Looking for something fun to do with the kids this weekend? Check out our guide to the 15 best interactive museums in the country!
These museums are perfect for children of all ages and offer a variety of activities that will keep them entertained for hours. From hands-on exhibits to educational programs, these museums have it all. So what are you waiting for? Grab your kids and head on over to one of these amazing destinations.
1. Railroad Museum of Virginia
Virginia’s history was molded by trains; which is why the Railroad Museum of Virginia is a great place to take the kids for a day of fun and learning.
With over 20 acres of land, there is plenty to explore. The museum features a variety of interactive exhibits, including a working model railroad, an outdoor playground, and a hands-on activity center.
The museum also offers a variety of educational programs, such as storytime and hands-on workshops. These programs are designed to teach children about the history of Virginia and the tale of Engine No 1134, which was discovered abandoned in Roanoke and restored back to life.
2. Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia
The Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia is another great option for a day of family fun. This museum is dedicated to the history and culture of African Americans in Virginia.
The museum features a variety of interactive exhibits, including a simulated Underground Railroad experience, a Civil Rights exhibit, and an African American art gallery.
The museum also offers a variety of educational programs, such as storytime, films, and lectures. These programs are designed to teach children about the history and culture of African Americans in Virginia.
3. Wonder Universe
If you’re looking for a museum that’s out of this world, look no further than Wonder Universe. Wonder Universe is a non-profit children’s museum serving the New River Valley and southwest Virginia, based in Christiansburg, Virginia.
This museum is dedicated to the science of space and features a variety of interactive exhibits, including a simulated space shuttle experience, an asteroid field, and a planetarium. It also features a few interactive exhibits, including a life-size replica of the International Space Station, a moon bounce house, and an exhibit on the solar system.
The museum offers several educational programs that are designed to teach children about space science and the universe. In addition to the exhibits and programs, Wonder Universe also has a cafe and a gift shop.
4. Frontier Culture Museum
The Frontier Culture Museum is a living history museum that tells the stories of the people who settled in Virginia. The museum features a variety of interactive exhibits, including a pioneer farm, an African American village, and an Irish village.
The Virginia Frontier Culture Museum highlights the narrative of the tens of thousands of individuals who immigrated to colonial America and the lives they built for themselves and their descendants.
During the 1600s and 1700s, the first settlers arrived in America from communities in the English, German, Irish, and West African hinterlands.
Many were farmers and rural craftsmen driven to the American colonies by changing conditions in their homelands and the prospect of a better life. Others arrived as slaves forced to labor on farms and plantations.
Regardless of how they arrived, they all became Americans and contributed to the colonies’ and United States’ success.
5. Virginia Discovery Museum
The Virginia Discovery Museum (VDM) is a great place to take the kids for a day of fun and learning. It is an interactive, educational museum for young children that is run by an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
VDM was founded in 1981 with the goal of organizing a series of traveling exhibits across Central Virginia. The Board of Directors decided to find a permanent home for the museum in Charlottesville as the popularity of the programs grew.
It started operations in a two-story home, but soon outgrew it and moved to its current location on Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall in 1990.
Now, the Virginia Discovery Museum features four floors of interactive exhibits, classrooms, and a hands-on workshop where kids can explore science, math, art, and literacy. There is also an outdoor play area with a water feature for those hot summer days!
6. Children’s Museum of Richmond
The Children’s Museum is more than just a place for kids to play; it’s a community hub with a variety of programs and activities centered on learning through play and open to all kids and their caregivers.
This museum features a number of interactive exhibits, including a grocery store, a doctor’s office, and a construction site. The museum also offers a variety of programs and events, such as storytime, arts and crafts, and musical performances.
The Children’s Museum is committed to providing an inclusive environment for all children and families. They offer a variety of resources and support for families with children with special needs, including sensory-friendly programs and events.
In addition, this museum is also a great resource for teachers, with a variety of educator resources available, including field trip information and professional development opportunities.
7. Science Museum of Virginia
The Science Museum of Virginia is a state-of-the-art museum that features a variety of interactive exhibits and programs. The museum has something for everyone, with exhibits on natural history, space science, health and the human body, and much more.
In addition to the permanent exhibits, the museum offers a number of temporary exhibits and traveling shows. Not to mention, the museum is also home to the Dome Theater, a planetarium-style theater that offers immersive shows on a variety of topics.
The Science Museum of Virginia also has a variety of kid-friendly programs, including classes, workshops, and camps. These programs are designed to engage kids in hands-on learning experiences that spark their curiosity and imagination.
8. Virginia Museum of Natural History
The Virginia Museum of Natural History is a state-of-the-art museum that features a variety of interactive exhibits and programs. It is known for its breathtaking presentations about natural history, award-winning displays, cutting-edge scientific research and collections, and transformative educational programs for people of all ages.
Aside from what is shown in the building, the museum also has a number of temporary exhibits and traveling shows. The museum is also home to the Dome Theater, a planetarium-style theater that offers immersive shows on a variety of topics.
The Virginia Museum of Natural History is truly a Museum Without Walls, with its statewide outreach education and distance learning programs, internet resources, and touring exhibitions and displays.
9. Museum of the Shenandoah Valley
The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley is a world-class museum that tells the story of the Shenandoah Valley and its people. The museum features a variety of interactive exhibits, including a working gristmill, an immersive history gallery, and a hands-on art studio.
The MSV Makerspace is a community facility that uses creative, hands-on learning activities to engage children, families, and adults in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math). Attendees at makerspaces are invited to try out whatever interests them the most.
The museum also offers a variety of programs and events, such as art classes, family activities, and lectures. The Museum Store features a wide selection of books, jewelry, gifts, and more.
10. Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum is a modern museum that tells the story of the life and legacy of President Woodrow Wilson. The museum features a variety of interactive exhibits, including an Oval Office replica, an immersive history gallery, and a hands-on art studio.
For those who are interested in learning more about its history, the library also offers a variety of programs and events, such as art classes, family activities, and lectures. The Museum Store features a wide selection of books, jewelry, gifts, and more.
The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum is also home to the Woodrow Wilson House, a National Historic Landmark that is open for tours. The house is furnished with original Wilson family belongings and is a beautiful example of early 20th-century architecture.
11. Virginia Museum of Transportation
The Virginia Museum of Transportation is a world-class museum that tells the story of transportation in Virginia. The museum features a variety of interactive exhibits, including a working railroad, an immersive history gallery, and a hands-on art studio. It also has a few interactive exhibits, including a working locomotive, an immersive history gallery, and a hands-on art studio.
The Virginia Museum of Transportation is also home to the O. Winston Link Museum, which features the largest collection of photographs and artifacts documenting the last days of steam railroading. The museum also offers a variety of programs and events, such as art classes, family activities, and lectures.
These are just a few of the many museums in Virginia that offer fun and interactive experiences for kids!
Be sure to check out one (or all!) of these museums the next time you’re looking for a family-friendly activity.
Featured Image Credit: The Conversation
