Madison Children’s Museum began in 1980 as a grassroots project by local parents, preschool teachers, and youth-program volunteers who wanted a playful, hands-on learning space for kids. Early programs popped up in borrowed storefronts and community rooms, with exhibits built by neighbors and educators.
The museum grew from traveling shows to a modest permanent downtown space in the 1990s, then undertook a major expansion and relocation to 100 N Hamilton St around 2009–2011. The building was transformed from standard downtown space into a multi-floor, ADA-accessible museum with maker studios, climbing elements, and a rooftop playscape.
That bottom-up origin still shapes its culture today, where community involvement and volunteer spirit are tangible. Families see it as a “community-made” space woven into daily downtown life on the Capitol Square.
Inside, bright windows and kid-scaled layouts create sightlines that help caregivers keep track while children dig into imaginative, tactile play. Step onto the rooftop and you’ll catch a downtown moment—Capitol dome views over a safe, contained outdoor play environment.
Programs evolve with the seasons, from sensory-friendly hours to maker workshops and field trips that connect schools and social-service partners. The result is a lively, welcoming hub that reflects Madison’s creative, family-forward heartbeat.
