Our History

Early childhood specialists founded Madison Children’s Museum in 1980. Volunteers oversaw traveling exhibits and a temporary home at the Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters, until the popular program found a home in a warehouse on West Washington Ave, followed by a move to 100 State Street in 1991.

Expansion began again in 2005 when MCM acquired a $5 million, five-story building through the generosity of W. Jerome Frautschi. Renovation joined innovation with a $10 million capital campaign highlighting recycled materials, local builders, and a rooftop garden. Through these efforts, MCM has become a national leader in museum practices.

Our Hamilton Street facility opened its doors in August 2010, serving a bigger audience in a learning playground emphasizing art, science, history, culture, health, and civic engagement.

Madison Children’s Museum Facts

• Each year we host around 200,000 visitors, 300 school groups, and more than 800 education programs.
• MCM has more than 65 employees and over 523 volunteers and interns, giving more than 16,400 hours annually.
• We have more than 6,000 member families.
• Our rooftop garden produces 1,400 eggs and 300 varieties of veggies and herbs each year.
• In 2014, MCM achieved LEED Gold Certification for an existing building. MCM is the first LEED-certified museum in Wisconsin. To learn more about our green initiatives, read our Green Guide.
• We use local materials, builders and craftspeople as often as possible.
• The new facility was built with an investment of $16.5 million. We operate on an annual budget of around $3 million.
• Our facility can host up to 3,200 visitors, and up to 700 for an event. It has five floors, including a four-season rooftop and office space, and has 79,000 square feet with 36,000 used for public space and 13,775 reserved for future expansion.
• Our record-high attendance in one day is 3,200 visitors.
• Built in 1929, our 100 N. Hamilton St. building was originally a Montgomery Ward department store.
• While founded in 1980, our current location opened in August, 2010. It was brought to life with the work of J.H. Findorff & Son Inc., Madison, WI, and The Kubala Washatko Architects Inc., Cedarburg, WI.