I was REALLY wanting to take the kids to The Children’s Museum in Cincinnati but I wasn’t sure how we were going to fit it into our packed schedule. Luckily, we were able to find the time and I am so glad we did!
Cincinnati Museum Center
The Children’s Museum is actually located in the Cincinnati Museum Center. It is a one-of-a-kind, multi-museum complex housed in Union Terminal. There are many different museums/exhibits including the Cincinnati History Museum, The Children’s Museum, Museum of Natural History & Science, Cincinnati History Library and Archives, Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center, and the Robert D. Lindner OMNIMAX Theater.
Museum Center is the largest cultural institution in the city of Cincinnati, with more than 1.4 million visitors per year. Their permanent and temporary exhibits are supported and complemented by state-of-the-art collections and research facilities, the Geier Collections and Research Center, educational programs, professional development programs for teachers, day and overnight camps, public lectures and programs, tours of historic sites, and community-wide cultural events. Museum Center’s collection encompasses more than 1.8 million artifacts, artworks and archives and is incorporated into their exhibition, research, and education programs.
Museum of Natural History & Science
Our tickets allowed us to explore the Cincinnati History Museum, the Museum of Natural History & Science, and The Children’s Museum. However, due to time, we were not able to visit the Cincinnati History Museum.
Dinosaur Hall
We started out in the Museum of Natural History & Science. We were immediately greeted by six giant dinosaur specimens, including the nearly 60-foot-long Galeamopus pabsti. The Dinosaur Hall utilizes the museum’s globally-significant fossil collections to explore dinosaur evolution, ecology, and biology. Our daughter LOVES dinosaurs and thought this exhibit was the coolest! She loved seeing how small her hand was compared to dinosaur footprints.
Science Interactives Gallery
The Science Interactives Gallery lets you hoist yourself up with pulleys, watch clouds form, knock down targets with blasts of concentrated air, and engage in a spirited game of tug-of-war.
The Cave
The Cave is modeled from caves found in the tri-state region, covering two levels and 500 feet of darkened nooks and crannies, twists and turns. The immersive experience includes cascading waterfalls and cave formations such as stalagmites and stalactites. The lower trail sends you shimmying through tight corridors, while the wheelchair-accessible trail offers spectacular overlooks and opportunities for discovery.
Neil Armstrong Space Exploration Gallery
This exhibit celebrates the legacy of the historic Apollo 11 mission. The gallery is centered around a 360-degree immersive Galaxy Theater, presented by Great American Insurance Group experience, transporting guests to the excitement and trepidation of the summer of 1969.
The gallery also features four unique artifacts from the Apollo 11 mission. The inflight jacket worn under Armstrong’s spacesuit and the communications cap – or Snoopy cap – worn under his helmet are both included in the gallery, on loan from the National Air and Space Museum. An exact replica of his Apollo 11 spacesuit has been part of the Museum of Natural History & Science for years and returns with the gallery opening. And of course, the moon rock collected at Tranquility Base where Armstrong took his first small steps is also on display.
You can dive into space exploration yourself: try your hand at fun quizzes about the space race, learn about the hundreds of scientists and technicians that supported astronauts from Earth, and get the point of view of a NASA flight director during a simulated space launch.
Ice Age Gallery
In this exhibit, you can walk through a chilling ice cave and explore a trail surrounded by the plants and animals of the Ice Age. Stand face-to-tusk with a mastodon skeleton, explore the complex web of predator and prey and learn more about the salt deposits that drew these incredible beasts and their hunters to the region.
We all had so much fun exploring and learning! Once we finished with the Museum of Natural History & Science, we made our way to the Children’s Museum.
The Children’s Museum
There is so much to experience inside the children’s museum. Our first stop was the energy zone!
Energy Zone
In the Energy Zone, individual stations offer chances to analyze which path a ball must take to reach its destination and what simple machines or energy forces will help get it there. Kids can work together to fill the Big Bucket. If you hear a bell — watch out! It’s time for the balls to come raining down. This was definitely my son’s favorite spot! He loved standing below the bucket while it dumped the balls.
Kids’ Town
Kids’ Town was my daughter’s favorite spot! She was able to shop at the grocery store, take care of the animal as a veterinarian, cook in the kitchen, and much more!
Other Areas
Other areas of the Children’s Museum included Inside the Grin, KidSPACE, and Little Sprout’s Farm. Inside the Grin allows the kids to step inside a gigantic mouth to learn more about proper oral health and to practice their dental skills. KidSPACE is a place to create and explore in the interactive lab. Little Sprout’s Farms is perfect for infants and toddlers. It provides a protective and appealing setting for children 4 years old and younger and their caregivers.
Conclusion
I HIGHLY recommend this museum if you are ever in Cincinnati with your children. You could easily spend the whole day here having a blast! I promise your children will love you for it! You can follow them here: https://www.instagram.com/cincymuseum/