The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is perhaps the most famous and popular children’s museum in New York City. Open since 1973, it occupies a five-story building on the Upper West Side, two blocks from Central Park. The museum’s concept is built around “learning through play.” There are no boring displays with “do not touch” signs.
Interesting facts about the Children’s Museum of Manhattan in New York City
- The museum building covers nearly 3,500 square meters. It has five floors, each dedicated to a different theme.
- Everything in the museum is designed specifically for children aged 0-6, when the brain is developing most rapidly. More than 80 workshops, classes, and performances are offered weekly—all included in the ticket price.
- CMOM is a founding member of the Museum School of New York, a unique project where history is taught through exhibits.
- The museum’s work is structured around four themes: early education, arts and sciences, healthy living, and world cultures.
What to see inside the Children’s Museum of Manhattan: main exhibitions
PlayWorks™
A floor for children under 5: soft slides, sensory panels, role-play areas (shop, kitchen, construction site). Young children learn to interact, solve problems, and manage emotions through play.
EatSleepPlay
An interactive exhibit on nutrition, sleep, and exercise, created in collaboration with medical experts. Children prepare healthy meals, track the sleep patterns of characters, and explore the benefits of an active lifestyle.
Water Lab
This room is dedicated to the science of water. Children control streams, build dams, launch boats, and visually explore the laws of physics. In the summer, the program opens outdoors.
City Studio
A room simulating life in a big city: children “drive” a bus, “fight a fire,” and work on a construction site. These role-playing activities develop communication skills, intelligence, and imagination.
Literary Zone
Here, children listen to fairy tales, act out scenes from their favorite books, and create their own stories using illustrations and puppets.
Past Exhibitions
For 50 years, CMOM has hosted impressive temporary exhibitions: Ancient Greece (“Gods, Myths, and Mortals”), Japanese art and technology, and the mysteries of the human body. Stay tuned for announcements of new exhibitions at cmom.org.
What to do at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan: programs and Workshops
Music in Me!
Musical activities for the very young. The program was developed in collaboration with renowned children’s artist Laurie Berkner.
Gross Biology
“Gross Biology” — lessons on bacteria, microbes, and bodily functions for children fascinated by the strange and unusual.
Art Studio
Daily painting, sculpting, and collage classes. Professional teachers adapt activities to each child’s age.
Storytelling
Storytelling sessions: reading aloud, puppet theater, and collective storytelling — all to develop language and imagination.
Programs for Educators
CMOM offers professional training for educators and teachers to extend the museum’s practices beyond its walls.
History of the Children’s Museum of Manhattan
In 1973, New York City was experiencing a deep financial crisis and was cutting music, art, and cultural programs in its schools. However, a group of artists and educators, led by Bette Korman, created an informal space in a basement to ensure children from Harlem and the Upper West Side would continue to have access to creativity. The organization adopted the acronym GAME — Growth Through Art and Museum Experience.
Thanks to a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, the old courthouse on West 54th Street was converted into the city’s first full-scale exhibition space, the Manhattan Laboratory Museum. The space became a living experiment: educators tested new methods of learning through play, and children gained access to culture they had never had before.
On May 2, 1985, the organization officially changed its name to the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. In 1989, the museum moved to its current building on West 83rd Street, and in 2000, it completed a major renovation, adding a new entrance, a spacious foyer, and additional exhibition space.
In 2005, the museum received a $20 million grant from the Carnegie Corporation — a donation from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg — as one of 406 other city cultural and social institutions.
What to visit near the Children’s Museum of Manhattan
American Museum of Natural History
10-minute walk. One of the world’s largest museums, with dinosaurs, a planetarium, and hundreds of exhibits, it’s the perfect way to continue the day for older children.
Central Park
Carousel, playgrounds, boats on the pond — an endless space for strolling and picnicking.
Visitor’s information
📍 212 W 83rd St, New York, NY 10024
Hours: Tue–Sun: 10:00 AM–5:00 PM (Mon closed)
Tickets: $16 adults and children, $13 seniors, children under 2 years old are free.
Website: cmom.org
