Kid-Friendly Museums in the New York Area

Our family-friendly museum guide features science exhibits, nature, transportation and technology innovation, and art exhibits; you'll find something for every member of your family. Many museums in the New York area have begun reopening or have released plans to. Always call the museum you're interested in visiting to confirm it's open, and make sure to keep up with coronavirus developments so your family can adapt to this ever-changing situation. Need tips for family fun activities? Subscribe to our daily newsletter, which delivers ideas every morning!

• Kid-Friendly Museums in the Bronx
• Kid-Friendly Museums in Brooklyn
• Kid-Friendly Museums in Manhattan
• Kid-Friendly Museums in Queens
• Kid-Friendly Museums on Staten Island 
• Kid-Friendly Museums in Nassau County
• Kid-Friendly Museums in Suffolk County
• Kid-Friendly Museums in Westchester County
• Kid-Friendly Museums in Rockland County
• Kid-Friendly Museums in Bergen County
• Kid-Friendly Museums in Orange County
• Kid-Friendly Museums in Fairfield County, CT

RELATED: These are the Best Christmas Lights Displays in New York

Kid-Friendly Museums in the Bronx

Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum
Temporarily closed: Plans to reopen
As a service to couples who may have had to adjust their plans, we have opened up space at Bartow-Pell for Minimonies. Now you can hold your ceremony in a posh English garden setting fit for Royalty! Right here, in New York City’s backyard, lies this 19^th century hidden gem. Availability will start when re-opening guidelines allow. And to accommodate in these uncertain times, we will refund deposits if safety guideline dates change and necessitate postponement or cancellations. We will happily work with you to tailor your vision for your special day.
895 Shore Road, Pelham Bay Park
718-885-1461

This historic stone mansion, built between 1836 and 1842, serves as a window into 19th-century life in the area, when many more grand country estates dotted the then-countryside. Visitors can take a tour of the mansion’s period-dressed rooms and view rotating exhibits that delve into significant periods of the site’s history. During the holiday season, the museum hosts various events. More information is listed on the website.

The Bronx Museum of the Arts
Open.
All upcoming programs and rentals are suspended. We will continue our increased sanitation efforts and will undergo extensive cleaning during our closure.
1040 Grand Concourse (165th Street), Bronx
718-681-6000

The flagship cultural institution of the Bronx, founded in 1971, this museum focuses on 20th-century and contemporary art.

Kid-Friendly Museums in Brooklyn

Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Reopening Oct. 24
145 Brooklyn Ave., Crown Heights
718-735-4400

This colorful museum includes permanent exhibits like Neighborhood Nature, where kids can take on the role of field scientists to observe life forms and document the environment of a freshwater pond, saltwater beach, urban woodland, and community garden; Totally Tots, an early learner exhibit for kids up to age 5 that includes Water Wonders, Art Studio, Building Zone, and Little Theater; and World Brooklyn, where visitors can take a trip through Brooklyn (or at least, a child-sized model of the city), to learn about its diversity through the stories of real people and places.

Brooklyn Museum
Closed until further notice
200 Eastern Parkway, Prospect Heights
718-638-5000

Housed in a 560,000-square-foot Beaux-Arts building, it is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the U.S. with world-renowned permanent art collections. The museum is located close to Prospect Park, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and the Prospect Park Zoo.

Jewish Children’s Museum
Open.
792 Eastern Parkway, Crown Heights
718-467-0600
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10am-4pm; Sunday, 10am-5pm
Admission: $15 per person ages 2 and older; $12 seniors; $12 visitors with disabilities and free admission for one caregiver
What you need to know: There will be limited space, and advanced registration is required. Masks will be required for children 2 years and older. The museum has added to its sanitizing and cleaning regiment of the building as well as exhibits. There will be multiple hand sanitizing stations around the building, for ease of access and cleanliness. There will be added physical distance markers around the building.

This museum celebrates Jewish culture through hands-on exhibits focusing on Jewish holidays, biblical history, the land of Israel, and contemporary Jewish life. It features multimedia exhibits, an art gallery, two state-of-the-art computer labs, a game show studio, a 75-seat audiovisual theater, a miniature golf course, and a craft workshop.

Micro Museum
Temporarily closed
123 Smith St., Boerum Hill
718-797-3116

Dedicated to big art, this small venue in downtown Brooklyn features interactive media and visual and performing arts.

Above & Beyond: A three-year retrospective of the art of William and Kathleen Laziza, founders of the museum, that features never-before-seen works, including touch-sensitive sculptures, wearable art pieces, paintings, videos, and more.

New York Transit Museum
Temporarily closed until further notice
99 Schermerhorn St., Downtown Brooklyn
718-694-1600

At the largest museum in the U.S. dedicated to urban public transportation history, galleries showcase the tale of building NYC’s 100-year-old subway system. Housed underground in an authentic 1936 subway station in Downtown Brooklyn, the Transit Museum’s working platform level spans a full city block and is home to a rotating selection of 20 vintage subway and elevated cars dating back to 1907.

Kid-Friendly Museums in Manhattan

9/11 Memorial Museum
Museum open.
The National September 11 Memorial & Museum launched a major fundraising campaign to reopen the Memorial to 9/11 family members, the extended 9/11 community, and workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic on Saturday, July 4, and to the general public on Sunday, July 5.

The Memorial is open with adjusted hours—from 1 to 8 p.m., seven days a week—and new operational safeguards, including regular deep cleanings.

All visitors to the Memorial will be required to wear masks. Social distancing will be enforced. These measures were developed with guidance from public health experts and exist to ensure the health and safety of all visitors and staff.
180 Greenwich St.
212-312-8800
Hours: Thursday and Friday, 12-7pm and Saturday-Monday 10am-5pm
Admission: $26; $20 seniors, young adults ages 13-17, and college students; $18 veterans; $15 children ages 7-12; free for members and children younger than 7. Free museum visitation is offered on Mondays beginning at 3:30pm

The 9/11 Memorial Museum offers age-appropriate entry points into the history of the World Trade Center, 9/11, and its aftermath. On Saturdays, children can participate in drop-in activity stations tied to artifacts and themes. All programs are free to ticketed museum visitors.

AKC Museum of the Dog
Open
101 Park Ave., Midtown East
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm
Price: Adults $15; Children 12 and under, $5; Seniors, students, and military (65+) $10; timed ticketing.
What you need to know: Masks are required in the museum and disposable masks will be provided if you forget. Six feet distance between yourself and others is required in the museum. Staff and volunteers will be implementing rigorous cleaning and disinfecting routines to ensure a safe and healthy environment. Contactless ticket purchasing.

AKC Museum of the Dog holds one of the finest collections of canine-related art. Combining fine arts with cutting edge technology and interpretation, the Museum of the Dog provides unique and engaging experiences for visitors of all ages.

FDNY Fire Zone
Open
61 W. 48th St., Hell's Kitchen
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 11am-4pm
Admission: Free. Fire-Safety Presentation $6 adults and children and $2 seniors.
What you need to know: The FDNY Fire Zone is New York City’s state-of-the-art fire-safety learning center. At the Fire Zone you can climb on a realistic fire truck, try on bunker gear, meet a firefighter and learn how to crawl through a smoke-filled hallway. The Fire Zone gives visitors a first-hand experience in what to do in a fire emergency through a variety of hands-on exhibits and multimedia presentations, including a simulated fire scene.

American Museum of Natural History
Museum open.
Central Park West at 79th Street, Upper West Side
212-769-5100
Hours: 10am-5:30pm, Wednesday-Sunday
Price: General admission including admission to permanent museum halls but does not include special exhibitions: $23 adults; $18 for students with ID; $18 for seniors 60+; $13 for children ages 3-12; free for members. General admission for New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut residents with ID is pay-what-you-wish. 
What you need to know: Admission is by timed entry. Facial coverings are required throughout the visit. Guests must maintain physical distancing and use hand sanitizer throughout their visit. 

One of the largest museums in the world, the collections here are made up of more than 32 million specimens and artifacts. Read the best-kept secrets of AMNH before you go!

Center for Architecture
Temporarily closed
We will remain closed, pending guidance from New York State. Once we reopen, we expect to place limits on event sizes, in compliance with evolving social distancing and other mitigation strategies.
536 LaGuardia Place, Greenwich Village
212-683-0023

The Center for Architecture promotes understanding and appreciation of architecture and design through educational programs for K-12 schools, families, and the general public. Learn more about the buildings and streetscapes that make up our city by visiting our free galleries with changing exhibitions on current topics in architecture, or by attending one of our hands-on design workshops.

Children’s Museum of Manhattan
Open to members Oct. 1, reopening to the public Oct. 16
The Tisch Building, 212 W. 83rd St., Upper West Side
212-721-1223
Hours: Tuesday-Friday and Sundays, 10am-5pm; Saturdays, 10am-7pm
Admission: See website
What you need to know: All visitors must purchase timed tickets in advance, have their temperature taken upon arrival, wear masks, and respect social distancing protocols.

CMOM inspires kids to learn about themselves and the world around them through interactive exhibits and programs such as Adventures with Dora and Diego, in which children ages 2-6 join a series of missions to save animals, build a bear’s nest, and get ready for a fiesta; and PlayWorks, in which children up to age 4 feed alphabet letters to a talking dragon, drive a fire truck, and more while exploring language, art, science, and imagination.

Children’s Museum of the Arts
Temporarily closed
103 Charlton St., Soho
212-274-0986

A hands-on arts museum that engages young artists with a clay bar, fine art studio, WEE space (for ages 5 and younger), and a media lab and sound booth.

DiMenna Children’s History Museum at New-York Historical Society
NYHS Open. The DiMenna Children's History Museum will remain closed temporarily. 
Pending local and state approvals, we will reopen August 14 with a free, outdoor exhibition, Hope Wanted: New York City Under Quarantine, in our rear courtyard. On September 11, the Museum will reopen indoors, with safety protocols in place for visitors and staff. The museum will continue to host a variety of children's programming online.
170 Central Park West at Richard Gilder Way, Upper West Side
212-873-3400
What you need to know: Face coverings are required for employees and all visitors older than age 2 and are available—without charge—to anyone requesting them. Social distancing is required and will be enforced, and there is a one-way path through the exhibition. Cleaning protocols are also in place.

Located on the lower level of the New-York Historical Society, this is the first-ever museum that brings American history to life through the eyes of children. Targeted toward children ages 8-13, the museum features life stories of a diverse selection of youngsters who lived in NYC from the late 17th to the 20th centuries. The outdoor exhibition, Hope Wanted: New York City Under Quarantine, is now on view in the rear courtyard through Nov. 29

Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum 
Open
Pier 86
W 46th Street and 12th Ave.
212-245-0072
Hours: Nov. 20-Jan 3., open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. 10am-5pm. Starting Jan. 4, museum temporarily closed through March 2021. 
Admission: $33, adults 13-64; $31, seniors 65+; $24, children 5-12
What you need to know: Some experiences will be unavailable during initial reopening, but the vast majority of the museum will be available, including most exhibitions and the entire collection of aircraft outside on the flight deck and in the spacious hangar deck, as well as the Space Shuttle Pavilion, which houses the space shuttle Enterprise. Timed ticketing to limit capacity to 25 percent as well as physical distancing, face coverings, frequent cleaning, and hand sanitizer stations will be implemented.

The museum is dedicated to the exhibition and interpretation of history, science and service as related to its home aboard the aircraft carrier Intrepid. Examine original artifacts, view historic video footage and explore interactive exhibits. New exhibits include Navy Cakes: A Slice of History, which showcases sweets and the hard work of the sailors who created them, and On the Line: Intrepid and the Vietnam War, which explores the events and impact of the war through the lens of the Intrepid’s history. 

Guggenheim Museum
Reopening Oct. 3
1071 Fifth Ave.
212-423-3500
Hours: Thursday-Monday, 11am-6pm
Price: $25, adults; $18, students/seniors (65+); free for children under 12. Pay what you wish Fridays and Saturdays 4-6pm (timed tickets required).
What you need to know: Capacity will be limited to 25 percent with access available through ticked-ticket purchase only. One-way guided footpaths will be used with signage to support the measured flow of guests and social distancing. 
 

Jewish Museum
Reopening Oct. 1
1109 Fifth Ave.
212-423-3200
Hours: Monday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 11am-4pm; Thursday, 11am-8pm. Shop hours: Monday, Friday, and Sunday, 11am-4pm and Thursday, 11am-8pm
Price: Free through Dec. 21
What you need to know: Timed tickets are necessary to maintain 25 percent capacity and social distance. Face coverings required. Temperature checks required. Visitors with a temperature above 100.4 degrees F will not be admitted. Six feet distance required. Large bags and oversized umbrellas not permitted. Russ & Daughters at the Jewish Museum will remain temporarily closed.

From excavating ancient replicas in a simulated archaeological dig, to designing mixed-media artworks, families enjoy a wide range of programs at the Jewish Museum. On Sundays and select weekdays, families can participate in the Museum’s Drop-in Art Workshop, attend music and theater performances, and explore art exhibitions together. They can also visit Archaeology Zone, an interactive exhibition designed for children, as well as engage in holiday programs and specialized art workshops during winter vacation weeks.

Metropolitan Museum of Art
Open.
The Met will take an extra month in order to allow staff members to return to work and structure the museum to accommodate new guidelines including reduced hours, social distancing, and face masks. The Met Cloisters will reopen on Sept. 12.
1000 Fifth Ave.
212-535-7710
Hours: Thursday and Friday, 12-7pm; Saturday-Monday, 10am-5pm
Price: For New York State residents and New York State students, the amount you pay for your admission ticket is up to you. General Admission Tickets: $25 for adults; $17 for seniors; $12 for students; Free for Members, Patrons, and children under 12.
What you need to know: Face coverings are required for all visitors over the age of two; visitors must maintain physical distancing and keep at least 6 feet apart; visitors should wash hands and use sanitizer regularly throughout your visit. General admission tickets are available for purchase in advance online and at ticket desks and kiosks at The Met’s locations.  At this time, group reservations, group visits, and group tours of any size are not available or permitted in the Museum.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s programs for kids and families are designed to spark imagination, creativity, and lifelong connections with art. Drop-in programs such as Art Trek and Sunday Studio offer fun through looking, learning, and creating art together. Sign up for classes taught by educators and artists who use the entire museum as an expanded classroom. Get started with #MetKids, a new digital art feature made for, with, and by kids ages 7-12 that includes an interactive map, videos starring kid reporters, and more. Find it at metmuseum.org/metkids.

Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden
Temporarily closed
421 E. 61st St.
212-838-6878

Travel back in time to an early 19th-century country resort where New Yorkers came for a day of fun and relaxation. Family-friendly tours highlight activities that were popular in the 1800s.

Museum of Ice Cream
Open
Spaces will be deep cleaned before opening and at the end of each day using CDC recommended and EPA registered cleaning solutions. Throughout the day, team members have been trained to disinfect all touch points after any exposure or contact with guests. Masks are required upon entry and optional for children ages 12 and under. "Swimming" in the sprinkle pool is no longer allowed.  

558 Broadway, SoHo
855-258-0719
Hours: Thursday-Sunday, 10am-5pm
Admission: $39

Museum of Illusions
Open
77 8th Ave., Chelsea
212-645-3230
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9am-10pm; Friday-Sunday, 8am-11pm
Admission: Adults $22; Children ages 4-13 $18; Seniors, military, and students $20;
What you need to know: All visitors and staff must wear a face covering to enter the building. Temperature will be taken upon entry. Numbered exhibits will help with the flow of the museum to allow social distancing. The museum has installed MERV-13 filters in its air conditioning system, along with UV lights, to help eliminate COVID-19. It has added a dozen hand sanitizing stations, limited capacity to 34 people at any given time, and added a senior citizen entrance.

The Museum of Illusions offers a collection of holograms, optical illusions, and showpieces that will amaze visitors. Learn about vision, perception, the human brain, and science to perceive why your eyes see things that your brain can't understand!

Museum of Mathematics
Temporarily closed
Be sure to check out MoMath’s full menu of online events and student sessions at events.momath.org!
11 E. 26th St.
212-542-0566

At MoMath, discover the side of math you’ve never seen before with exhibits and activities like Seeing Math, an exhibit that shows math in a whole new lights, and Square-Wheeled Trike, a surprisingly smooth ride on square wheels.

Museum of Modern Art
Open
11 W. 53rd St.
212-708-9400
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 10:30am-5:30pm for the public; Mondays, 10:30am-5:30pm for museum members only
Admission: Free admission through Sept. 27.
What you need to know: Capacity is limited, and entry is by timed ticket only. Temperatures will be screened, and masks are required for anyone ages 2 and older. Everyone must maintain social distancing and follow signs that will guide you throughout the museum’s spaces.  

Discover modern and contemporary art with your family at The Museum of Modern Art with programs and resources specially designed for families with kids ages 4-14. Spend time viewing over 2,000 artworks in over 150,000 square feet of gallery space in the museum’s collection and special exhibition galleries.

New York City Fire Museum
Temporarily closed
278 Spring St.
212-691-1303

The New York City Fire Museum displays the evolution of firefighting from the bucket brigades of Peter Stuyvesant's New Amsterdam through the colorful history of volunteer firefighters to modern firefighting techniques and equipment. The museum also houses a memorial to the 343 members of the FDNY who made the supreme sacrifice on 9/11. Fire safety tours are available for groups. Fire safety learning games for kids.

New-York Historical Society
Open
New-York Historical is temporarily closed to the public to help contain the spread of COVID-19. Pending local and state approvals, we will reopen August 14 with a free, outdoor exhibition, Hope Wanted: New York City Under Quarantine, in our rear courtyard. On Sept. 11, the Museum will reopen indoors, with safety protocols in place for visitors and staff. Check back here for further updates.
170 Central Park West
212-873-3400
What you need to know: Face coverings are required for employees and all visitors older than age 2 and are available—without charge—to anyone requesting them. Social distancing is required and will be enforced. Cleaning protocols are also in place.

Experience the wonder of trains and toys with the whimsical train exhibition and family programs. The Train Hunt is available anytime families visit.

South Street Seaport Museum
Temporarily closed
12 Fulton St.
212-748-8753

Learn all about New York Harbor and its science and history with South Street Seaport Museum. Visit the South Street Seaport Museum with your family for Tall Ships Tours and gallery exhibitions. Periodic family programs offer hands-on workshops for school-aged children on everything from boat design to plankton studies, and fun educational sails on the Schooner Pioneer. MiniMates program for toddlers and preschoolers and their care-givers offers fun and relaxed learning in a creative environment with music, movement, art, science, and free play.

Spyscape
Open
928 8th Ave., 
212-549-1941
Hours: 10am-9pm
Admission: $99 family rate (2 adults + 2 children or 1 adult + 3 children); $23 students, teachers, seniors, U.S. military, local law enforcement, and children younger than 12.
What you need to know: Interact with SPYSCAPE's award-winning immersive content and experiences on your smartphone, plus a new SPYSCAPE branded stylus. Staff is trained and equipped to deliver a best-in-class level of service and safety including 25 percent capacity, temperature checks, timed-ticketing, one-way visitor flow, distance indicators, hand sanitizer, touch-less purchases, and high-frequency deep cleaning.

Learn what it's like to be a spy for a day. Spyscape takes you into the world of secret intelligence, code-making and breaking, lie detection, surveillance, hacking, special ops, and more.

Tenement Museum
Open. 
103 Orchard St., Lower East Side
877-795-3786
Hours: Saturday and Sunday, 11am-4pm
Admission: 
What you need to know: 
 

Whitney Museum of American Art
Open.
99 Gansevoort St., West Village
212-570-3600
Hours: Monday, 11:30am-6pm; Thursday, 11:30am-6pm; Friday, 1:30-9pm; Saturday-Sunday, 1-6pm
Admission: Pay what you want through Sept. 28
What you need to know: Capacity is limited. All visitors and members must book timed tickets in advance. Face coverings are required. There will be signage and ground markings throughout the museum to ensure proper social distancing. There is an updated circulation route in staircases and elevators. 

Focusing on 20th century and contemporary art, David Hammons's Day’s End, a new public art project commissioned by the Whitney, is scheduled to be completed in late fall 2020 in Hudson River Park directly across from the Museum.

Kid-Friendly Museums in Queens

Queens Museum
Open.
New York City Building, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Flushing
718-592-9700
Hours: Wednesdays-Fridays, 12-5pm; Saturdays-Sundays, 11am-5pm
Admission: FREE
What you need to know: The Queens Museum has been hard at work reimagining a visitor experience that showcases their new exhibitions while prioritizing the well-being and safety of the community. All visitors must reserve a timed entry ticket prior to visiting the Queens Museum. After booking your timed tickets, arrive within 30 minutes of your ticket start time. You will be asked to present your ticket–digital or hard copy  to a Welcome Team Member upon arriving at the museum. Masks are required for entry for all visitors ages 2+ and all visitors will be asked to scan for a temperature check. Please see museum website for everything that you need to know before visiting. Book your free tickets in advance here.

The museum is dedicated to visual arts and features six galleries. It offers regular artist workshops and lectures.

Museum of the Moving Image
Temporarily closed
Museum of the Moving Image is a free meal distribution site. Check the museum's website for details.
36-01 35th Ave., Astoria
718-777-6888

The only museum in the U.S. dedicated to the art, history, technique, and technology of the moving image in all its forms. Permanent exhibit: The Jim Henson Exhibition features a rare look into the creative mind and life of Jim Henson with 300 objects and 47 puppets on display, including Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, and more.

MoMA PS1
Open
22-25 Jackson Avenue
Hours: Daily, 12-6pm. Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Admission: $10 adults, $5 seniors and students, children 16 and younger free
What you need to know: Timed ticket only. Capacity is limited.

MoMA PS1 presents today’s most experimental, thought- provoking art. Founded in
1971, it is the first nonprofit arts center in the US devoted solely to contemporary art.

New York Hall of Science
Temporarily closed: Will reopen mid-2021
47-01 111th St., Flushing Meadows-Corona Park
718-699-0005

Get your hands on more than 450 science-themed exhibits that engage learners of all inclinations and ages.

Queens County Farm Museum
Open to walk grounds, take a hayride, shop in the store, feed the goats, and meet the farmers.
73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park
718-347-3276
Hours: 10am-5pm, Monday-Sunday except for New Year’s Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and during special events
Farmstand: 11am-3pm, Wednesday-Sunday
Price: Free except during special events
What you need to know: Maintain six feet of social distance between household groups; and wear face coverings when six-foot social distancing is not possible, unless a face covering is not medically tolerated. Visitors and employees must stay home if they are sick. Members and general admission visitors are required to pre-purchase admission tickets through the farm’s online ticketing system. Tickets will no longer be sold at the door on event days. More visitor information found here. 

The museum strives to preserve Queens’ agricultural and horticultural past while heightening awareness of present-day sustainable agricultural and horticultural practices.

Kid-Friendly Museums on Staten Island

Historic Richmond Town
Buildings currently closed; Visitors welcomed to grounds during regular hours. Tavern Terrace Beer Garden open with social distancing and mask-wearing.
441 Clarke Ave.
718-351-1611
What you need to know: Wear a face covering Maintain a six-foot distance from others at all times; Avoid congregating in groups. 

This living-history village allows visitors to recreate and interact with colonial history through guided tours, demonstrations, and hands-on activities. Follow a visit to the site’s museum, which hosts a rotating display of exhibits that highlight the historical importance of the area, with a guided tour of its 45 original buildings, including the oldest-known schoolhouse in America, where you might meet a few costumed demonstrators engaging in old-fashioned trades and day-to-day duties.

Staten Island Children’s Museum
Temporarily closed
Snug Harbor Cultural Center, 1000 Richmond Terrace
718-273-2060

Interactive exhibitions and creative workshops here are launchpads for discovery, designed to nurture children’s natural curiosity and creativity. Permanent exhibits include: Bugs and Other Insects: Crawl through a human-size ant hill, try on an exoskeleton, watch butterflies being born and bees working on their hive, and jam with the Insect Orchestra. Block Harbor: Explore a fantasy port of call on a pirate ship, peep through a telescope, ring the bell, navigate the wheel, cook in the galley—or just make believe. Great Explorations: Kids learn about extreme environments as they explore a rainforest canopy and cave, drive a dogsled through the tundra, build an igloo, cross a river, walk on snow shoes, and drive a submersible.

Kid-Friendly Museums in Nassau County

African American Museum
Open 10am-5pm by appointment only
110 N. Franklin St., Hempstead
516-572-0730
Hours: 10am-5pm, Wednesday-Saturday
Admission: $5 per person ages 5 and older
What you need to know: Masks required, temperature taken upon arrival

Art and culture collide at the African American Museum, where the mission is to educate and promote understanding and appreciation of African American culture, art, and tradition through education, exhibitions, and workshops for the public.

Cradle of Aviation Museum
Hours: Thursday-Sunday, 10am-4pm
Across from Mitchel Athletic Complex, Charles Lindbergh Blvd., Garden City
516-572-4111
Price: Adult $16.00; Child ages 2-12 and seniors ages 62+ $14; Military Personnel, Volunteer Firemen & Non-Ambulatory Visitors, free. Frontline Healthcare Workers free through Aug. 30.
What you need to know: All museum visitors older than 2 must wear a face mask while in the museum. Disposable face masks will be made available for anyone who does not have them. Six feet is the standard, and staff is empowered to close exhibits if maintaining six feet of distance between people appears to not be possible.

The museum features more 75 air and space crafts from hot air balloons to an actual Lunar Module, Long Island's only giant screen theater that houses the Jet Blue Sky Theater Planetarium and the National Geographic Dome Theater and Nunley's Carousel. The Planetarium, Dome Theater, Nunley’s Carousel, and Junior Jet Club are currently closed until further notice as per NYS mandate.

Garvies Point Museum
The preserve is open from 7am—7:30pm every day.  Please exercise caution when visiting the preserve and remember NO DOGS ALLOWED on the preserve at any time. The summer day camp for kids begins July 7 and runs through August. Head to the website for details.
50 Barry Drive, Glen Cove
516-571-8010
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10am-4pm
Admission: $4; $2 children ages 5-12
What you need to know: Public is required to wear masks when in foyer, gift shop, and museum. 3-4 family groups in museum at a time. One family group are allowed in foyer, gift shop, and exhibit alcove at a time. Garvies Point Museum Day will be cancelled this year.