Activities for Kids

6 Local Children’s Museums You Haven’t Visited Yet

Lesser-known children's museums hide out of sight but are well worth discovering. Read about our favorite secret places for hands-on play. We promise you haven't played them out ... yet.

By Taryn Bickley February 19, 2014

If you’ve already conquered Chicago Children’s Museum and Kohl Children’s Museum, then it’s time to find kiddie fun further afield. Head to lesser-known children’s museums that hide just out of sight but are well worth discovering. Click through our gallery for the 411 on secret places for imaginative play, interactive games and engaging exhibits. We promise you haven’t played them out … yet.

Bronzeville Children’s Museum – Chicago

Perfect for kids ages 3-9, the Bronzeville Children’s Museum is the only African-American children’s museum in the country. Combining historical references and experiences with play-based learning, the small-scale museum imparts big ideas when it comes to relevancy and knowledge. Their philosophy: Kids absorb more when they can touch, play and experience through interaction, short films and presentations. There is plenty to soak up, including permanent installations like “You Are What You Eat,” a healthy series that educates on the five food group; and “It’s Easy Being Green” an eco-planet lesson. That's in addition to temporary exhibits like “Binga Bank,” a look at Jesse Binga the banker of Bronzeville; and S.T.E.M., a science, technology, engineering and math tour.

9301 S. Stony Island Ave. (773-721-9301 or bronzevillechildrensmuseum.com). Open Tues.-Sat., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $5 per person.

Have you visited any of these museums? Let us know about it in the Comments section below.

— Taryn Bickley