KID-FRIENDLY MUSEUMS IN THE NYC AREA

For indoor family fun in the New York City area, the museums are tops. That's right -- we said museums. Stifle that yawn, because we've rounded up 40 of the most kid-friendly museums across NYC, Long Island, and the suburbs, from colorful kiddie havens to engaging institutions with ageless appeal.

Whether it's down the block or a short drive/train ride away (why not make a day of it?), a good museum is the perfect solution to keeping little brains busy during school breaks and a great family outing any time of year.

For upcoming performances, exhibits, festivals, and more  at these museums, check out our searchable calendar of events.

Click on a region below or scroll down for the full list:

New York City

Long Island

Westchester County, NY

Rockland County, NY

Orange County, NY

Fairfield County, CT

NEW YORK CITY

BRONX

Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum

895 Shore Road, Pelham Bay Park

718-885-1461

This historic stone mansion, built between 1836 and 1842, serves as a window into 19th-century life in the area, when many more grand country estates dotted the then-countryside. Visitors can take a tour of the mansion’s period-dressed rooms and view rotating exhibits that delve into significant periods of the site’s history.

Museum open Wednesday-Sunday 12-4pm; gardens/grounds open daily 8:30am-dusk. Museum admission: $5; $3 students and seniors; free children younger than 6. Admission is free to the gardens/grounds.

BROOKLYN

Brooklyn Children’s Museum

145 Brooklyn Avenue, Crown Heights

718-735-4400

Explore the museum’s collection of more than 30,000 objects at home by visiting Collections Central Online: www.brooklynkids/emuseum

This colorful museum includes permanent exhibits like Neighborhood Nature, where kids can take on the role of field scientist to observe life forms and document the environment of a freshwater pond, saltwater beach, urban woodland, and community garden; Totally Tots, an early learner exhibit for kids up to age 5 that includes Water Wonders, Art Studio, Building Zone, and Little Theater; and World Brooklyn, where visitors can take a trip through Brooklyn (or at least, a child-sized model of the city), to learn about its diversity through the stories of real people and places.

Open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm. $7.50; free for children younger than 1; free for all February 4-5 from 2-5pm and February 16 from 4-7pm.

- "Secrets of Circles" (open through March 4): A highly interactive, 2,000-square-foot exhibition with 18 exhibits designed to inspire kids and adults to investigate math and science.

Brooklyn Museum

200 Eastern Parkway, Prospect Heights

718-638-5000

Housed in a 560,000-square-foot Beaux-Arts building, it is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the U.S. with world-renowned permanent art collections. The museum is part of parks and gardens that include Prospect Park, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and the Prospect Park Zoo.
Open Wednesday 11am-6pm; Thursday-Friday 11am-10pm; Saturday-Sunday 11am-6pm. Suggested contribution: $10; $6 students and seniors; free for children younger than 12.

- "Question Bridge: Black Males" (open through June 3): A video installation featuring the exchanges of questions and answers among 150 black men living in 12 U.S. cities. Topics include a range of geographic, generational, economic, and educational strata.

- "Newspaper Fiction": The New York Journalism of Djuna Barnes, 1913-1919 (open through August 19): Explore the early journalistic career of this American writer and women’s rights advocate.

- "Rachel Kneebone: Regarding Rodin" (open through August 12): See 15 iconic works by this 19th-century French sculpture artist.

- "Raw/Cooked: Shura Chernozatonskaya" (open through April 8): This local artist, based in Red Hook, created two site-specific painting installations, one of which includes 33 canvases combined to create one large work.

Micro Museum

123 Smith Street, Boerum Hill

718-797-3116

Dedicated to big art, this small venue in downtown Brooklyn features interactive, media, visual, and performing arts.

Open Saturdays 12-7pm. $2 admission.

- "Above & Beyond": A three-year retrospective of the art of William and Kathleen Laziza, founders of the museum, that features never-before-seen works, including touch sensitive sculptures, wearable art pieces, paintings, videos, and more.

New York Transit Museum

Corner of Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn Heights

718-694-1600

As the largest museum in the U.S. dedicated to urban public transportation history, galleries showcase the tale of building NYC’s 100-year-old subway system and feature interactive exhibits.
Open Tuesday-Friday 10am-4pm; Saturday-Sunday 12-5pm. $7; $5 children and seniors.

- "Steel, Stone & Backbone: Building New York's Subways 1900-1925": This ongoing exhibit presents a look at the building of New York City’s first subway line through photos, artifacts, and videos.

MANHATTAN

American Museum of Natural History

Central Park West at 79th Street, Upper West Side

212-769-5100

Kids’ site: www.amnh.org/ology/anthropology

One of the largest museums in the world, the collections are made up of more than 32 million specimens and artifacts.

Open 10am-5:45pm daily. Suggested admission: $19; $14.50 students and seniors; $10.50 children 2-12.

- "Beyond Planet Earth: The Future of Space Exploration" (open through August 12): Track the history of space missions and learn about future travel into space.

- "The Butterfly Conservatory: Tropical Butterflies Alive in Winter" (through May 28): Close encounters of a fluttering kind—see more than 500 live butterflies in the museum’s re-created tropical forest.

Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM)

The Tisch Building, 212 West 83rd Street, Upper West Side

212-721-1223

Open Tuesday-Sunday and Monday public school holidays 10am-5pm. $11; $7 seniors; free children younger than 1; free for all on the first Friday of every month from 5-8pm.

A sample of the museum’s exhibits:

- PlayWorks: Children up to age 4 can feed alphabet letters to Alphie, the talking dragon, drive a fire truck, and more, all while exploring language, art, science, and imagination.

- Adventures with Dora and Diego: Children ages 2-6 join Diego on a series of high stakes animal rescue missions where they can help save armadillos, build a bear’s nest, and get ready for a fiesta at Dora’s house.

- Eat Sleep Play: Building Health Every Day: In CMOM’s newest permanent exhibit, explore ways that families can create a healthier lifestyle with interactive displays and activities that highlight the latest medical and behavioral research.

Children’s Museum of the Arts

103 Charlton Street, SoHo

212-274-0986

A hands-on arts museum that engages young artists with a clay bar, fine art studio, WEE space (for kids 5 and younger), and a media lab and sound booth.
Open Monday and Wednesday 12-5pm; Thursday-Friday 12-6pm; Saturday-Sunday 10am-6pm. $10; free seniors and children younger than 1; pay as you wish on Thursdays from 4-6pm.

 - "Make Art (In) Public" (open through March 4): This exhibit, featuring works by street artists such as Keith Haring, Swoon, Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Remed, Friedensreich Hundertwasser, Moondog, and Tranqui Yanqui, explores the accessibility of the arts for the public; the ways in which public art is a product of and a contributor to the cultural fabric of communities big and small; and the positive impact of the arts on building and bettering society.

DiMenna Children’s History Museum at New-York Historical Society

170 Central Park West at Richard Gilder Way, Upper West Side

212-873-3400

Located on the lower level of the New-York Historical Society, this is the first-ever museum that brings American history to life through the eyes of children. Targeted toward children ages 8-13, the museum features life stories of a diverse selection of youngsters who lived in NYC from the late 17th to the 20th centuries.

Open Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday 10am-6pm; Friday 10am-8pm; Sunday 11am-5pm. $15; $12 seniors and educators; $10 students; $5 children ages 7-13; free for kids younger than 7; pay as you wish on Fridays from 6-8pm. Admission includes entrance into the New-York Historical Society.

- Museum Scavenger Hunts (Saturdays and Sundays): Families team up for a historical scavenger hunt through the museum. Participation prizes are awarded.

SONY Wonder Technology Lab (SWTL)

56th Street and Madison Avenue

212-833-8100

This free technology and entertainment museum engages kids and adults of all ages with its dynamic, state-of-the-art facility that unites technology and creativity for entertaining, experiential learning. SWTL is a four-story technology and entertainment museum for all ages. It houses a wide variety of permanent, interactive exhibits, including Virtual Surgery, where visitors can “feel” what it’s like to perform open-heart surgery; WSWL™ Production Studio, where visitors can explore the various roles associated with television production; GameBuilder, where visitors can create their own computer racing game; and Wonder Of Music, where visitors explore the process of making music and perform in front of a virtual audience.

Open Tuesday-Saturday 9:30am-5pm. Admission is free but reservations are highly recommended (especially during school vacations) and can be made Tuesday-Friday 9am-2pm; a limited number of same-day tickets are available on a first come, first served basis beginning at 9:30am.

The New York City Police Museum

100 Old Slip, Lower Manhattan

212-480-3100

This museum preserves the history of the NYC Police Department (NYPD), giving visitors an insider’s look at the history and traditions of the largest police service in the country and its role in the history of New York City.

Open Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm; Sunday 12-5pm. $8; $5 seniors, students, and children; free for children younger than 2.

- Junior Officers Discovery Zone: This exhibit helps kids ages 3-10 understand the role of police offers in the community through imaginary play—such as “driving” a police car and observing a “crime scene”—and age-appropriate programs. Visitors can also analyze their own fingerprints, dress up in uniform, learn police radio calls, and participate in a physical challenge.

QUEENS

Museum of the Moving Image

36-01 35th Avenue, Astoria

718-777-6888

The only museum in the U.S. dedicated to the art, history, technique, and technology of the moving image in all its forms.

Open Tuesday-Thursday and Presidents’ Day (February 20) 10:30am–5pm; Friday 10:30am-8pm; Saturday-Sunday 10:30am-7pm. $12; $9 seniors and college students; $6 children; free for children younger than 3; free for all on Fridays from 4-8pm.

- "Jim Henson’s Fantastic World" (extended through March 4): This exhibit celebrates the creative genius of Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets, and includes more than 120 artifacts that illustrate Henson’s boundless creativity and innumerable accomplishments. Along with examples of his earlier work, the exhibit features 15 iconic puppets, including Miss Piggy, Kermit the Frog, Rowlf, and Bert and Ernie. See our calendar section for related screenings and programs.

New York Hall of Science

47-01 111th Street, Flushing Meadow-Corona Park

718-699-0005

Get your hands on more than 450 exhibits that engage learners of all inclinations and ages.
Open Tuesday-Thursday 9:30am-2pm; Friday 9:30am-5pm; Saturday-Sunday 10am-6pm. February 20-24: Open 9:30am-5pm daily. $11; $8 children, students, and seniors; free for children younger than 2.

- "Nikon Small World" (open through February 26): See the works of the winners of the 2011 Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition.

- "Animation" (open through September 2): Explore the process of animation with larger-than-life graphics of popular cartoons.

Queens County Farm Museum

73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park

718-347-3276

The museum strives to preserve Queens’ agricultural and horticultural past while heightening awareness of present-day sustainable agricultural and horticultural practices.

Open 10am-5pm daily. Monday-Friday: outdoor visiting only. Saturday-Sunday: farmhouse tours available. Free admission.

STATEN ISLAND

Historic Richmond Town

441 Clarke Avenue

718-351-1611

This living-history village allows visitors to recreate and interact with colonial history through guided tours, demonstrations, and hands-on activities. Follow a visit to the site’s museum, which hosts a rotating display of exhibits that highlight the historical importance of the area, with a guided tour of its 27 original buildings, including the oldest known schoolhouse in America, where you might meet a few costumed demonstrators engaging in old-fashioned trades and day-to-day duties.

Open Wednesday-Sunday 1-5pm; call ahead for tour schedule. $5; $4 seniors; $3.50 children ages 5-17.

Staten Island Children’s Museum

Snug Harbor Cultural Center, 1000 Richmond Terrace

718-273-2060

Interactive exhibitions and creative workshops are a launch pad for discovery as they are designed to nurture children’s natural curiosity and creativity. Kids can explore permanent exhibits like Bugs & Other Insects, where they can crawl through a human-sized ant hill, watch butterflies being born and bees working in their hives, and build bug inspired crafts; Great Explorations, where they’ll learn about extreme environments like rainforests, tundra, and the ocean floor; and House About It, where they’ll learn how homes are built and use the digger, wrecking ball, a drill, and design and decorate in the museum’s frame house.

Open Tuesday-Sunday 12-5pm; 10am-5pm during public school recesses. $6; free for children younger than 1; free for grandparents on Wednesdays.

LONG ISLAND

NASSAU COUNTY

Long Island Children’s Museum

11 Davis Avenue, Garden City

516-224-5800

The museum has about 15 standing galleries with exhibits and activities for young children, including Bricks & Sticks, where you can investigate the 3-D world and use building blocks to create your own structures; ClimbIt@LICM, a two-story climbing structure; mUSic, in which kids can make and listen to percussion instruments and investigate the science of sound.

Open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm. $11; $10 seniors; free for children 1 and younger.

- "Feasts for Beasts" (new permanent exhibit): Discover the amazing ways animals find and eat their food and participate in themed activities. Plus, meet the new additions to the museum’s animal menagerie.

- "Mystery of the Mayan Medallion" (open through April 29): Get a taste of what it’s like to be an archaeologist as you join in a treasure quest and immerse yourself in the beauty and intrigue of Mayan culture. This highly interactive exhibit has visitors translate ancient Mayan glyphs, examine an excavated skeleton, investigate the tomb-dwelling spiders, and more.

Nassau County Museum of Art: The Art Space for Children

1 Museum Drive, Roslyn

516-484-9338

View the permanent collection of more than 500 art objects from American and European art of the 19th and 20th centuries. Also, visit the 145 acres that make up the Sculpture Park, which has more than 40 sculptures on site.

Open Tuesday-Sunday 11am-4:45pm. $10; $4 students, seniors, and children ages 4-12; free for children younger than 4.

- "Nathan Sawaya: Recent Works" (open through March 18): Sawaya, a New York sculptor, works with LEGO blocks to create large-scale sculptures that portray the complexities of the human condition. From February 22-24, visit the museum for Families Making Art Together, a special vacation-week workshop that includes hands-on art making inspired by this exhibit.

Science Museum of Long Island

1526 North Plandome Road, Plandome

516-627-9400

A science activity center located on the Leeds Pond Preserve, this museum offers hands-on science workshops for children. All programs and workshops are by preregistration only.

SUFFOLK COUNTY

Children’s Maritime Museum at Port Jefferson

101 East Broadway, Port Jefferson

631-331-3277

Housed in the historic Chandlery Building on Port Jefferson Harbor, the Maritime Explorium is a lighthouse learning center with interactive exhibits for kids in primary grades and adults. Learn about Long Island’s natural ecosystem and maritime heritage through permanent installations like Navigation Station and Virtual Submarine—two interactive computer programs that allow visitors to virtually navigate the Port Jefferson harbor (both above and below water) while learning more about the natural attributes and history of the area.

Open Saturday-Sunday 1-5pm. $5 admission.

Children’s Museum of the East End

376 Bridgehampton/Sag Harbor Turnpike, Bridgehampton

631-537-8250

Kids ages 2-10 can learn through play at the museum’s permanent exhibits, which include a Crawler Garden with bugs, fruits, and vegetables, a Musical Forest, and a drop-in art studio. You can also sail the high seas, meet sand puppets, discover how a windmill works, try on costumes at the turn-of-the-century general store, and let off some pent-up energy in an indoor play space meant to nurture cognitive and physical development.

Open Monday and Wednesday-Saturday 9am-5pm; Sunday 10am-5pm. $9; free for children younger than 1.

Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum

279 Main Street, Cold Spring Harbor

631-367-3418

Explore the relationship between Long Islanders and the sea through the museum’s 6,000 objects and artifacts.

Open Tuesday-Sunday 11am-5pm. $6; $5 seniors and students ages 5 and older; free for children younger than 5; or $19 for family of up to six people in one household; admission by donation on Sundays from 11am-12pm.

- "Right Whales" (open through Labor Day 2012): Discover the biology, history, and decline of the magnificent Right Whale, one of the most rare creatures in the world.

Hallockville Museum Farm

6038 Sound Avenue, Riverhead

631-298-5292

The Hallockville farm grounds feature 19 historic houses, barns, and outbuildings, including the mid-18th-century Hallock Homestead. Visitors can experience farming on Long Island during that time period and meet Hallockville’s friendly cows, sheep, and chickens. Self-guided walking tours of the grounds, including 28 acres of buildings, gardens, and collections, are offered from 11am-4pm on weekdays throughout the year.

Admission for guided public tours: $7; $4 children and seniors.

The Heckscher Museum of Art

2 Prime Avenue, Huntington

631-351-3250

The primary collection spans 500 years of Western art with emphasis on the 19th and 20th centuries.

Open Wednesday-Friday 10am-4pm; Saturday and Sunday 11am-5pm. $8 ($6 Huntington residents); $6 seniors ($4 residents); $5 students (10 and older) ($4 residents); free for children younger than 10.

- "A Way with Words: Text in Art" (open through April 15): Give new meaning to the cliché ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’ by exploring art that incorporates text.

- "Coming of Age in America: The Photography of Joseph Szabo" (open through March 25): A dual portrait of adolescence on Long Island and the summers at Jones Beach.

Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium

180 Little Neck Road, Centerport

631- 854-5555

The Vanderbilt planetarium is closed for renovation, but the mansions, marine museum, natural history exhibits and grounds are open. The 43-acre museum includes the 24-room William K. Vanderbilt II Mansion (1910-1936), which is open for tours; a marine museum; natural history habitats; a boathouse; and gardens.

Open Tuesday and Saturday-Sunday 12-4pm. Special Presidents’ Week hours (February 18-26): Monday-Saturday 11am-5pm and Sunday 12-5pm. $7; $6 students and seniors; $3 children younger than 12. Mansion tours are $5, plus admission.

WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Greenburgh Nature Center

99 Dromore Road, Scarsdale

914-723-3470

This 33-acre nature preserve features trails, a pond, gardens, an indoor exhibit that includes a live animal museum with more than 100 specimens, a greenhouse with plants from all over the world, and a large exhibit room with seasonal natural history exhibits. Outdoors, in fair weather, you can find the unpaved Forest Trail and the Great Lawn with an organic garden area and a butterfly garden.

Grounds are open daily from dawn to dusk. Indoor exhibit hours: Monday-Thursday 9:30am-4:30pm; Saturday-Sunday 10am-4:30pm. $7; $6 students and seniors; $5 children ages 2-12; free for children younger than 2.

- "Beautiful Dirt!" (February 5 – September 30): An interactive exhibit that introduces kids to the world of dirt, a vital component of the natural environment. Prepare to get dirty as you dig your hands into the dirt to discover the secret world beneath us all.

Hudson River Museum & Planetarium

511 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers

914-963-4550

Part of the Fairfield/Westchester Museum Alliance, this museum preserves the maritime history of the Hudson River, its tributaries, and the industries that developed around it, using this important natural landmark as a lens to view the history, science, and heritage of the region. The museum includes the Glenview Mansion, which features six period rooms decked in turn-of-the-20th-century style, and a planetarium that hosts many family-friendly shows and programs.

Museum hours: Wednesday-Sunday 12-5pm. Planetarium hours: Shows on Saturdays and Sundays at 12:30pm, 2pm, and 3:30pm. Admission: $5 (plus $2 for planetarium); $3 (plus $1 for planetarium) children and seniors.

- "Winfred Rembert: Amazing Grace" (open through May 5): This exhibit features the dramatic, biographical nature of Rembert’s art as it documents the tumultuous moments of civil rights history. More than 50 original works that Rembert created from stretched, stained, and etched leather, historical photographs of his life, and a new documentary of his work, created by noted filmmaker Vivian Ducat, are on view. Please note: This exhibition contains some graphic images of racism and brutality, so it may not be appropriate for young children.

Katonah Museum of Art

134 Jay Street (Route 22), Katonah

914-232-9555

With a focus on art and humanities, this museum offers lectures, films, workshops, and concerts for the general audience while the museum’s Children’s Learning Center serves as the only interactive space in the community where children can explore, interpret, and create art.

Open Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm; Sunday 12-5pm. $5; $3 students and seniors; free for all Tuesday-Friday from 10am-12pm; always free for children younger than 12.

- "Tri-State Juried Exhibition: Art to the Point" (open through February 19): Artist Donald Sultan serves as the juror for this triennial exhibition showcasing artists from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

Trailside Nature Museum and Ward Pound Ridge Reservation

At Routes 35 and 121, Cross River

914-864-7322

Exhibits spotlight the area’s natural features and the reservation’s history, including specimens of birds, mammals, plants, insects, and minerals.

Open Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday 9am-4pm. Suggested donation: $2. Hiking trails open daily, dawn to dusk. Family programs and activities include guided hikes, Native American crafts, plant and tree identification, maple sugaring, and storytelling.

Westchester Children’s Museum – Coming Soon!

Future location: Rye Playland Bathhouses (on the Long Island Sound)

914-421-5050

The museum is currently under construction and has a tentative opening date. It will cater to children up to age 10 and provide opportunities for continued growth for preteens and teens, with exhibits focused on water play, pretend play, physics, science, art, music, and places to climb, build, and examine. It currently operates as a “museum without walls” and often partners with local organizations to offer family programs as well as fundraising events; to learn more about donating to the museum’s construction, visit the website.

Westmoreland Sanctuary Nature Center & Wildlife Preserve

260 Chestnut Ridge Road, Mt. Kisco

914-666-8448

The preserve includes more than seven miles of trails that are open daily from dawn to dusk for hiking and leisure (use Chestnut Ridge Road entrance). The nature center offers a variety of nature-based public programs on weekends, including bird watching, maple sugaring, and guided nature hikes.

Open Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm; Sunday 10:30am-5pm. Free admission.

ROCKLAND COUNTY

The Historical Society of Rockland County

20 Zukor Road, New City

845-634-9629

The museum features a collection of 3,650 objects that date from the early 18th century to the present, including furnishings original to the Blauvelt House family and to the early farms and industries of Rockland County.

Open Wednesday-Sunday 12-4pm. $7; $3 children 12 and younger.

- "36th Annual Dollhouse and Miniature Exhibit" (open through February 26): This popular fundraising event showcases the work of miniature artists, fine artists, quilters, and dollhouse creators. The dollhouses and vignettes on exhibit are an especial delight, including clever and whimsical creations along with some spooky pieces that will even delight little boys. The displays are also set low, so young visitors can press their noses up to the Plexiglas and enjoy.

ORANGE COUNTY

Bear Mountain Trailside Museum and Zoo

Palisades Interstate Parkway (Exit 19), Bear Mountain

845-786-2701

The site features 40 acres with trails—including the first section of the Appalachian Trail—that link the homes of several birds of prey, the bear den, and habitats for beavers, river otters, foxes, and coyotes. The museum includes exhibits on Native Americans, the Revolutionary War, and the Boy Scouts.

Open 10am-4:30pm daily. $1 suggested donation per person. $8 parking fee per car.

Fort Montgomery State Historic Site

690 Route 9W, Fort Montgomery

845-446-2134

This National Historic Landmark is a tribute to the Revolutionary War fortress built in 1776 by American soldiers to guard the entrance to the Hudson Highlands, which was destroyed by British forces the following year. Visitors can get a glimpse into the battle that raged here more than 200 years ago through self-guided tours of the grounds. Step inside the Visitors’ Center for a museum full of period artifacts and weapons, large-scale models of the fort and the attack, highly detailed mannequins frozen in poses of battle, and an action-packed 15-minute movie that depicts the construction of the fort, the attack, and the aftermath.

Hudson Highlands Nature Museum

Wildlife Education Center: 25 Boulevard, Cornwall-on-Hudson

Outdoor Discovery Center: Muser Drive, across from 174 Angola Road, Cornwall

845-534-7781

The museum’s exhibits highlight the local ecosystem, including flora native to the Hudson Estuary and its resident reptiles and amphibians—kids can see the latter up close and learn about their life cycles, diets, habitats, and adaptations. The museum also offers a variety of animal- and nature-based programs for kids, including “Meet the Animals” each weekend.
Open Friday-Sunday 12-4pm. $3 admission.

- "The World of Bees" (open through September): Observe a live honeybee colony and learn about the fascinating life cycle of the honeybee, its social hierarchy, colony structure, and importance to humankind.

FAIRFIELD COUNTY

The Barnum Museum

820 Main Street, Bridgeport

203-331-1104

In recovery from damages caused by a tornado in June 2010, the museum will be open on a limited basis this spring (check the website for updates). The museum is dedicated to the preservation of Bridgeport’s industrial and social history, including the influence of historical resident P.T. Barnum, founder of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. For more information on how you can donate to the museum’s

- "Recovery In Action!": A behind-the-scenes exhibition of the museum’s recovery project featuring more than 25,000 relocated artifacts and a look at the conservation work being done on thousands of historical objects.

Bruce Museum

1 Museum Drive, Greenwich

203-869-0376

A regionally based institution that features art, science, and natural history in a dozen changing exhibitions each year. Permanent collections highlight regional to global natural sciences.

Open Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm; Sunday 1-5pm. $7; $6 students and seniors; free for children younger than 5; free admission for all on Tuesdays.

- "The Prints of Martin Lewis: From the Collection of Dr. Dorrance Kelly" (open through February 26): One of the premier American printmakers of the 20th century, Martin Lewis captured energy and the occasional solitude of New York City. View more than 30 prints by this highly skilled printer along with several canceled plates from a private collection.

- "Walter Wick: Games, Gizmos and Toys in the Attic" (January 28 – April 22): View large-scale, engaging photographs by Wick, the best-selling author of the I Spy book series for children. This playful exhibition also features models made by Wick and behind-the-scenes video clips.

- "Coming Full Circle: The Greenwich Art Society Celebrates 100 at the Bruce Museum" (February 11 – April 1): Celebrate the 100th anniversaries of the Greenwich Art Society and the Bruce Museum with an exhibition that highlights each decade through paintings, drawings, prints, and sculptures.

The Discovery Museum and Planetarium

4450 Park Avenue, Bridgeport

203-372-3521

Exhibits feature hands-on science and space exploration with a new energy exhibit, sound and light galleries, an area especially for preschool-aged children, space galleries, and more interactive mini exhibits that highlight science and space.

Open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm. $9.50; $8 children ages 3-17, students, and seniors; free children 2 and younger.

- "Contraptions A to Z" (open through March 4): A hands-on exhibit that brings together art, history, science, music, literature, and language in 26 interactive mechanical devices that combine to create different letters of the alphabet.

Earthplace, The Nature Discovery Center

10 Woodside Lane, Westport

203-227-7253

A 62-acre property with several nature trails, including The Universal Design Nature Trail, which is wheelchair accessible. The center includes hands-on exhibits that educate the public about nature and the environment.

Center hours: Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm; Sunday 1-4pm. Center admission: $7; $5 seniors and children 12 and younger. Grounds: open daily 7am-dusk (free admission).

- Natureplace: A permanent installation featuring the Explorer’s Clubhouse, an indoor “treeful” of activities; Nature Lab, a discovery lab full of nature artifacts and activities; Backyard Resource Center, an informational exhibit about the lawns, gardens, and wildlife around your home; and Nature Theater, which features films about animals and nature.

- Ecology Resource Lab: A collection of small, live local animals, including a tarantula, giant millipede, and Madagascar hissing cockroach.

- Animal Hall: Get up close with a collection of small wildlife ranging from bats to bunnies.

- Connecticut Birds of Prey: An outdoor enclosure featuring birds of prey that have sustained injuries and cannot be released back into the wild.

Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University

Science Hill section of the Yale campus (Whitney Avenue and Sachem Street), New Haven

203-432-5050

See the Great Hall of Dinosaurs, the Hall of Minerals, Earth, and Space, the Hall of Native American Cultures, and the Hall of Mammalian Evolution. Past exhibits are available to view at www.peabody.yale.edu/explore/webexhibs.

Open Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm; Sunday 12-5pm. $9; $8 seniors; $5 children 3-18 and college students.

- "Big Food: Health, Culture, and the Evolution of Eating" (February 11 – November 28): A multi-media exhibit that explores all aspects of the challenge that we face in the 21st century in regards to nutrition and exercise and the influence of social, environmental, and cultural settings.

Stepping Stones Museum for Children

303 West Ave. (in Mathews Park), Norwalk

203-899-0606

The museum caters to children ages 10 and younger, with five main galleries, more than 100 hands-on activities, and traveling exhibits.

Open Monday-Sunday 10am-5pm. $14; $10 seniors; free for children younger than 1; free for all on the first Thursday of every month from 5-8pm.

- "Run! Jump! Fly! Adventures in Action" (January – April): Created by the Minnesota Children’s Museum, this adventure allows kids to star as their own action hero in an interactive exhibition that features kung fu, surfing, snowboarding, horizontal climbing, and more.

Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes at a children's museum? Check out Children's Museums: Behind the Exhibits to find out how exhibit developers in the New York City area find that perfect balance between learning and fun.

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