Admission

A trip to the Madison Children’s Museum is a great family adventure. Our building is brimming with changing exhibits, daily events, and drop-in activities, so there’s always something new to discover.

Rates

Buy Tickets Now!

Admission tickets purchased via this website do not expire and may be used for general admission during regular operating hours on any day that the museum is open to the public.

For guests’ safety, children must be accompanied by a chaperone age 16 and older. If you are bringing more than 10 children, please look at our group visit information.

Ways to Save

Free Admission with Membership

Members receive unlimited admission all year round. Learn about all the benefits and levels of membership by visiting our membership page.

Discount Programs

$1 Access Admission

Individuals and families who qualify for access admission can visit for $1 per person. This discount is available every day the museum is open, available to families that qualify for our Family Access Memberships. Check the list of qualifying programs below. If you qualify, ask for the Access Admission rate at the front desk, no proof necessary.

Planning to visit frequently? Consider getting an Access Membership instead, which includes admission for your family for a whole year. Family Access memberships are available for a minimum of $15, but we ask that families give as much as they are able. Families able to pay a little more will allow us to serve more in need.

Free Admission once a month on Free Family Night

Enjoy free admission on the first open Wednesday of the month, from 5 – 8 p.m. through our Access for Everyone program.

One Free Admission with the Wisconsin Heroes Discount

The Hero Discount grants free admission to individuals serving in certain public service professions in Wisconsin: EMT, military, police, firefighters, and teachers.

• Must present a valid occupational ID
• The rest of the party pays admission at normal prices
• Teachers are limited to pre-K through grade 12
• Military includes active duty, reserve, and National Guard
• If the military person is away on active duty, the spouse/ caretaker will receive one free admission

Blue Star Museum admission for active-duty military

From Memorial Day through Labor Day active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve, can enjoy free admission to MCM. Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense and more than 2,000 museums across the U.S. See the full list of participating museums here.

Veterans Day Free Admission

On Veterans Day, we are pleased to offer all veterans and active-duty military personnel, along with their families, free admission to MCM all day. When Veterans Day falls on a Monday when the museum is closed, the free admission will be available on the following Tuesday.

Free or 50% off Admission through ASTC and ACM Reciprocal Network

Any member of a participating Association of Science and Technology (ASTC) museum can bring up to 6 people to the museum for free. Any member of a participating Association of Children’s Museums (ACM) museum can bring up to 6 people for 50% general admission.

Please bring a current museum membership card that displays the ASTC or ACM icon prominently and a photo ID that matches the name on the membership card.

Madison Children’s Museum members also receive ACM and ASTC reciprocal admission benefits at hundreds of museums around the country. Find out about all the benefits of an MCM membership here.

Gift Cards

Know someone who’d like to visit Madison Children’s Museum? Gift certificates are sold year-round and make a great gift for birthdays, holidays and more! Gift certificates are valid for admission, membership, camps, programs and more.

Order online or visit our front desk to purchase!