Often touted as one of the best of its kind in the country, the Minnesota Children’s Museum in downtown St. Paul features 65,000 square feet of fun and welcomes more than 400,000 visitors a year. The museum is organized into different "worlds," which focus on topics including the environment, art, science and exploration.

Located on the West shore of Bde Maka Ska in Minneapolis, The Bakken Museum inspires children to learn and make the world a better place through science, technology, and the humanities. The museum features interactive exhibits for all ages and offers spaces to make movies, test out some of Ben Franklin's favorite experiments, and more.

The 10,000-square-foot Duluth Children's Museum features a dinosaur dig area, an engineering lab, an interactive bank and stock market, a magnetic wall and more, in addition to special exhibits. Other highlights include two real field jackets: plaster casings that paleontologists use to safely transport fossils and other delicate specimens. The museum is focused on furthering its STEM education opportunities, in addition to appealing to the younger set.

Future scientists and engineers will find many ways to stimulate their brains at this interactive Twin Cities museum. In the Design Lab, families can make their own catapults, experiment with circuits and learn about wind power. The Sensor Zone lets kids explore light, sound and thermal energy.

Don’t miss the K’Nex Ball Machine, a giant kinetic sculpture built by a University of Minnesota student. Standing 23 feet tall and incorporating more than 100,000 K’Nex pieces, the lobby structure runs all day transporting plastic balls around tracks, down ramps and chutes, and up elevators.

This northeast Minnesota museum lets kids dig for dinosaur fossils, learn about geography, navigate a maze and operate a replica dam. It’s open six days a week in summer and Fridays and Saturdays in fall and winter, and the admission includes access to the attached Judy Garland Museum. There, “Wizard of Oz” fans can see memorabilia from the classic movie, including a 3,000 piece exhibit and the carriage from the iconic Emerald City scene. 

This children's museum in Mankato connects visitors to the surrounding area with hands-on exhibits about farming, quarrying, engineering and more. Babies and toddlers can romp on the Play Porch (inspired by the Betsy-Tacy novels by Mankato native Maud Hart Lovelace), while teens and adults can get a taste of STEM education in the Makers Space.

Putting the power of play to work to help kids develop skills, a sense of place and purpose, Otter Cove Children’s Museum in Fergus Falls offers innovative programs and immersive exhibits such as a mock animal hospital and a stage where kids can put on a show.

You can also check out SPARK Children's Museum of Rochester, Inc., located in an expanded space at the Apache Mall. They offer interactive experiences for all ages, promoting learning about the world, each other, and local environments through hands-on exploration and play. Explore exhibits and participate in programs focused on STEM, literacy, cultural awareness, and health and wellness. Join us for activities like yoga, dance, art projects, and more.