The Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus is like a little slice of heaven on earth for kids. Where else can they climb a three-story "mountain," create a robot out of recycled materials, and create their own vapor-filled bubbles? The Denver Children’s Museum was created expressly for kids to enjoy the wonder of childhood. Once you get inside, you’ll see how well they succeeded.
Guidelines for Visiting the Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus
First things first: because the museum caters to children under nine years old, no adults are allowed in without a child. The same thing goes for kids – no adults, no entry.
For current hours of operation, please refer to the attraction's website. Admission for entry can be purchased on site at the museum, or with Denver CityPASS® tickets, which allows you entry to a whole host of Denver’s top attractions at a discounted rate.
Plan Your Visit to the Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus
With so much to explore, it’s hard to decide what to do first. The exhibits are categorized into four groupings: Explore, Imagine, Investigate, and Create. Below, you’ll find the most popular exhibits in each group.
Explore
This rough-and-tumble part of the Children's Museum of Denver includes a variety of physical activities, perfect for burning off some energy at the start of your visit.
Kids can clamber up Altitude, a three-story man-made mountain whose peak affords one of the best views of the Rockies in Denver. If they’re feeling brave, kids can cross the swaying monkey bridge to explore the other side of the mountain, or even take a gondola ride that soars over towering pine trees.
Pint-sized tots under 40" tall can explore the Box Canyon, an exhibit that includes a mini-boulder scramble and the opportunity to run through a waterfall without a drop of water touching you. The Explore exhibits include outdoor activities, so keep the weather in mind.
Imagine
As the name implies, exhibits in the Imagine section promote the use of creative thinking. Bookworms will flock to the Book Nook, where they can choose from a curated selection of books intended to engage young readers, or listen to a whimsical story during StoryTime (held multiple times a day).
Animal lovers and fledgling veterinarians will love the Ready, Vet, Go clinic. Take an X-ray, diagnose an animal, and nurse a furry creature back to health at this mobile adventure.
My Market is perfect for mini-foodies who want to experience the thrill of "purchasing" some of Colorado’s fresh local produce and "cooking" it up in a 1940s-style kitchen.
Investigate
Science has never been more fun than at the Children’s Museum of Denver. Kids get early exposure to physics theories in the Kinetics exhibit, where they can jump into a shower of rubber balls falling from a huge hopper, or create their own ramp and track system.
In Bubbles, kids can be enveloped by a giant bubble or play with ethereal vapor-filled bubbles as they slowly drift to the ground. Perhaps the most fun part is creating giant bubbles with specially made wands. These bubbles often end up being larger than their creators! Hold your breath to see just how big the giant bubble (cranked out by the Denver Children’s Museum’s special bubble machine) grows before it bursts open. A six-foot-long bubble is not outside the realm of possibility!
In the Water exhibit, kids will be able to launch and suspend an object with laminar jets, or shoot water straight into the air via a geyser. Kids can even trigger a thunderstorm, so it’s best to bring towels and a change of clothes so the rest of the visit isn’t spent squelching around in wet shoes and soaked shirts.
Create
Attention all budding artists: the Art Studio is calling your name. Young artists interested in any artistic medium (painting, film, clay) will have a ball here. They’ll get their hands dirty massaging gloopy clay into sculptures, bowls, and other objects, and even have the chance to fire it in the kiln to complete their creation. Children can also use an easel and palette of paints to create a vivid masterpiece, which they can then take home to proudly display.
Watch the ever changing Artist-in-residence as he or she works, or join one of the workshops to learn new techniques. The museum is also home to a Stop Motion Studio where aspiring film directors can create their very own movie.
For those hankering for a snack, head on over to the Teaching Kitchen, where tots can join in a cooking demonstration, or even churn out their very own culinary delight as part of the Teaching Kitchen workshops. Note that the programs have limited space.
Having generated over 500,000 visits per year, it’s clear the secret is out about the Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus. Both adults and children will love exploring hands-on activities that promote the joy of childhood.
Autism-Friendly Exhibits & Staff
The Children’s Museum staff members receive ongoing training to make sure every family has the best visit possible, and daily educational programs are designed for inclusion. The museum is committed to making the facility inclusive and accessible to as many children as possible.
The autism-friendly exhibits and features at the Children’s Museum are made possible by organizations such as SPECTRA Autism Center, Inc.. For more information, please visit the official Children’s museum accessibility page.
Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus Discount Tickets
Whether you’re a visitor or a resident of the Mile High City, CityPASS® tickets offers an affordable admission to the top attractions in Denver. Take advantage and build family memories that will last a lifetime.
Nearby Lodging
To get the most out of your stay in Denver, we recommend finding lodging near Denver's top attractions. Use this map to find the right lodging for you:
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