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Memberships for Families
Play for free every time you visit!
Membership is more than just a year of unlimited admission to a world-class museum: It’s your family’s invitation to members-only parties, exclusive events, exciting classes, special discounts and more.
Still have questions? Contact our membership team by email, or by phone at (608) 256-6445 ext. 550.
Wonder Maker
6 Member donor level
- Free admission to select science centers, 50% off admission to select children’s museums
- 10+ guest passes
- Standard Benefits
Family Plus
6 Members
- Free admission to select science centers, 50% off admission to select children’s museums
- 10 guest passes
- Standard Benefits
Family
4 Members
- Free admission to select science centers, 50% off admission to select children’s museums
- 6 guest passes
- Standard Benefits
Member Benefits
Visit our member benefits page for an updated list of all available member benefits.
Need to renew? Renew Your Membership
Membership Benefits
Standard Member Benefits
Every membership level enjoys standard member benefits:
Unlimited free admission
- Every person (child or adult) named on the membership can visit for free for a whole year
- Members can reserve free advance tickets for guaranteed entry (recommended for peace of mind during busier holiday times or special events) OR walk-in and visit for free any time the museum isn’t at capacity (which is the vast majority of open hours)
Exclusive access & special events
- Member Mornings: On the first Saturday of each month, the museum opens an hour early, just for members (Pro tip: Member Morning matches up well with a trip to the popular Dane County Farmers’ Market on the Capitol Square during the warmer months)
- Invitations to member-only parties and special celebrations
- Sneak peeks at new exhibits
Discounts inside the museum & in the community
- 15% discount on books, toys, and souvenirs from our gift shop (effective Oct. 1, 2022)
- 10% discount on all other museum purchases, including tickets for guests and friends; birthday parties, camps, and other special programs.
- Discounts at local partners, including Overture Center and (CTM) Children’s Theater of Madison
Additional benefits for Family, Family+, and WonderMaker level members
Reciprocal Admission to Partner Museums
 | ASTC reciprocal admission benefits Free admission to participating Association of Science and Technology Center museums. Learn more about ASTC reciprocal admission benefits and review a current list of participating museums |
 | ACM Reciprocal Admission Benefits 50% off admission to participating Association of Children’s Museums museums. Learn more about ACM reciprocal admission benefits and review a current list of participating museums |
To use reciprocal admissions benefits you must present your MCM membership card at the admissions desk of the participating museum. You can use your digital card or visit the MCM front desk and we’ll fill out a paper card for you in advance. You may also be asked to show ID. (Note that other museums cannot look up your MCM membership, so make sure you have access to your card before you visit.)
We recommend that you check the website of the museum you intend to visit for current hours, ticketing information, and safety restrictions.
Guest passes
Family, Family+, and Wonder Maker membership levels include a limited number of guest passes to bring friends and family not listed on your membership
| Level | Number of guest passes |
| Wonder Maker | 10 guest passes |
| Family Plus | 10 guest passes |
| Family | 6 guest passes |
| Dual | 2 guest passes |
- When you buy or renew your membership, your guest passes will be applied directly to your digital membership record and held on file at the museum
- Guests must be accompanied by a museum member
- To use your guest passes, ask at the front desk when you visit and your guests will be admitted (even if the museum is otherwise at capacity)
- If you run out of guest passes before the end of your membership year, you can always buy admission for your guests and receive a 10% membership discount on the purchase
- Guest passes are usable for regular, daily admission only. Exclusions include ticketed events, private events, and group visits. Contact the membership manager for details.
Four ways to become a member
- Online: Use the buttons below to renew.
- Over the Phone: Call our membership manager at (608) 354-0550.
- By Mail: Download the registration form and mail it to us.
- In-Person: Download the registration form and bring it to the front desk on your next visit.
Download Form for Mail or In-Person registration
Family Access Memberships
The $15+ Access Membership program removes financial barriers, allowing families to engage in amazing discovery play at Madison Children’s Museum. Memberships allow families to visit the museum frequently, engaging in lots of developmentally vital play. Last year, over 3,400 families benefited from this program—and they visited more than 26,000 times!
Subsidized memberships are available to families that qualify through public assistance or certain education programs. Check the list below to see if you qualify. We do not require documentation to register as a Family Access member, but please list your qualifying program(s) on your registration form. Family Access memberships are available on a sliding scale, with a minimum of $15, and we ask that families give as much as they are able.
Don’t qualify but are interested in helping? If you would like to make a gift to support Family Access memberships, please click here!
Membership Policies
- Memberships are intended for families, and caregivers are welcome.
- Members must be listed by name on the membership to receive benefits, including both adults and children.
- You can change the names on a membership by contacting the membership manager.
- Additional members can be added to a membership for $20 per person. Memberships can also be upgraded to the next level to add more members.
- Memberships are active once payment is processed. You can visit the museum using an ID at any time.
- Digital membership cards are included with the member welcome letter. If you would like a paper membership card, you can ask at the front desk any time you’re in the museum and we’re happy to fill one out for you.
- Memberships are non-refundable and non-transferable.
- Membership dues for most membership levels are not tax-deductible. This includes Dual, Family, Family Plus, Family Access, Childcare, Classroom, and School memberships. For Wonder Maker level memberships, at least $90 or more are tax-deductible, starting at the $250 level. The tax-deductible portion of your donor membership increases for higher donor levels, based on cost and benefits offered.
We thank our museum sponsors
