What Is There To Do
Some museums are all about art, and some are all about history, but some museums know what kids really love – FUN – and they are dedicated to just that, as well as learning through play.
The Children’s Museum of the Upstate in Greenville, South Carolina was created just for kids to have a great time, and to learn invaluable skills and lessons to help them develop.
With 80,000 square feet, and 18 interactive exhibits, there is certainly a lot of fun waiting for those inquisitive minds!
The Children’s Museum of the Upstate has 3 floors filled with exhibits all relating to humanities, the arts, health, sciences, the environment and nutrition, each of which teach chllldren something unique.
The exhibits are fully interactive, and they are geared towards different age groups, so you will always be able to find something age appropriate for your family!
Kids can become actors and news reporters in their very own TV studio, or learn the science of speed and aerodynamics in the Start Your Engines feature. Creative minds will love Off The Wall – a unique exploration space where they can ignite passion for the arts, and those great with their hands and minds can become construction workers.
There are financial exhibits, climbing structures, and ways for kids to learn all about how to have a healthy body and mind.
In the words of the Children’s Museum of the Upstate – “I Can Be Anything” – and at this fun museum, you can!
Special Programs At The Childrens Museum
In addition to all the activities available at the museum, weekly enrichment sessions are included at no additional cost.
- Story Time & More Tuesday-Saturday at 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM
- steamWORKSTuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 1:00-4:00 PM
- Open Art Studios Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM Wednesdays and Fridays from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM Saturday from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM
- Healthy Hustle Tuesday and Friday at 1:30 PM
For a full schedule of events at the museum see the TCMU Event Calendar
Adventures That Await You On The First Floor Of The Childrens Museum Of The Upstate
The ground-level floor of the museum is where youll find fun for even the youngest of guests!
Bibs World It is an inclusive outdoor playground that includes a lift for differently-abled children to access the top of the play structure. A structured stack of tires courtesy of Michelin is in the shade and a favorite spot for kids! Its also a great photo opportunity!
Toddler Lily Pond & Reedy River Bend This water play area is excellent for all ages. In addition, the museum provides smocks to keep kids dry. The Lilypond is appropriate for museum guests ages one through five!
The Animation Station Provides guests a lesson in animation and the chance to watch their cartoon strip come to life.
The Upside DownThis unique immersive room is literally flipped upside down. The exhibit features a room with objects flipped so that children can enjoy a different view of the world while walking through.
Garage Rock This room will allow your kids to make music from household items and real instruments. Make sure you have your camera ready to capture the talent brought out in your kids!
Open Art Studios Several times a week, themed art projects will allow your child to express their inner Picasso. Art can be left behind to dry if the paint is used, just set a reminder to go back and retrieve it at the end of your visit.
- Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM
- Wednesdays and Fridays from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
- Saturday from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM
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About Imaginenation Childrens Museum
Imaginenation Childrens Museum, located in Greenville, SC, promotes research and public education through its Museum collection. Visitors to the Museum can see Museum exhibits, attend events at the Museum, and access Museum educational programs. The Museum supports itself through ticket sales, membership, fundraisers, and donations.
You may contact Museums for questions about:
- Museum exhibits and collections
County Office is not affiliated with any government agency. Third party advertisements support hosting, listing verification, updates, and site maintenance. Information found on CountyOffice.org is strictly for informational purposes and does not construe legal, financial or medical advice.
From Cherokee Land To Greenville County
The land of present-day Greenville was once the hunting ground of the Cherokee, which was forbidden to colonists. A wealthy settler from Virginia named Richard Pearis arrived in South Carolina around 1754 and established relations with the Cherokee. Pearis had a child with a Cherokee woman and received about 100,000 acres from the Cherokee around 1770. Pearis established a plantation on the Reedy River called the Great Plains in present-day downtown Greenville. The American Revolution divided the South Carolina country between the Loyalists and Patriots. Pearis supported the Loyalists and together with their allies, the Cherokee. After the Cherokee attacked the Patriots, the Patriots retaliated by burning down Pearis’ plantation and jailing him in Charleston. Pearis never returned to his plantation but Paris Mountain is named after him. The Treaty of Dewitt’s Corner in 1777 ceded almost all Cherokee land, including present-day Greenville, to South Carolina.
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Weather Forecast For The Childrens Museum Of The Upstate Greenville South Carolina
If you planning to travel to The Childrens Museum of the Upstate, Greenville, South Carolina, here is your 6-day travel weather forecast to make sure you have all the essentials needed during your stay.Start your day when the sunrises at 11:04 AM.The temperature feels like 76.80000000000001 with a humidity level of 82 so dress accordingly.Cloud coverage is 87 percent with visibility at 10.8 percent.Todays UV index is 3, dont forget the sunscreen if you need it!Todays winds are traveling east-southeast at a speed of 5 MPH. At the end of the day dont miss the sunset at 11:51 PM.
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Yes, of course. Vrbo Canada has 331 Houses near The Childrens Museum of the Upstate. Our other popular types of vacation rentals near The Childrens Museum of the Upstate include:
- Condos/Apartments: 81 lodging choices
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- Studios: 52 lodging choices
But you can also enjoy a great stay in one of our other vacation homes including Bungalows and more.
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Children’s Museum Of The Upstate
Courtesy of The Children’s Museum of the Upstate
Located across the street from Fluor Fieldhome of the Greenville Drive, a minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Soxthis museum is dedicated to the life of the Upstate-born, Greenville-raised baseball legend Joe Jackson. While no longer on its original plot of land, the museum is housed in the former residence of Joe Jackson and his wife. Open on home game days as well as Saturdays, the museum has interactive exhibits dedicated to Jackson’s life in the Textile League, his controversial career, and life post-baseball, as well as an on-site research library with over 2,000 books dedicated to the sport. Don’t miss the life-sized bronze statue of Jackson next to the Greenville Drive Team Store at Fluor Field.
Built in 1838 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this Palladian-style home is the oldest surviving structure in Greenville County. While the original house was located near Buncombe Street United Methodist Church downtown, it was moved to North Academy Street in the 1970s and is now surrounded by a pond, restored spring, and extensive gardens and serves as the home of the Greenville Council of Garden Clubs, Inc. Take a free, docent-led tour on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. or explore the public gardens and arboretum, which are open daily from sunrise to sunset.
Hop In A Race Car To Do Some Grocery Shopping On The Second Floor Of The Childrens Museum Of The Upstate
The main level is where the museum entrance is located. The ticketing area and guest services are located to the right of the door as you enter.Tickets can be pre-purchased on the TCMU website.
Wheels on the GroundAn exploration of the automotive industry, Wheels on the Ground has race tracks to test your speed, a pit crew station, an engine to tinker with, and even a life-size bus for your kids to pretend to drive you around town in.
The ClimberThe museums centerpiece is the colossal climbing structure in the center, which will keep your children occupied for hours. It rises toward the top of the building, but the only way on and off is at the ground level.
The Dream TheaterThe Dream Theater includes a mural by local artist Adam Schrimmer. In addition to special events held here, the theater will be the new location for the museums storytime activities offered Tuesday through Saturday at 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM.
The Prisma Health Childrens Hospital & The Teddy Bear ClinicThis area gives children a chance to learn about their bodies and give their stuffed animals a check-up! There is even a lifesize version of the game Operation to tinker with!
Healthy Heroes The Healthy Heroes area offers physical challenges for guests of all ages. A rock-climbing wall, an arm strength challenge, and more will show your children the strength they didnt know they had within them!
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Bringing Young Children And Babies To Tcmu
A successful outing with young children often requires some planning in advance. The museum has everything parents will need to make time spent there enjoyable.
There is a bottle warmer available for parents to use on the first floor and a microwave in the cafe. Finally, on the third floor of Grandma Bettys Farm, youll find a private Nursing Nook with another bottle warmer.
Both the mens and womens restrooms have changing tables. The entire museum is stroller friendly, with a sizeable cargo-sized elevator located at the rear of the building and a smaller elevator situated in the museums front.
The Children’s Museum Of The Upstate Features New Wheels On The Ground Exhibit June 4
The Childrens Museum of the Upstate-Greenville is excited to announce the grand opening of its new exhibit, Wheels on the Ground, on Saturday, June 4.
The Wheels on the Ground exhibit will be one of the focal exhibits on the museums main flooroccupying 2,000 square feet and introducing children and families to the exciting concepts of the racing and automotive industry. The exhibit will feature a fully interactive pit crew station, where children and families can race against the clock to change car tires, add gas to the fuel tank and other activities that resemble a real pit-crew experience. Throughout the entire exhibit, families will encounter various stations designed for building model cars, testing different built racetracks and learning the physics of automobiles. Children will also be able to repair an engine through different prompts such as using a wrench to tighten bolts or turning a crank to move pistons.
Additionally, Wheels on the Ground will explore the different components of electric versus fuel engines, and how these different types of vehicles affect the environment. The exhibit will also feature a life-size bus, similar to the buses seen in Downtown Greenville. Children will be invited to climb into the bus, sit on the seats and pretend they are riding to their next destination.
Wheels on the Ground will officially open to the public at 9 a.m on Saturday, June 4.
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How Many Vacation Rentals Are Available Around The Childrens Museum Of The Upstate
Our 2022 vacation rental listings offer a large selection of 437 house rentals around The Childrens Museum of the Upstate. From 331 house rentals to 81 condo and apartment rentals, find unique vacation rental for you to enjoy a memorable stay with your family and friends for a long holiday or a weekend break is on Vrbo.
Greenville Center For Creative Arts
Courtesy of Greenville Center for Creative Arts
Housed in the historic Brandon Mill in the Village of West Greenville, this community art space includes galleries dedicated to resident artists as well as local, regional, and international visual artists. Both the main and community galleries and accompanying exhibits are free and open to the public every Tuesday through Saturday. The center also hosts touring exhibits, summer camps, and art classes in photography, clay, jewelry, and other mediums. Come on the first Friday of each month to meet in-studio artists between 5 to 8 p.m. or book an appointment to tour their studios during off-hours.
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The Children’s Museum Of The Upstate
Conveniently located in downtown Greenville, The Childrens Museum of the Upstate offers 80,000 square feet for fun, learning and play! As one of the nations largest childrens museums and one of the first to become Smithsonian affiliated, TCMU provides an experience for play-based learning and hands-on engagement for all families.
Over 21 unique exhibit galleries reflect programming in areas of arts, humanities, sciences, health, nutrition, the environment and community engagement. Families can grocery shop in Publix, climb to the top of Bibs Worldthe museums outdoor playgroundanalyze and build in Construction Zone, or explore Grandma Bettys farm, an exhibit specifically dedicated to children 5 and under.
Free weekly programming, such as Story Time & More and Open Art Studios, provide opportunities for families to further learn and discover together.
About The Childrens Museum Of The Upstate
The Childrens Museum of the Upstate, located in Greenville, SC, promotes research and public education through its Museum collection. Visitors to the Museum can see Museum exhibits, attend events at the Museum, and access Museum educational programs. The Museum supports itself through ticket sales, membership, fundraisers, and donations.
You may contact Museums for questions about:
- Museum exhibits and collections
County Office is not affiliated with any government agency. Third party advertisements support hosting, listing verification, updates, and site maintenance. Information found on CountyOffice.org is strictly for informational purposes and does not construe legal, financial or medical advice.
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A Day At Tcmu And Children With Sensory Processing Issues
As a parent of a special needs child, I understand that things can quickly shift from happy to panicked without notice. As is the case with most places filled with excited children, the museum can frequently become loud. If you own a pair of noise-canceling headphones, it wouldnt be a bad idea to bring them with you just in case.
Things can go from great to NOT GREAT in a flash, and an escape route is handy to have in those moments.
- First Floor Quiet Spaces include:
- At the front of the building, the sensory area is straight back and to the left from the Reedy River Bend water play area.
- On slower days the Cafe is usually fairly empty, and there is an outdoor patio area to grab a fresh breath of air. The outdoor patio area is temporarily closed as of June 2022.
- Adjacent to the rear elevator, there is a family-size restroom to utilize.
- Sensory Square, in front of the small elevator past the Open Art Studios.
Faqs And Ticketing Info For The Childrens Museum Of The Upstate
ParkingParking for the museum is located at the rear of the museum, in the parking garage next to the Greenville Library Headquarters, and in the front along College Street on the weekend. The fee is .50 per hour with a maximum charge of $4 per day. Parking is free after 5 PM on weekdays and all day on weekends.
General Admission Advance timed ticketing is encouraged for entry. Tickets can be pre-purchased on the TCMU website.
- Greenville resident, adult, and child ticket: $12
- Greenville non-resident, adults, and child ticket: $15
- Babies 11 months and under: Free
- Seniors | Military | Teachers: $10
- Museums for All Admission: $3
Memberships To TCMU
All of the details for The Childrens Museum Memberships can be found on the museum website.
Museum Hours
- Tuesday through Saturday 9 am 5 pm
- Sunday 11 am 5 pm
What is your favorite exhibit at The Childrens Museum of the Upstate Greenville?
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Greenville County Museum Of Art
Mira Photographs/Michelle Mogavero
Located on the Heritage Green cultural campus downtown, this free museum is home to the world’s largest public collection of Andrew Wyeth watercolors. The museum’s permanent collection also includes a significant number of paintings and prints by South Carolina contemporary artist Jasper Johns, a substantial pottery collection by David Drake, and one of the largest collections of works by South Carolina-born artist William H. Johnson. Additional highlights include a large Southern collection with works ranging from early colonial-era pastel portraits to American impressionism and abstract expressionism.
The Greenville County Museum of Art is currently closed for construction and is scheduled to reopen in Fall 2021.
The Third Floor Fun At The Childrens Museum Of The Upstate Is Full Of Surprises
The top floor of the museum has separate spaces geared toward both younger and older kids. In addition, the nursing area for parents is located right off the rear elevator on this floor, if needed.
Grandma Bettys Farm It has all of the elements of a farm to keep those toddlers excited about visiting Grandma Bettys. This area is specifically suited for children ages five and younger. The Nursing Nook is located in this area to give nursing mothers a private and relaxing area.
steamWORKSProgramming will emphasize learning areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math through hands-on activities. These activities are designed to encourage childrens creative thinking process, their problem-solving skills and inspire an innovative spirit. This area is designed for school-aged children. Enrichment activities will be offered Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 1:00-4:00 PM.
Fun & GamesYour family can play a life-size game of Chess!
Talkin Trash Learn about recycling and more while interacting with a sculpture made from recycled materials.
Constructing CommunityIt offers guests a look into what local community resource offices do to help. Each month a different community organization will be featured, and children will have the opportunity to participate in activities to thank these local community helpers.
Design It & Construction ZoneThese areas will give kids the opportunity to construct their structure both manually and with robotic assistance!
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