Children's Museum of Manhattan

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History and Mission
CMOM inspires children and families to learn about themselves and our culturally diverse world through a unique environment of interactive exhibitions and programs. Since opening in a neighborhood storefront in 1973, we’ve grown into a unique 38,000 square-foot learning facility with outreach programs at nearly 50 sites throughout New York City. We’re proud to be a destination for visitors from around the world.
Each year, CMOM serves more than 350,000 people, including 65,000 children who visited the Museum as part of a school group or through one of the Museum’s community partners. CMOM is committed to making its exhibits and programs available to all, and with outreach programs at nearly 50 sites around New York City, we continually reach thousands of families who might not otherwise be able to benefit from our services.
CMOM focuses on four priority areas to impact children in ways that will last a lifetime:

•Early childhood education prepares children for success in school.
•Creativity in the arts and sciences inspires creative and analytical thinking skills for lifelong learning.
•Healthy lifestyles programs provide a blueprint for a family's physical, emotional and environmental well-being.
•Exploration of world cultures gives children awareness, understanding and context for the diverse society in which we all live.
These priorities are met through exhibitions, classes, workshops, performances and Museum-sponsored festivals. CMOM’s programs and exhibits are designed to address the multiple ways children learn and to help parents understand and support their children’s development. This approach is reflected throughout the Museum: in exhibitions like PlayWorks™—an entire floor devoted to pre-schoolers, in Gods, Myths and Mortals: Discover Ancient Greece—an introduction to art, science and literature; and in the Healthy Lifestyles programming developed with healthcare providers to encourage good nutrition and daily exercise. Professional Development programs are offered to parents, educators and childcare providers and health care professionals as a means to broaden CMOM’s influence in reaching children and their families effectively.

Every week more than 80 workshops, classes and performances are offered free with admission to the Museum, deepening the CMOM experience with related literacy-based activities, diverse cultural experiences and the performing arts. Every CMOM program is based on research, evaluation and testing.

Tips for Your Visit
Come to CMOM ready to play! Because we don’t allow eating in the museum, we suggest that you feed your child before your visit. Save your admission stickers for same-day free re-entry should you need to leave the museum for lunch or a snack. Check here for nearby dining options.
CMOM is bursting with fun, but short on stroller space. Please bring a stroller that folds or leave it at home to avoid the stroller check line and get straight to the fun!
Membership is a great way to save! It gives you a whole year of fun! If you plan to visit the Museum three or four times in the next twelve months, a membership is the way to go!
Stop by the CMOM Store to find exhibit-related toys, books, games and puzzles to extend your CMOM experience. The fun and learning will continue long after your visit.
Learning can be messy, gooey and wet sometimes! Wear comfortable clothes and consider bringing an extra change of clothes. CMOM provides waterproof smocks for children engaged in wet and messy activities.
You and your child can participate in fun workshops and activities FREE with admission. Stop at the yellow Visitor Information Desk in the 1st floor lobby to learn about drop-in programs, pick up tickets for weekend performances and sign up for special workshops. Performance tickets are available one hour before each show, on a first-come basis.
CMOM maintains rigorous cleaning and sanitizing standards to help our visitors stay healthy. Hand sanitizers are located throughout the Museum. We encourage our visitors to practice good habits to stay healthy: wash your hands often, cough and sneeze into your upper sleeve, and stay home if you or your child are not feeling well. For more information about H1N1 Flu (swine flu) and how to prevent it. All of our bathrooms (including the Men's rooms) are equipped with diaper changing tables.

Museum Policies

•Children must be accompanied by an adult age 18 or older.
•Strollers must be left at Coat Check. For a more enjoyable visit, we suggest you leave your stroller at home.
•CMOM reserves the right to store strollers in a safe outdoor storage area.
•No food or beverages are permitted in the Museum.
•All groups larger than 15 children must have a reservation.