Children's Museums in Connecticut

There are many museums in the state of Connecticut. Art museums, historical museums, science museums, even a carousel museum and a vintage radio and television museum. While these facilities are well- attended by many adults, they are often unsuitable or inappropriate for children, particularly very young children. Quite frankly, many children are often bored by museums. Fortunately, for the younger set and parents alike, there are several excellent children's museums open to the public, in Ct. Presented here is a guide to five excellent children's museums in Ct.

A) Children's Museum of Southeastern Connecticut..409 Main St, Niantic, Ct..(860)691-1111
Located on Ct's seacoast, the Children's Museum of Southeastern Connecticut is a hands- on, interactive museum. A truly fascinating place, they feature a wide variety of live animals and arts, science and craft activities. Toddlers will love "Nursery Rhyme Land" and people of all ages are regularly enthralled by the "Anne Frank's Attic" exhibit. There is also a "Global Village" exhibit and a "Can- struct" building exhibit. Weather permitting, there is an outdoor play area at this children's museum, featuring giant chimes, a climbing wall, a pond and a whale drum. The most interesting item there however, would probably have to be their real two- person research submarine, which fascinates both children and adults alike. This is a wonderful children's museum, in a lovely section of Ct.

B) Connecticut Children's Museum..Children's Building..22 Wall St, New Haven, Ct..(203)562-5437
With eight themed- rooms, offering different activities in each, there's something to delight everyone at the Connecticut Children's Museum in New Haven, Ct. Art is everywhere there, with unique murals covering many walls. A very popular exhibit at this children's museum is the "Bee Room", which has an observational hive, where chidren can safely view thousands of live bees and honeycombs. They also have a "Be a Mail Carrier" exhibit, the "Space Place" room, a stage where children act out book characters and a "Making Music" room, where kids play musical instruments with a 'museum band'. There is also a "Goodnight Moon" exhibit. Two other very interesting exhibits at the Connecticut Children's Museum are the "Clock Display", which tells the time in various cities around the world, and the "Mathroom", which features a magnetic "Number Wall". They also feature a child- care center and occasionally embark on educational field trips. The Connecticut Children's Museum is available for rent for parties, meetings and corporate events.

C) Kidcity Children's Museum..119 Washington St, Middletown, Ct..(860)347-0495
Kids rule at Kidcity, a hands- on playspace in Middletown, Ct. Situated in a big old house, which was formerly a convent, near Wesleyan University, this children's museum is definitely 'interactive'. With a giant replication of a clipper ship inside the building, as well as a mini- farm and an area named "Main Street", with a mini-grocery store, post office and diner, there are plenty of hands- on activities at Kidcity. One of the most popular attractions at this children's museum is their actual shell of a Volkswagen Beetle, where children can simulate 'driving'. They also have a feature called "Musical Planet" and a video theater. A rope- bridge and monkey bars are also featured. At least one adult is required for every four kids admitted. Parties of all types are regularly held at Kidcity.

D) Lutz Children's Museum..247 South Main St, Manchester, Ct..(860)643-0949
The Lutz Children's Museum is especially known for its rather large 'family' of live animals and birds. Among the creatures living at the Lutz Children's Museum are rabbits, doves, owls, an iguana, crow, snake, chinchilla and "Chuckles", their resident groundhog, who comes outside to predict the length of Winter every Groundhogs Day. The Lutz Children's Museum is in part, a 'teaching', or 'learning' museum, where they feature a variety of children's classes and they also present many school programs each year. Some of the features at this children's museum are a "Five Senses" exhibit, a children's art gallery and a transportation exhibit. Each year, the Lutz Children's Museum puts on a "Haunted Museum" and other Halloween activities as well as a New Years coundown celebration for the entire family. Occasionally, bus trips to Boston, Massachusetts and New York City are organized by the staff. Birthday parties are also hosted there. Filled with plenty of exhibits, activities and artifacts, the Lutz Children's Museum is one of the top children's museums in Ct.

E) The Children's Museum: Igniting Curiosity through Science and Nature. 950 Trout Brook Drive, West Hartford, Ct..(860)231 - 2824
This is another 'hands-on', or interactive type of museum. They feature a wildlife sanctuary with over fifty species of animals, including a bobcat, California Kingsnake, a tarantula, a crocodile and an African tortoise. Aside from being a wonderful children's museum, the Science Center of Connecticut is also home to a state-of -the-art planetarium, which seats over 140 people. Many classes and special events, including school field trips, are regularly held at this excellent children's museum. Facility rentals, especially for birthday parties, are offered. The Science Center Pre-school is also located on the premises. For more information, please visit www.TheChildrensMuseumCT.org.