Children's Museum

The Children’s Museum Tucson was founded as the Southwest Children’s Exploratory Center in November 1986 in a small space on Pennington Street. Our founders believed play was an essential part of learning for children. As it grew, it migrated to the Historic Y on University, and moved to its current location in the historic Carnegie Library in 1991.

Through all its growth, the Museum never lost sight of the founders’ vision to provide fun, hands-on learning experiences for kids. It now has 17,000 square feet and 13 exhibit areas filled with components that encourage kids to build, create, imagine, explore and discover. This is play-based learning at its best!

In 2015, we expanded with Children’s Museum Oro Valley, a satellite location specially sized for kids ages 0-5. With an Early Childhood Education focus, CMOV’s exhibits and programs are designed to stimulate curiosity and motivate learning through play. Arts-, literacy- and science-based activities help get our small visitors ready for school.

Vision To inspire children and their families to reach their full potential through discovery, creativity and learning.