Open Wed–Sun 9am–4pm, plus late on Thur til 8pm. • Get tickets.
Celebrate National Bird Feeding Month by creating pine cone bird feeders that will help our feathered friends get by this winter. This event is free with general museum admission.
Explore new materials and creative techniques through facilitated art activities and bring home hand-made treasures. Projects vary each week and may include sculpture, painting, comics, printmaking, and more! This event is free with general museum admission.
Social time for babies and their grown-ups! This playgroup is thoughtfully designed for our earliest visitors. We will provide a space for infants and toddlers (2 years and under) and their caregivers to explore and play together, and engage in activities that support various aspects of child development. Parents and caregivers will have the opportunity […]
Explore the world of music and rhythm! Join Tim in the Celebrations room each week to enjoy play-based songs, games, and stories. Today, we'll sing and laugh along to extra-silly songs. This event is free with general museum admission.
Join Laurie and our Art Studio staff for a weekly drop-in art experience designed for MCM's youngest visitors and their caregivers. Through open-ended & process-based projects, empower your little artist to freely explore materials and art-making with their senses. And the best part? We take care of cleanup! Today, we'll use race cars as a […]
Visit MCM for free every Thursday evening, 4–8 pm! Enjoy extended hours each Thursday, completely free of charge. Please check in at the admissions desk when you visit during free hours. Looking for more affordable ways to visit? During the rest of the week, MCM also offers heavily discounted admission and memberships to families who […]
Choose your own art adventure—drawing, sculpting, cartooning, and more! Drop by the Art Studio classroom for open-ended creative opportunities, facilitated by our talented staff. This event is free with general museum admission, and open to all ages.
Channel your inner aviation engineer and learn about momentum, force, and airflow while creating your own hoop glider. This event is free with general museum admission.
Our art studio staff will lead visitors in a weekly assortment of creative clay sculpture activities.
We will create all kinds of collaborative projects- plant pots, jewelry, ornaments, tiles and more.
All ages are welcome to join us and experiment with clay.
Give your weekend a bright and early beginning at MCM! Enjoy early hours starting at 8 am, every Saturday through March 30. If you've got little kids in the family, we know you're probably up anyway, so come downtown and let them climb the walls (literally, in our Hodge Podge Mahal climber.) Extended Saturday mornings […]
Create your own one-of-a-kind bookmark with dried blooms from the museum's rooftop garden. This event is free with the price of general admission.
Dive into an exciting drop-in art experience each week with Laurie and our Art Studio team. Embark on projects with a wide variety of art media and processes for all ages and abilities. Materials are included—and the best part? We take care of cleanup! Today, we'll create little pocket-sized critters with their own matchbox homes. This event […]
Create your own one-of-a-kind bookmark with dried blooms from the museum's rooftop garden. This event is free with the price of general admission.
Explore new materials and creative techniques through facilitated art activities and bring home hand-made treasures. Projects vary each week and may include sculpture, painting, comics, printmaking, and more! This event is free with general museum admission.
Social time for babies and their grown-ups! This playgroup is thoughtfully designed for our earliest visitors. We will provide a space for infants and toddlers (2 years and under) and their caregivers to explore and play together, and engage in activities that support various aspects of child development. Parents and caregivers will have the opportunity […]
Explore the world of music and rhythm! Join Tim in the Celebrations room each week to enjoy play-based songs, games, and stories. Today we'll parade around the room, marching in time with the beat and listening to marching band music to celebrate the month of March! This event is free with general museum admission.
Join Laurie and our Art Studio staff for a weekly drop-in art experience designed for MCM's youngest visitors and their caregivers. Through open-ended & process-based projects, empower your little artist to freely explore materials and art-making with their senses. And the best part? We take care of cleanup! Today, we'll create colorful custom prints. This […]
Visit MCM for free every Thursday evening, 4–8 pm! Enjoy extended hours each Thursday, completely free of charge. Please check in at the admissions desk when you visit during free hours. Looking for more affordable ways to visit? During the rest of the week, MCM also offers heavily discounted admission and memberships to families who […]
Join our friends from UW Neuroscience for brain-building activities and interact with REAL neurological specimens. Come learn how we think!
Our art studio staff will lead visitors in a weekly assortment of creative clay sculpture activities.
We will create all kinds of collaborative projects- plant pots, jewelry, ornaments, tiles and more.
All ages are welcome to join us and experiment with clay.
Give your weekend a bright and early beginning at MCM! Enjoy early hours starting at 8 am, every Saturday through March 30. If you've got little kids in the family, we know you're probably up anyway, so come downtown and let them climb the walls (literally, in our Hodge Podge Mahal climber.) Extended Saturday mornings […]
Come drop into a new art experience each week with Laurie and the Art Studio team. Explore art through a variety of creative media and processes meant for all ages and abilities. We'll take care of all the materials and the messes, too! Today we'll craft suncatchers with a faux stained glass effect. This event is […]
Have an extra-squirrely toddler? Take advantage of the museum's extended Saturday hours! Enjoy the tactile experience of scooping, pouring, and sorting colorful pompoms in the Wildernest, then get out those wiggles during an extra hour in the museum. This event is free with general museum admission.
Decorate a mask to look like your favorite animal! This event is free with the price of general admission. Image credit: Sarah Lee
Explore new materials and creative techniques through facilitated art activities and bring home hand-made treasures. Projects vary each week and may include sculpture, painting, comics, printmaking, and more! This event is free with general museum admission.
Social time for babies and their grown-ups! This playgroup is thoughtfully designed for our earliest visitors. We will provide a space for infants and toddlers (2 years and under) and their caregivers to explore and play together, and engage in activities that support various aspects of child development. Parents and caregivers will have the opportunity […]
Explore the world of music and rhythm! Join Tim in the Celebrations room each week to enjoy play-based songs, games, and stories. Today, we'll sing songs about animals, listen to animal noises, and play the sound-based game "Find My Doggie"! This event is free with general museum admission.
Join Laurie and our Art Studio staff for a weekly drop-in art experience designed for MCM's youngest visitors and their caregivers. Through open-ended & process-based projects, empower your little artist to freely explore materials and art-making with their senses. And the best part? We take care of cleanup! Today, we'll create festive spin-art shamrocks. This […]
Visit MCM for free every Thursday evening, 4–8 pm! Enjoy extended hours each Thursday, completely free of charge. Please check in at the admissions desk when you visit during free hours. Looking for more affordable ways to visit? During the rest of the week, MCM also offers heavily discounted admission and memberships to families who […]
Choose your own art adventure—drawing, sculpting, cartooning, and more! Drop by the Art Studio classroom for open-ended creative opportunities, facilitated by our talented staff. This event is free and open to all ages.
Help us plant heirloom tomatoes that will be added to the museum's summer garden! Plant a tomato seed of your own to bring home learn about the growth of plants, from seed to fruit. Your tomato can be planted outside after the last frost date, around May 15. Join us each week for new STEAM […]
Our art studio staff will lead visitors in a weekly assortment of creative clay sculpture activities.
We will create all kinds of collaborative projects- plant pots, jewelry, ornaments, tiles and more.
All ages are welcome to join us and experiment with clay.
Give your weekend a bright and early beginning at MCM! Enjoy early hours starting at 8 am, every Saturday through March 30. If you've got little kids in the family, we know you're probably up anyway, so come downtown and let them climb the walls (literally, in our Hodge Podge Mahal climber.) Extended Saturday mornings […]
Create colorful, organic art with yarn-wrapped sticks. This tactile activity is a perfect for little ones practicing fine motor control and hand-eye coordination! This event is free with general museum admission. Image credit: Ana Ziengel
Dive into an exciting drop-in art experience each week with Laurie and our Art Studio team. Embark on projects with a wide variety of art media and processes for all ages and abilities. Materials are included—and the best part? We take care of cleanup! Today, we'll create mini works of art: a bite-sized challenge for little hands […]
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day by decorating your own magic clover wand. This event is free with the price of general admission. Image credit: Jamie Bare
Madison's St. Patrick's Day Parade returns to Capitol Square! Stop by MCM before the parade to create a festive button, flag, or hat to adorn yourself. The parade begins just outside the museum at 1:30pm. This event is free with the price of general admission.
Explore new materials and creative techniques through facilitated art activities and bring home hand-made treasures. Projects vary each week and may include sculpture, painting, comics, printmaking, and more! This event is free with general museum admission.
Social time for babies and their grown-ups! This playgroup is thoughtfully designed for our earliest visitors. We will provide a space for infants and toddlers (2 years and under) and their caregivers to explore and play together, and engage in activities that support various aspects of child development. Parents and caregivers will have the opportunity […]
Explore the world of music and rhythm! Join Tim in the Celebrations room each week to enjoy play-based songs, games, and stories. Today, we'll play a variety of different musical instruments and have lots of fun along the way. This event is free with general museum admission.
Join Laurie and our Art Studio staff for a weekly drop-in art experience designed for MCM's youngest visitors and their caregivers. Through open-ended & process-based projects, empower your little artist to freely explore materials and art-making with their senses. And the best part? We take care of cleanup! Today, we'll create layered paint prints with […]
Visit MCM for free every Thursday evening, 4–8 pm! Enjoy extended hours each Thursday, completely free of charge. Please check in at the admissions desk when you visit during free hours. Looking for more affordable ways to visit? During the rest of the week, MCM also offers heavily discounted admission and memberships to families who […]
Decorate a paper bird and watch it soar, propelled by your breath! Image credit: Uzol Dyan Heffner
Celebrate World Water Day by testing local samples. Gain a better understanding of how our ecosystems filter water, and what organisms live there. Join us each week for new STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) activities. These hands-on programs foster creativity, ignite curiosity, encourage divergent thinking, increase problem-solving skills, and offer new ways for […]
Our art studio staff will lead visitors in a weekly assortment of creative clay sculpture activities.
We will create all kinds of collaborative projects- plant pots, jewelry, ornaments, tiles and more.
All ages are welcome to join us and experiment with clay.
Give your weekend a bright and early beginning at MCM! Enjoy early hours starting at 8 am, every Saturday through March 30. If you've got little kids in the family, we know you're probably up anyway, so come downtown and let them climb the walls (literally, in our Hodge Podge Mahal climber.) Extended Saturday mornings […]
Create imaginative pieces of art by shaping wool fibers into your own free-form designs. This event is free with general museum admission.
Dive into an exciting drop-in art experience each week with Laurie and our Art Studio team. Embark on projects with a wide variety of art media and processes for all ages and abilities. Materials are included—and the best part? We take care of cleanup! Today we'll create and customize colorful ornaments made with blown eggs. This event […]
Create imaginative pieces of art by shaping wool fibers into your own free-form designs. This event is free with general museum admission.
Explore new materials and creative techniques through facilitated art activities and bring home hand-made treasures. Projects vary each week and may include sculpture, painting, comics, printmaking, and more! This event is free with general museum admission.
MCM is open every day March 24-31 to offer extra opportunities for play and learning while school is out. The museum will be hopping, so book tickets in advance to save $1 per person on full-price admission. Make the most of your visit with our special run of Exploration Station programs, and dress for the outdoors to […]
Explore the art and history of printmaking with Charlotte Cummins, art educator and MCM's Director of Community Partnerships. This event is free with the price of general admission.
MCM is open every day March 24-31 to offer extra opportunities for play and learning while school is out. The museum will be hopping, so book tickets in advance to save $1 per person on full-price admission. Make the most of your visit with our special run of Exploration Station programs, and dress for the outdoors to […]
Create seed balls using a native pollinator seed mix grown on the museum's Rooftop Ramble! Find out what it takes to plant pollinator gardens, and gain a better understanding of plants' life cycle from seed to flower. This event is free with the price of general admission. Image credit: Chicago Community Gardeners Association
Use a variety of materials and textures to create your own whimsical fairy garden. This event is free with the price of general admission.
Make a custom marble maze using paper materials and your own ingenuity! This event is free with the price of general admission.
Visit MCM for free every Thursday evening, 4–8 pm! Enjoy extended hours each Thursday, completely free of charge. Please check in at the admissions desk when you visit during free hours. Looking for more affordable ways to visit? During the rest of the week, MCM also offers heavily discounted admission and memberships to families who […]
Celebrate "Something on a Stick" Day by making popsicle stick puppets of your favorite animals! Image credit: Jamie Bare
Decorate your own custom pot and start a plant for your summer garden at home. This event is free with general museum admission. Image credit: The Preserve At Chocorua
Create your own percussive musical instrument, maracas, and take them home with you! This event is free with the price of general admission.
Give your weekend a bright and early beginning at MCM! Enjoy early hours starting at 8 am, every Saturday through March 30. If you've got little kids in the family, we know you're probably up anyway, so come downtown and let them climb the walls (literally, in our Hodge Podge Mahal climber.) Extended Saturday mornings […]
Help staff inoculate mycelium into wooden logs to grow shiitake mushrooms, and learn how to plant edible fungi at home! Please note, this activity may include supervised and closely guided use of a hammer. This event is free with general museum admission. Image credit: Distant Hill Farms
Dive into an exciting drop-in art experience each week with Laurie and our Art Studio team. Embark on projects with a wide variety of art media and processes for all ages and abilities. Materials are included—and the best part? We take care of cleanup! Today we'll create little pals with wooden clothespins. This event is free with […]
Foster your creativity and decorate a golden egg with vibrant colors. This event is free with the price of general admission.
Explore new materials and creative techniques through facilitated art activities and bring home hand-made treasures. Projects vary each week and may include sculpture, painting, comics, printmaking, and more! This event is free with general museum admission.
Social time for babies and their grown-ups! This playgroup is thoughtfully designed for our earliest visitors. We will provide a space for infants and toddlers (2 years and under) and their caregivers to explore and play together, and engage in activities that support various aspects of child development. Parents and caregivers will have the opportunity […]
Explore the world of music and rhythm! Join Tim in the Celebrations room each week to enjoy play-based songs, games, and stories. Today we'll practice counting with numbers, rhythm, movement, and music. This event is free with general museum admission.
Join Junko each Wednesday to create your own scented playdough that's a squishy, smush-able sensory delight. This event is free with general museum admission.
Drop-off class for preschoolers on Thursdays Come to the museum and practice becoming a Super Friend! Speaking to new people, taking turns, and making friends are new skills for 3 and 4-year-olds. Super Friends Club offers a preschool-style group experience within the museum. Guided by MCM's Early Education Manager Heather, Super Friends Club gives kids […]
Join Laurie and our Art Studio staff for a weekly drop-in art experience designed for MCM's youngest visitors and their caregivers. Through open-ended & process-based projects, empower your little artist to freely explore materials and art-making with their senses. And the best part? We take care of cleanup! Today, we'll create vibrant tie dye flowers. […]
Join Junko in the Urb Garden as we explore different sensory materials every week! This event is free with general museum admission.
Learn how ancient life was preserved over time, and create your own cast fossils out of clay. Join us each week for new STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) activities. These hands-on programs foster creativity, ignite curiosity, encourage divergent thinking, increase problem-solving skills, and offer new ways for kids to explore the world around […]
Our art studio staff will lead visitors in a weekly assortment of creative clay sculpture activities.
We will create all kinds of collaborative projects- plant pots, jewelry, ornaments, tiles and more.
All ages are welcome to join us and experiment with clay.
Saturday Member Mornings are back! Enjoy exclusive, members-only time in the museum for a great addition to your weekend family outing. There's no better way to play before the museum gets busy! Not a member yet? Become one today! Membership starts immediately, so you can visit for free on Member Morning or any other time the […]
Samira y Nisbeth, ambas hispanohablantes de nacimiento, te invitan a crear pulseras de cuentas que representan a países hispanohablantes incluyendo México, Venezuela, España, y más. ¡Habrá música latina y española instrumental para animar el ambiente y poner nuestros cuerpo en movimiento! ¡Disfruta de programas en español cada sábado por la mañana con la educadora Samira […]
Join our friends from UW's student chapter of the Conservation Biology Society and find new ways to explore your environment. Dive into the hidden world of teeny tiny microorganisms that thrive in our local lakes, and plant seeds so our summertime gardens can flourish. This event is free with general museum admission.
