CHICAGO CHILDRENS MUSEUM
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Mission Statement
Founded in 1982 in two rooms of the Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago Children’s Museum moved to Navy Pier in 1995 to become an anchor tenant for the city’s iconic lakefront fixture. With a mission to improve children’s lives by creating a community where play and learning connect, Chicago Children’s Museum is the only cultural institution in the city solely dedicated to nurturing children and supporting the adults in their lives. The museum offers three floors of fun, interactive experiences that promote healthy development and learning in crucial areas—ranging from science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to health and wellness, safety, and the arts. All exhibits and programs are based on the museum’s unique play-based approach which celebrates diversity and reflects the varied learning styles, interests, abilities, backgrounds, and cultural traditions of our visitors.
About This Cause
Serving more than 400,000 visitors each year, Chicago Children’s Museum is a popular destination for local families and tourists, with 47% of museum visitors coming from the City of Chicago, 25% from the Chicago suburbs and greater Illinois, and 28% from across the nation and around the world. The museum’s audience is among the most diverse of all Chicago cultural institutions: 55% Caucasian, 16% Latino, 12% African American, 11% Asian/Pacific Islander, and 6% mixed race/other. With a commitment to providing a wide variety of opportunities for playful learning, Chicago Children’s Museum features 13 permanent exhibits ranging from physical challenges like the three-story Climbing Schooner to experiences for early learners such as Kids Town and Treehouse Trails. In 2013, the museum proudly opened Tinkering Lab as Chicago’s first permanent space for children to engage in authentic, participatory, inquiry-based learning through the tinkering process. Tinkering Lab has been a major achievement for the museum as an experience that effectively engages children in exploring science and engineering concepts through first-hand challenges. In addition to permanent exhibits, the museum provides a variety of new experiences throughout the year, including 2-3 featured temporary exhibits. The Artabounds Studio offers daily educator-led workshops focusing on an array of artistic explorations—ranging from painting, drawing, and sculpting to sewing and costume-making. Each month also offers a variety of daily programs organized around a specific celebration (such as Black History Month in February) or a unique experience (such as Air Fair where children explore the wonders of wind power). The museum also presents performances through initiatives such as Made In Chicago, which features musicians and dancers from Chicago’s diverse ethnic and cultural communities. Recognizing that children living in low-income households and attending under-resourced schools often have the fewest opportunities for playful learning, the museum invests significant resources into serving Chicago’s neediest communities. In response to the most common barriers to participation—cost and transportation—the museum provides free or significantly discounted admission for 30% of visitors each year through initiatives such as Target Free Family Night every Thursday and a robust field trip program that serves more than 40,000 visitors each year.