Mission

Austin Children's Museum creates innovative learning experiences for children and families that equip and inspire the next generation of creative problem solvers.

Vision

Austin Children's Museum is an essential catalyst and trusted advisor in a community that works together to become more creative, more inventive, and more competent. We elevate and cherish the child-adult learning relationship. We cultivate a community that embraces the love of learning, the thirst for knowledge and a respect for questions. In doing so, we play a vital role in equipping future generations and our society for growth, innovation and collaborative problem solving.

History

1983: The Austin Children’s Museum is founded as a “Museum without walls” by a grass-roots coalition of parents and educators. Exhibits and programs are hosted in schools, parks, recreation centers, libraries, and malls.

1987: The Museum opens its doors with 5,000 square feet on West 5th Street.

1997: A successful $4.8 million expansion campaign leads to creation of the Museum's new downtown location at the Dell Discovery Center. The expansion was funded through $1 million in lead gifts, 81 donor gifts of $10,000 dollars or more, and a 10-year rent-free lease on the building.
More than 800,000 visitors have enjoyed exhibits and programs since the Museum doors opened at its current home.