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Boston Children's Museum

ChildrenArtScienceClosed todayFrom $24South Station (Red Line, Silver Line SL1/SL2/SL3, Commuter Rail) — short walk across Fort Point Channel

Founded in 1913, Boston Children's Museum is the second-oldest children's museum in the United States, and has occupied its waterfront home on Children's Wharf beside Fort Point Channel since 1979. Out on the plaza stands the Hood Milk Bottle, a 40-foot, 15,000-pound wooden ice-cream stand built in Taunton in 1933 and installed here in 1977 — one of Boston's more improbable landmarks. Inside, three floors of hands-on exhibits run from the New Balance Foundation Climb, a three-storey Luckey Climber sculpture first built for the Museum in 1985, to Kyo-no-Machiya, an authentic two-storey Kyoto silk merchant's house given by Boston's sister city and reassembled in Boston by Japanese carpenters. Exhibits span science and engineering, art, culture, health and early-years play, with dedicated spaces for children under three.

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Permanent Collections

Plan Your Visit

Getting there

308 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210, USA

Nearest station: South Station (Red Line, Silver Line SL1/SL2/SL3, Commuter Rail) — short walk across Fort Point Channel, Courthouse (Silver Line SL1/SL2/SL3)

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Hours

Closed until 17 September

Closed for annual maintenance; reopens Friday 18 September 2026

First Saturday of the month - opens at 10:00am 3 October, 10:00–16:00

Mon09:00–16:00
TueClosed
Wed09:00–16:00
ThuToday09:00–16:00
Fri09:00–16:00
Sat09:00–16:00
Sun09:00–16:00

Admission

From $24

Adults $24; children aged 1–15 $24; infants under 12 months and members free. $1 admission for all visitors in the Sunday 1:00pm–4:00pm timeslot (online reservation required). Half-price for up to four people with a public library coupon; $3 per person (up to four) with an EBT, WIC or Wonderfund Access card.

Nearby

Institute of Contemporary Art / Boston

Architecture7 min walk

Old State House

Architecture12 min walk

Boston Athenæum

Art15 min walk

Paul Revere House

Architecture16 min walk

Visitor Information

How much does Boston Children's Museum cost?
Standard adult admission to Boston Children's Museum is $24. Adults $24; children aged 1–15 $24; infants under 12 months and members free. $1 admission for all visitors in the Sunday 1:00pm–4:00pm timeslot (online reservation required). Half-price for up to four people with a public library coupon; $3 per person (up to four) with an EBT, WIC or Wonderfund Access card.. Prices for special exhibitions and timed-entry slots may differ.
What are the opening hours of Boston Children's Museum?
Boston Children's Museum is open Wednesday–Monday 9:00am–4:00pm; closed Tuesdays. On the first Saturday of each month the Museum opens at 10:00am. Closed for annual maintenance from Tuesday 8 September to Thursday 17 September 2026, reopening Friday 18 September. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.
Where is Boston Children's Museum?
Boston Children's Museum is located at 308 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210, USA, in the Fort Point / Seaport area of Boston. The nearest stations are South Station (Red Line, Silver Line SL1/SL2/SL3, Commuter Rail) — short walk across Fort Point Channel, Courthouse (Silver Line SL1/SL2/SL3).
What can I see at Boston Children's Museum?
Three floors of hands-on play on Fort Point Channel: a real Kyoto townhouse, a three-storey climbing maze and a giant milk bottle out front. Current highlights include Construction Zone, Japanese House, New Balance Foundation Climb.
Do I need to book Boston Children's Museum in advance?
Booking ahead is recommended, especially for weekends, school holidays, and special exhibitions. Tickets are normally on the museum's website, and a pre-booked timed slot helps you avoid queues at the entrance.
When is the best time to visit Boston Children's Museum?
Weekday mornings shortly after opening are typically the quietest, especially mid-week. Late afternoons can also be calmer. Weekends, school holidays, and the lunch rush are the busiest periods.

Ajay Suresh (ajay_suresh), via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

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