They also host hikes monthly so that you can learn more about the area.
Service Road, Tomkins Cove, NY 10986
Staten Island
Staten Island Children’s Museum
The museum offers imaginative, creative, and cultural hands-on experiences for children ages 1 and up. There are 12 indoor and outdoor exhibits, dance and art workshops, science and story times, and after-school, school break, and summer camps. Build a house, care for a pet, perform a show, run a conveyor belt, explore an ant hill, make music, and even captain a ship. There is even a Sensory Space where children can take a peaceful break and recharge before exploring the rest of the museum.
1000 Richmond Terrace, Building M, Staten Island, NY 10301
The museum offers imaginative, creative, and cultural hands-on experiences for children ages 1 and up. There are 12 indoor and outdoor exhibits, dance and art workshops, science and story times, and after-school, school break, and summer camps. Build a house, care for a pet, perform a show, run a conveyor belt, explore an ant hill, make music, and even captain a ship. There is even a Sensory Space where children can take a peaceful break and recharge before exploring the rest of the museum.
1000 Richmond Terrace, Building M, Staten Island, NY 10301
Westchester
Hudson River Museum
Visit the planetarium, see exhibits, or visit the new West Wing with unparalleled views of the Hudson River and Palisades at the Hudson River Museum. This is the place to see a variety of exhibits that reflect art, science, and history from multiple perspectives. Or stop in for their Free First Fridays or other special events. The Glenview Historic Home is another worthwhile spot to visit, where you can step into a home that is on the National Register of Historic Places.
511 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10701
Visit the planetarium, see exhibits, or visit the new West Wing with unparalleled views of the Hudson River and Palisades at the Hudson River Museum. This is the place to see a variety of exhibits that reflect art, science, and history from multiple perspectives. Or stop in for their Free First Fridays or other special events. The Glenview Historic Home is another worthwhile spot to visit, where you can step into a home that is on the National Register of Historic Places.
511 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10701
Westchester Children’s Museum
This interactive learning space includes spots to build, design, create, and discover. Enter their Physics Lab, Pretend Play Stage, Pool Noodle Pixel Wall, and MakerSpace. They even have a spot where you can play around the world, where you can learn about cultures through play. The Architecture Design Zone, Wind Power Exhibit, and Toddler Beach are other popular spots. Don’t miss the WCM Weather Station, where kids can be on television reporting the latest storm.
100 Playland Parkway, Rye, NY 10580
This interactive learning space includes spots to build, design, create, and discover. Enter their Physics Lab, Pretend Play Stage, Pool Noodle Pixel Wall, and MakerSpace. They even have a spot where you can play around the world, where you can learn about cultures through play. The Architecture Design Zone, Wind Power Exhibit, and Toddler Beach are other popular spots. Don’t miss the WCM Weather Station, where kids can be on television reporting the latest storm.
100 Playland Parkway, Rye, NY 10580
Adirondack Region
The Wild Center
Connect with nature at this indoor and outdoor, kid-friendly museum that celebrates the environment, animals, and people of the Adirondack region. Inside, you can meet an otter, watch the earth and waterways come to life at the Planet Adirondack display, or learn what you can do to help the environment at the Climate Solutions exhibit. Outside, make sure to walk over the bridge to see herons and other native animals, and climb the Wild Walk, where kids can visit a four-story twig tree house, swing on bridges, clamber over a spider’s web, or climb to the full-sized bald eagle’s nest.
45 Museum Drive, Upper Lake, NY 12986
