- Attraction: Chicago Children’s Museum
- Location: 700 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
- Industry: Children’s Museum
- Website: https://www.chicagochildrensmuseum.org/
Children transform into dinosaur explorers, fearless firefighters, and master builders the moment they step through the doors at Chicago Children’s Museum.
Founded in 1982 and located at Navy Pier since 1995, this vibrant institution has grown to become the second most visited children’s museum in the country, serving over 650,000 visitors annually.
The museum spans three exciting floors where kids can dig for bones on a dinosaur expedition, scale a three-story schooner from cargo hold to crow’s nest, and make a big splash in a squirting, pumping water playground.
With all-day multiple entry tickets and an incredible array of hands-on experiences, families consistently plan to spend at least three hours here—though many find themselves staying much longer as children become completely absorbed in the imaginative play possibilities.
The Ultimate Playground Adventures
Dinosaur Expedition: You’ll watch your little paleontologists get absolutely thrilled as they excavate “bones” in this incredibly realistic dig site.
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Keep Exploring →The make-believe circus room and place to dig for dinosaur bones consistently ranks as one of the most popular attractions, where children use real tools and brushes to uncover fossils just like genuine archaeologists.
WaterWays Playground: Prepare for squeals of delight at this spectacular water play area! Kids make a big splash in a squirting, pumping water playground with raincoats provided, and the “water room” features water wheels, water falls, and every kind of water play you can imagine. Water Ways is a very fun room but kids often get soaked, so bringing a change of clothes is definitely recommended.
Three-Story Kovler Family Schooner: Children can scale a three-story schooner, from cargo hold to crow’s nest, creating their own nautical adventures as they climb through this massive ship replica. The climbing structure provides endless opportunities for imaginative play and physical activity.
Tinkering Lab: Kids tinker with real tools and materials in the ultimate DIY maker-space, and the tinker room is very well stocked. The Tinkering Lab allows children and adults to use real tools and materials to experiment with creativity, developing their own ideas and products. You’ll be amazed watching your children build, create, and problem-solve using authentic materials.
Play It Safe Fire Station: Children can dress up as a firefighter, drive the truck and put out a “fire”.
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Discover MoreThe life-size fire truck creates an incredibly immersive experience where kids can truly feel like hometown heroes.
Kids Town: This early-learning exhibit features real-life items such as a CTA bus, kid-sized cityscape, and mini grocery store.
Children love shopping, driving the bus, and role-playing adult activities in this perfectly scaled-down city environment.
Treehouse Trails: Kids camp, climb, burrow, and make believe in the Treehouse Trails enchanted forest, offering a magical nature-inspired play space that encourages imaginative adventures.
Creative Expression & Learning Spaces
Kraft Artabounds Studio: Children can paint, print, sew, sketch and sculpt in an authentic art studio. The Kraft Artabounds Studio has adjustable-height tables to accommodate children of all ages and abilities, making art accessible for everyone.
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Keep Exploring →Pritzker Playspace: Pritzker Playspace features guided sensory explorations designed specifically for infants and toddlers, providing a safe and stimulating environment for the youngest visitors to explore through touch, sound, and movement.
Michael’s Museum Collection: Stop by Michael’s Museum: A Curious Collection of Tiny Treasures, featuring nearly 100 miniatures donated by founder and curator Michael Horvich. This unique permanent exhibit showcases incredible miniature artworks that fascinate children and adults alike.
Water City Exhibit: In the new Water City experience, children of all ages and abilities can determine their own experiments, narratives, sensory experiences, and explorations of the physical properties of water, connecting water play and STEM experiences. The exhibit includes a central water feature with three legs echoing the three branches of the Chicago River, and uniquely Chicago elements such as a lock/dam system, Lake Michigan, and skyscrapers from Chicago’s iconic skyline.
Atmosphere & Experience
Multi-Level Layout: There are 3 levels of hands on fun for the kids, with each floor offering distinct experiences and themes.
Many of the rooms have a single entrance, which allows parents to give a little more space and freedom to their kids when they’re ready for it.
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Discover MorePhysical Over Digital: CCM keeps its exhibits far more physical than electronic, encouraging children to engage with real materials and develop hands-on skills rather than screen-based activities. Set your kids free from screens, school tests, and the regular routine by allowing them to develop skills and learn in a new kind of way.
Navy Pier Integration: You’ll really enjoy how the museum is interconnected with the shops and restaurants of Navy Pier from the inside, making it easy to combine your museum visit with other Navy Pier attractions. You can spend hours inside the museum and pavilion if weather is an issue.
Inclusive Design: The museum is committed to making its programs, facilities and services fully inclusive, with ramps allowing children using wheelchairs to enter the Treehouse Trails and Kovler Family Schooner exhibits. All guest connections staff receive sensitivity training.
Other Considerations
Pricing Value: Admission for adults and children (1 year and older) is $21 per person for Illinois residents with proof of Illinois residency, and $25 per person for non-Illinois residents. Children under 1 year old receive free admission, and veterans and active military receive free admission every day with valid military status identification.
The pricing represents excellent value considering the extensive exhibits and all-day re-entry privileges.
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Keep Exploring →Ideal Visit Duration: Prepare to stay there at least 3 hours because children don’t want to leave, though many families spend about 5 or 6 hours there, leaving only because they realized they were hungry. Do your best to let kids choose when they’re done with one room rather than rushing through exhibits.
Age Sweet Spot: CCM is especially great for kids in the 2-6 age range, but it’s still good well outside that range on both ends. Highly recommend visiting this for anyone with kids under 6 years old, though children up to 10 years old will find plenty of engaging activities.
Crowd Management: It gets busy, with much of the groups being school groups, so weekends are often better than weekdays. Visiting the Children’s Museum on weekday mornings is a less busy time, and try the free Thursday nights for reduced crowds.
Parking Situation: Navy Pier has 1500 parking spots in its indoor garage, though parking can be challenging and expensive during peak times. Designated accessible parking spaces are available with access to elevators and ramps.
Food & Dining: Outside food and drink (other than bottled water or coffee in thermal mugs) are not permitted inside the museum.
Small snack items may be consumed in the Snack Spots located on main levels 2 and 3. To eat lunch, museum visitors must exit the museum and may choose to picnic in Navy Pier’s public spaces or dine at one of the many restaurants. Dine with their Dining Partner: Chef Art Smith’s Reunion on Navy Pier – right next door, where you can show your CCM ticket purchase for 1 FREE kid meal with an adult entree purchase.
Special Programs: Chicago Children’s Museum offers a rotating calendar of programs in the Art Studio, Great Hall, Pritzker Playspace, and Tinkering Lab. Free passes are available 1 hour before the workshop starts at each workshop location, with space being limited.
Accessibility Features: The entire museum is wheelchair accessible, with sound-reducing headphones, wheelchair lap trays, and dynamic seating devices available.
A Storybook Guide explaining the various exhibits is available online or at guest relations for children with developmental disabilities.
Chicago Children’s Museum
📍 700 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
