Children’s Museum Of Wilmington
Theres arguably no better place for Wilmingtons youngest visitors than the always engaging Children’s Museum of Wilmington. Designed for visitors ages 1-10, this museum is stocked with interactive exhibits that will keep little hands and minds busy. Popular exhibits include the giant Ahoy Wilmington pirate ship thats perfect for climbing, the Magnetic Minds Science Center, the Imagination Circus Exhibit, the Teddy Bear Hospital, and the on-site art studio. With regular classes and programs held throughout the week, kids of all interests will always discover something new at this engrossing and educational museum.
Childrens Museum Of Wilmington
In 1991, a group of local parents began developing an idea for hands-on learning through play center. They brought the Junior League of Wilmington into it and further developed their ideas together. The Wilmington Childrens Museum opened its doors on October 10, 1997, after several years of research and study by parents, community leaders, and educators.
With the growing community in 2000, a copious amount of children ready to play and learn, it soon became apparent that the current site could not accommodate more guests. More programs were being introduced, and exhibits were being made. The love for this Museum was already growing so they needed more space.
The Childrens Museum of Wilmington , located at 116 Orange St, Wilmington, NC 28401-4421, purchased three buildings in 2004 from the former St. Johns Art museum to meet the growing number of visitors. The new site is now a part of Downtown Wilmington and preserves pieces that are dear for its history, including two Masonic lodges, an Orthodox Church, and one Cowan House as CMoW today.
This Museum is a welcoming and engaging place that promotes hands-on art, science, and literacy learning for children. It encourages children to explore and learn through hands-on art, science, and literacy learning.
Besides, they inspire children to explore the world around them. They support and develop fundamental skills in young learners. They help create interest for lifelong learning that will carry into adulthood.
Story Timetuesdays At : 00 Am
Museum Educators read-aloud stories chosen to help promote an interest in books and reading. Preschool Story Time helps spark imagination, models positive reading practices, and fosters listening and early literacy skills!
The Children’s Museum of Wilmington features four jam packed levels of interactive, hands-on exhibits and experiences. Each Wednesday afternoon, join our educators as we explore each and every awesome exhibit. Discover the Museum through a new lens every week! This activity is recommended for all ages!
Geared for ages 5 and up, come get creative with our inspiring crafts!Travel across the world, go green as we upcycle & recycle, and use a variety of tools and mediums in Crafty Kids! This program is recommended for ages 5+.
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Uss North Carolina Battleship
Built in 1937 and earning 15 battle stars during World War II, the USS North Carolina Battleship is an impressive museum and attraction thats easy to find thanks to a looming presence along the waterfront in Downtown Wilmington, NC. Visitors who step aboard will have an opportunity to explore the ship from top the bottom, discovering hidden engine rooms and galleys as well as scenic topside decks, all while learning a boatload about the ships unique history. With a number of seasonal programs and special events, such as the annual Easter egg hunt and summertime movie nights with family-friendly flicks, the USS North Carolina Battleship is an engaging destination for miles of on-the-water fun.
Awesome Things To Do In Wilmington Nc With Kids
Categories Travel with Kids
Are you looking for a family vacation filled with fun kids activities, a charming historic downtown, and beautiful beaches? Then youll love all the fun things to do in Wilmington NC with kids.
The cute city located on the Cape Fear River not far from the coast was a perfect place for a family vacation. Youll enjoy exploring the Battleship North Carolina, strolling the Riverwalk & downtown Wilmington, visiting the Cape Fear Museums, Childrens Museum of Wilmington, the North Carolina Aquarium, nearby beaches and so much more.
Everything you would want to do on a family vacation can be found in Wilmington, North Carolina. Follow along with me to find out why Wilmington might be your next family vacation.
For this trip, we were hosted at many locations by the Wilmington & Beaches Convention & Visitors Bureau and The Childrens Museum of Wilmington. Although we are so appreciative of these hosted visits all of my comments and tips are my own opinion.
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A Day Of Play At The Children’s Museum Of Wilmington North Carolina
We love visiting Children’s Museums when we travel because we know it’ll always be a good place to let the kids burn off some energy in between doing all the other stuff we want to do . We also enjoy seeing the unique exhibits and activities that each museum offers, as well as discovering some familiar activities as well! The museum is really intended for the “under-ten” crowd, that being said, my twelve year old did enjoy exploring and playing with her sisters.
Soon after arrival, my four-year-old was excited to find the Toddler Treehouse – an area especially for kids four and under. The treehouse was made from carpet and a variety of fabric scraps and pieces. There were nooks and crannies to explore and play, slides, and a treehouse she could climb up. Around the tree were a variety of toys with toddlers and preschoolers in mind. A play kitchen, ride on toys, and a ginormous teddy bear were among her favorites. There was also a soft play area for the youngest visitors.
On the day of our visit, the art room had painting crafts available and the kids loved wearing smocks and painting with waterproof colors on paper. Other exhibits introduced the kids to simple machines like pulleys, wedges, and levers through hands-on interactive exhibits.
The Childrens Museum Of Wilmington
Step inside this oasis for children right in the heart of downtown Wilmington. The Childrens Museum of Wilmington is filled with 4 levels of awesome kids exhibits and activities. The whole family will love exploring all 12 of their fun hands-on areas.
Kids can use their imagination and be a pirate on a huge ship, become a doctor or dentist and take care of the animals as a Vet. Head downstairs to learn about the science of you & check out all your bones. Visit the art room to share your childs artistic side.
Then go upstairs where the kids can learn about food in the brand new grocery store and build a fort with huge blocks. Get all their energy out with exercise doing a long jump, vertical jump, a stationary bike and more. After that head outdoors and climb a huge spider web.
If you have smaller children they have a cool play space called Toddler Tree House for kids 4 and under. Here the little ones can climb, slide, and crawl around in a safe space.
When the kids need a break from the historical tour and just want to play this is the place to go in Wilmington! Your kids are gonna love it.
Tips for Your Visit
Address 116 Orange Street, Wilmington NC
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North Carolina Aquarium At Fort Fisher
Head to the southern sunny beaches of the Cape Fear region to discover one of the areas most popular attractions for kids, the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher. This extensive aquarium takes visitors on a tour through the states many ecosystems from the local swamps and freshwater streams to the open ocean waters via a variety of interactive exhibits that kids will love. Visitors can touch live horseshoe crabs, sea stars, and even sharks at the touch tanks, watch divers descend into a giant saltwater tank, and even meet a rare albino alligator one of the aquariums most famous local residents. With regular programs for kids and adults alike, the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher earns its reputation as one of the most fun and fascinating destinations in the Cape Fear area.
About The Children’s Museum Of Wilmington Nc
At The Children’s Museum of Wilmington, kids have so much fun they won’t even know they’re learning. In each and every hands on educational exhibit, children take a central role, scanning purchases in the grocery store, giving teddy bears their yearly checkups, and experimenting with art-making media in the studio. Children are allowed to roam freely, as they direct their own learning experiences. Here’s what you need to know before you go.
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Size: 17,000 square feet
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Eye Catcher:Ahoy Wilmington! features a pirate ship, where kids can fire the cannon, swab the deck, and dig for treasure
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Permanent Mainstay: the Toothasaurus Dental Exhibit keeps kids up-to-date on dental health as they care for a dinosaur’s enormous teeth
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Don’t Miss: the Grocery Store, where tots can role-play as customers or staff, even filling orders for the play diner upstairs
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Hidden Gem: at the Forest Friends Toddler Treehouse, kids four and under don animal costumes, carom down slides, and put together puzzles
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Pro Tip: the museum hosts birthday parties that include an educational activity and free admission for all guests
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Special Programs: in addition to the hands-on exhibits, the museum hosts activities such as preschool science experiments and cooking classes for kids
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Hundreds of people visited the Iron Bridge Trailhead at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie over Labor Day weekend, and two of those visitors grew up at the historic site. Alvin and Robert Schumacher brought together four generations of their extended families to what is now the Iron Bridge Trailhead on Sept.
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Crafty Kidswednesdays At : 30 Pm
Begin with a story, then add a fun snack! This program connects literacy and cooking. Each week we’ll get creative with ‘cooking’ based on a favorite storybook.This program is recommended for ages 3+.StoryCooks is sponsored by Harris Teeter.
Your little marine biologists will learn all about marine biology through creative play, experiments, hands-on activities, and more!Sea Stars is recommended for kids ages 4+.
Sing, make music, dance, and play! Toddler Time focuses on ages 1 to 3 using sensory based activities to help little learners explore, create, develop and learn while having fun. Catch all four themes each month as they rotate weekly!
Our Sci-Fri program covers everything the outer reaches of space to the tiniest microbes in our bodies. Science Friday is a new interactive source of educational hands-on lessons and experiments about science, technology, and so much more! This program is recommended for ages 4+.
For more information on Daily Programs give us a call
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What Is There To Do
The Children’s Museum of Wilmington is ALL about giving kids under 10 years a fun, playful time within a museum all for them!
Throughout the museum there are a number of exhibits that encourage hands-on learning and development for those curious, playful and inquisitive kids. The biggest decision will be which exhibit will they explore first!?
Ahoy Wilmington is all about those swashbucklers who love to dress up as pirates and sail the seven seas. Creative kids can spend their time in the art studio creating a masterpiece, or those engineers of the future can head to Imagination Playground where it’s all about the building blocks where they can create robots, ships, and more!
Kids can shop at the grocery store, just like mom and dad, or they can learn to become comfortable at the doctors with the Teddy Bear Hospital.
Exhibits teach them about their bodies, oral health, under the ocean technology, art, and even help them learn to read!
For those little ones under 4 years, the Toddler Treehouse has their name all over it, giving them a space to play away from the bigger kids.
It’s all about giving kids a chance to be creative, use those imaginations, role play, dress up, learn new skills and develop. A museum JUST for them? You bet, and it’s all waiting at the Children’s Museum of Wilmington!
Riverwalk In Wilmington Nc
The bustling Riverwalk is located on the Cape Fear River in Wilmingtons historic district. This wooden boardwalk stretches 1.75 miles along the beautiful river. It encompasses many historic buildings, restaurants, bars, and shops. You will also get a great view of the Battleship North Carolina located across the river and the Cape Fear Memorial bridge.
This is a great place to head for lunch or dinner while visiting the area. There are tons of restaurants with both inside and outside seating along the boardwalk. Its also the perfect spot for a nice stroll to check out the pastel shops, historic buildings, and boats sailing by. Find a nice bench and enjoy the view.
Restaurant While we were there we had a delicious lunch at The Pilot House located on the Riverwalk. You can find seating both inside and outside with a great view of the river.
Our kids loved eating lunch and watching the boats go by. They also had a nice kids menu and amazing homemade chips.
Address 2 Ann Street, Wilmington NC
Tips for Your Visit
- Wear comfortable shoes for your walk
- There is a visitor information booth with someone to answer all your questions at Market Street and Water Street.
- Public Bathrooms are located by the visitor information booth
- Take your time and enjoy your stroll
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Dozens Enjoy A Day Of Playing In The Mud At The Childrens Museum Of Wilmington
WILMINGTON, NC The Childrens Museum of Wilmington held one of its most popular events on Saturday, entertaining and educating with their sold out annual Mud Day.
The event allowed kids to get hands-on with different mud-related activities around the museums courtyard.
Each station had a different theme to help children and their parents learn more about the soil and connect with the earth.
Museum executive director Heather Sellgren feels the event provides kids the chance to be kids.
They might not be able to get messy at home, but theyre more than welcome to come here and wear their swimsuits and get as messy as they want to get and have a good time, Sellgren said.
Participant Avery Maynard agreed with Sellgren, saying she enjoyed coming out to the event.
I really like the cooking, the mud cooking over there, and the mud pit and washing the baby dolls, Maynard said.
Museum staff feel sensory play is important to children, and hope events like these will continue to allow kids to learn as they grow.
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Whatever You Do Don’t Peck A Fight: Prehistoric Penguin Was Almost As Tall As Manyour Browser Indicates If You’ve Visited This Link
The 34-million-year old remains of a giant penguin that would have been 4.7 feet tall, found by schoolkids on a fossil-hunting trip, is of a previously unknown species, scientists have revealed. A research team from Massey University and Connecticut’s Bruce Museum confirmed that the fossilized remains found by schoolchildren on a fossil-hunting field trip in New Zealand’s Kawhia Harbour in 2006 belonged to a species that was previously unknown to scientists.
The Wilmington Journal
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Helpful Hints For Your Visit
- Snacks – The museum doesn’t have a cafe, but there are areas where you can eat snacks if you pack them… and there are restaurants nearby, too!
- Parking – The museum does not have any dedicated parking. We found metered parking on the streat nearby the museum and were able to pay with credit card . There are some streets nearby that don’t charge for parking, but it’d be a bit of a walk… and there are lots nearby with 1 hour free parking – but we knew we’d be here longer than an hour.
Learn more about admissions, current exhibits, and special events happening at the Children’s Museum of Wilmington at
Read about some of the other adventures we’re having on our Year-Long Road Trip!
Thanks to Wilmington and Beaches Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Childrens Museum of WIlmington. for sponsoring this review. All opinions expressed are my own. See more on !
Meg is a mommy blogger, Facebook marketer, and much more. She is a mom to four kids who live full-time in an RV exploring the US! As a former Facebook employee, Meg remains a Facebook addict and handles KidsOutAndAbout.com’s Social Media Marketing in addition to providing freelance services for other small businesses on how to best leverage Facebook as a part of their marketing strategy. Meg also hosts the FamilyPreneur Podcast, a podcast for parent entrepreneurs raising entrepreneurial children. Learn more about Meg at MegBrunson.com!
Wilmington Nc’s Onlyodditorium Museum
Visit our sideshow exhibit and then take a tour through the Wacky Hall of Fame. Youre going to love browsing the attractions at our oddities museum!
In addition to the standard attractions at our science museum, were always running fun and spooky events. Browse our Events page to learn more about our upcoming schedule.
Read what some of our past guests have had to say about Museum of the Bizarre. Youll be talking about our natural history museum for years to come!
Have you grown tired of the mundane? Shake up your routine and expose yourself to the weird and the wild. At Museum of the Bizarre in Wilmington, we offer an array of exhibits that you wont find anyplace else!
For years, our Odditorium museum has been thrilling guests of all ages. Weve organized a series of interacting exhibits geared toward adults and children alike. Whether youd like to view our cabinet of curiosities, experience an authentic Van De Graaff generator, or get your picture taken inside the jaws of a shark, we invite you to stop by our curiosities museum.
A MUSEUM YOU HAVE TO SEE TO BELIEVE!
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