In August 2002, the City of Miami Commission unanimously approved the leasing of 2.32 acres of land for the building of a regional children’s museum on Watson Island.
The museum broke ground on October 16, 2001.
The Miami Children’s Museum, formerly the Miami Youth Museum, opened to the public in February 1985 in a 2,000 sq. ft. donated retail space.
Original exhibits included a television studio and a gallery about Brazil!
Our building designed by Arquitectonica International, Inc. represents elements of earth, wind, water and fire.
Over 6,000 people attended our opening on September 7, 2003.
Visit a piece of Miami Children’s Museum at our interactive play area, Plane Fun, found in Concourse E at Miami International Airport.
Artist and inventor Remo Saraceni (most iconic invention, piano from the movie “Big”) created the Museum’s musical staircase and piano.
The Wizard of Oz Educational Exhibit retired after 12 years in October 2022.
The Lion Guard: The Exhibit will return to the Miami Children's Museum early 2024.
Our “Sandcastle of Dreams” is a masterpiece by artist Carlos Alves.
The Miami Children’s Museum had 3 temporary sites before finding its location on Watson Island.
We began offering our FREE Sensory Friendly Saturday program on January 11, 2020.
Our interactive exhibits were designed by renowned museum planners and designers, Lee H. Skolnick Architecture + Design Partnership of New York.
The exhibits were fabricated by Sparks Exhibits & Environments.
Denise Glasser and Barbara Zohlman co founded the Miami Children’s Museum.
Miami Children’s Museum is 56,500 sq. ft.
Miami Children’s Museum is the only Museum in the nation with a charter school.
Miami Children’s Museum Charter School first opened in 2004 with 48 children in kindergarten through 5th grade.
Today, the Miami Children’s Museum Charter School has 300 students enrolled with children from Kindergarten through 5th grade.
Miami Children’s Museum Charter School’s first 5th grade class opened for the 2011-2012 school year with 22 students who graduated to move on to high ranking charter and private schools within the community.
Miami Children’s Museum provides over 50% of free aftercare programming to our charter school students through a grant from the Children’s Trust.
Miami Children’s Museum was closed for 408 days due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Miami Children’s Museum created The Wizard of Oz Educational Exhibit, the first-everbased on the classic movie in 2010.
Miami Children’s Museum is celebrating 40 years as an institution and 20 years on Watson Island.
Our Early Childhood Institute (ECI) is based on the High Scope Curriculum and inspired by the Reggio Emilia Philosophy.
The Museum’s Free Third Friday program, presented by Baptist Health relaunched in April 2022.
Many traveling exhibits have visited us during the years including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Dora & Diego, Very Eric Carle, Pirate Island, Thomas the Train & more!
