Having grown up going to the Omaha Children's Museum, as a mom, I really like the Lincoln Children's Museum. It is so chill, fun, has so many creative spaces catering to all ages. I absolutely loved the careers area where they could learn about careers in ag, architecture, and engineering. Three full levels of fun! read more

Lincoln Children's Museum - Children's Museums Near Me - Lincoln, Nebraska

We recently attended a child's birthday party at the Lincoln Children's Museum, and since it was held after hours (5:30-7:30 p.m.), the museum was closed to the general public. While that time slot wasn't the most ideal for our family's schedule, having the museum almost entirely to ourselves was a huge perk. The kids rarely had to wait to use an exhibit, which made for a much more enjoyable experience than visiting during normal operating hours. Overall, the kids had a great time running from exhibit to exhibit, but I did find some of the museum's displays a little underwhelming. A number of the stations could benefit from clearer signage explaining what you're supposed to do. In several cases, it wasn't immediately obvious how an activity was meant to be used or what made it interactive. Some of the exhibits also feel like they're due for an update. Having visited both, I personally think the Omaha Children's Museum offers a wider variety of exhibits and more engaging hands-on experiences, but Lincoln's museum still provided plenty to keep the kids entertained for a couple of hours. The birthday party area itself was pretty standard. It reminded me of a concession stand or cafeteria-style space with tables and chairs. The birthday family was able to decorate a gift table and bring in their own cake, but it didn't really feel like a space where you could create much of a themed party atmosphere. I'm not sure what the museum's decorating policies are, so that may have played a role. One thing that stood out was the lack of water for the adults. The kids had drinks, but there weren't bottled waters or even cups of water available for the parents. I had forgotten my water bottle and ended up filling one of the small paper cups at the drinking fountain, which wasn't my favorite option. The museum also made a couple of announcements over the PA system--one for dinner and another to let everyone know there were about 15 minutes left in the party--but they were so garbled that I couldn't understand either one. I only found out what had been said after talking to other parents. Even with the reduced noise level from having a private event, the announcements were difficult to make out. The building itself has an older feel, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it does show its age in places. Overall, the kids had a wonderful time, and that's ultimately what matters most. With some refreshed exhibits, clearer instructions at the activity stations, and a few improvements to the overall guest experience, I think the museum could be even better. read more

Lincoln Children's Museum - Children's Museums Near Me - Lincoln, Nebraska

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I only have good things to say about Lincoln Children's museum. It's three stories of fun, yep three levels for you and your kiddo to enjoy. The space it clean, there's so much to do. We could've stayed here all day! The employees are friendly. I love how the play structures are Nebraska themed. And I really loved how they play Disney music on the speakers! The only thing I would critique is the parking. The museum itself is close to UNL, the university campus. Making it hard to park. There is meter parking available however there's also a ton of construction, making it easy to get lost if it's your first time visiting. Other than that -- we had a fabulous experience. I think getting a membership is worth it. read more

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Took my kid to the Lincoln Children's Museum on P Street. The pretend grocery, bank, and three floors look fun until you're actually in there. It's dirty. Floors were sticky, exhibits looked like they hadn't been wiped down, and a lot of the toys smelled sour -- like they'd been in kids' mouths all day and never really cleaned. I wouldn't let a toddler put half of that stuff near their face. The mix of ages is a problem. You've got babies on the floor in the same walkways as bigger kids tearing around. That's not "all ages play." That's babies getting stepped on and older kids treating the place like a racetrack. The ride-on bikes/trikes are the worst part. Kids fly down the aisles on them with almost no one stopping it. We had two nearly clip us. Staff weren't posted where it mattered. Toys and costumes were dumped everywhere and nobody was resetting stations. You're also paying adult admission ($13.95) plus the child's ticket ($16.95) for a place that feels under-staffed and overdue for a deep clean. Parking is meters or the garage a block away. Fine idea for a children's museum. The visit itself felt grimy and unsafe. I wouldn't bring a baby back, and I wouldn't trust the shared toys without sanitizer in my pocket. Omaha's is in better shape if you have the option. read more

The Lincoln Children's Musuem is a great place for indoor play and exploring. Many local businesses have contributed to the authenticity of experiences such as HyVee grocery shopping and Runza restaurant food prep. Bryan Hospital and the Lincoln Fire Department sponsor a fire truck experience in minature and health care activities. There are legos, an airplane, construction equipment and even a wooden apple tree with "apples" that fall from the tree. The prairie dog town and animal identification stations are fun too. There's a cafe of sorts that was closed when we went. The only real downside I saw was it wasn't as clean as I would expect. For example, there were cookie leftovers in the fire truck. Since we got there right at 9:00 when they opened, it seems unlikely that this was new. Someone should do a complete walkthrough before they open to make sure it's clean. read more

Lincoln Children's Museum - Children's Museums Near Me - Lincoln, Nebraska

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We visited here after the zoo. Omg, it exceeded our expectations with 3 floors of fun. Street parking can be difficult so just parked in garage across the street. We had Children's museum reciprocal membership so saved 50% on admission. Our son often ran up and down stairs so had to keep track of him. Too many exhibits that he could be in. Staff was really nice when I lost track of him through his running. There is an actual plane which you can ride the cockpit which was nice. Also, my son loved the supermarket as always. There was nice STEM robotics for claw machine game. There was also food on top level with good selection including iced coffee. read more

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We went here on a hot summer weekday. The biggest hits was the cuckoo clock and the kid size town especially the vet office, hospital, and fire truck. The foam block/shape structure making room was also a favorite. Will be back soon. read more

My kids and I visited this museum a few month ago and really liked it. We went for a special ice cream making event. The kids loved it so much we got a membership for Christmas. However the days they're open and closed are odd. Why are they closed Monday and Tuesday? They also do not allow outside food or drinks in. This would be okay IF they actually had their little cafe open more than 2/5 days they're open! These 2 days happen to only be Saturday and Sunday. They claim there are drinks and snacks in the gift shop but we scoped it out when we visited last and didn't see anything other than trinkets and apparel. I get that there are needed rules but if you're NOT going to have your snack stop open everyday you're operating or have your gift shop adequately stocked and easily noticeable then you need to make exceptions. At the very least allow an empty water bottle that can be filled at a drink station or manufacturer sealed water bottles. It's already roughly $14 per person who is walking (so basically 18 months) up to a senior. They could take the hit over water a basic necessity. read more

Amazing playful environment for children of all ages! My 1yr old had a blast and the other children interacted so well with him. They also have staff actively cleaning and making sure everything is running smoothly. So much to do and it's all educational. I used to go to this museum when I was a kid, so happy to see it still so successful. Can't recommend it enough! read more

How has no one reviewed this yet?? I'm a "big kid" now, but this is a must-see for kids, whether you live in Lincoln or you're just visiting. The whole place was designed with kids in mind. From the make-believe grocery store to the prairie dog town, your children will love every minute. It's also great for birthdays (they offer private rooms for cake & presents). Some of the highlights: - A real, working hot air balloon - A video screen that animates your shadow - A make-believe stage, complete with costumes for your kids to put on a show - A lunar lander - large kinetic art display - Playing with water at the "Big Splash" exhibit $6.50 for adults & kids $6.00 for seniors Kids under 2 are free Their website is very good & worth checking out before you go. read more

Lincoln Children's Museum - Courtesy: nebraskahistory.org - Children's Museums Near Me - Lincoln, Nebraska

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The stories of fun. Tons of exhibits that are well put together. Drop off for the kids so if parking is tough...like a little. Valet. Two kids had a nlast. Clean and spacioua. Front staff was fantastic and answered all questions. read more

Lincoln Children's Museum - Home of Johnny - Children's Museums Near Me - Lincoln, Nebraska

Amazing place to take the kiddos. We could have spent all day there! Three floors of amazing activities for all ages!

Great place to take the kids for a few hours. They have 3 levels to entertain kids from 2-10+ It is always a lot of fun when we go and they occasionally add new exhibits to keep your kids entertained. They are only open to 5pm so plan to go early. Located downtown within a short walk to several restaurants the kids like like Raising Cains, Noodles, and BW3s. read more

Lincoln Children's Museum - Children's Museums Near Me - Lincoln, Nebraska

We used to love the museum however the last 3 times have been disappointing. The staff is uninformed, exhibits are in disrepair and the cleanliness has gone downhill. Updating is needed. read more

This place is fantastic. We are visiting town and took our 7 month here to pass time. Being so little we didn't know how he would do, but he absolutely loved it and so did we. This place was full of kids having a blast. It's 3 floors w so much to do for the kids. Very reasonably priced and friendly staff. Would be here regularly if we lived here. read more

This is fun for anyone under the age of 10. I took my nephew here, 2, and he enjoyed it quite a bit. Also volunteered here for awhile in college and enjoyed interacting with the families. Everyone seemed to have no complaints and enjoyed their time. Its educational fun at its finest. read more

This place is a good place to let the kiddos burn indoor energy. They have many exhibits and my daughter likes it here. There are, of course, a number of unruly kids with apathetic parents that are supposed to be with their kids but that is not endemic to this venue. Overall, very inexpensive and good fun for the kids. read more

Great place to take the kids to burn off some steam. Three levels to choose from and special day events and holidays. Friendly staff and colorful atmosphere. read more

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We have a 2 1/2 year old who goes stir crazy if he is trapped inside. So this place is a life saver! It's our yearly Christmas present request from "Grama". I LOVE that it's a place my high-energy son can just be himself. Other parents here are really nice too! read more

Great space. Other reviews sum it up well. one big negative: no attached parking structure for visitors. which really sucks as this would be my go to spot on rainy windy snowy hot humid or otherwise ick days. still is mostly, but would be soooo much better if we didn't have to bundle up to go from parking spot/garage then walk thru to muck to get in here! who planned this?!? FAIL read more

I used to clean the museum for high school volunteer work. They have a ton of cool exhibits that all have some sort of educational value (a pretend super-market, an educational magnetic apple tree, doctor's offices, stuffed animals, aerospace exhibits, face painting, I could go on!). Really good place for kids to have fun and be active - I'm 21 and still enjoy the place a lot. Staff is really friendly, in fact the girl in the Twinkle suit is super good with kids. read more

Great for kids, 3 levels of creative things for kids like a moon site, hospital, stores, ball room, water room, etc. It will keep them busy for hours. read more

Love the Museum itself, truly enjoyed taking my son to experience all they have to offer. We will be back again. My only complaint is the mis-leading information on the website vs. at the museum. Before we went to visit we had checked hours/prices on line and saw that under 2 got in free. When we arrived to pay we were charged $4 for our son of 15 months. read more

The first time we visited the Lincoln Children's Museum was on their "Super Hero Day." The place was overly crowded for that reason but the museum seemed neat enough we became members that day. Fast forward one week. We attended the museum and not only did the kids have a blast but I did as well. There are so many cool toys to play with.... I mean for the kids to play with. Seriously though, there are enough cool exhibits there that you can jump inside your kids' imagination and get lost with them. The staff was friendly and the museum was very clean and well maintained. Who could ask for anything more? The best Children's Museum we've ever been to. read more

This is an okay place to take the kids when it's rainy or cold (or too hot). Not my favorite, but it's not bad. Solid option, all in all.

The remodeling is interesting and whaile there are a few things I might like to see the kids always have a good time.

Omg. What a disappointment! The front desk staff seemed less interested in greeting their guest & more interested in accepting your payment & pushing you along. This was our first visit and our last. There was no map, so we wondered around the museum to see what the place had to offer. The museum was a disaster! Nothing worked, everything appeared to be out of service or broken entirely. The water play area was filthy! And only 1/2 of the area worked. The human bubble was broken & roped off. There were pieces of different activity centers scattered all over the museum. Understanding, kids are not the best at picking up & putting things back where they go, but there should be a staff member walking around (at a minimum) to keep things organized. Sadly, the only staff members I noticed were the two at the front desk. At other museums I've noticed several staff members walking around at all times. We've been to several children's museums, and we have a great time when we typically go. This is the worst museum & we will not be back. read more

Nice place for small children to play indoors. If you live in the area and have kids under 5, get a membership.

A great place to play with kids of any age! Three floors of activities. Play doctor, vet, reporter, builder, farmer, shopper, police, or dispatch on the main floor. Play pilot, astronaut, chess, connect four, artist, teacher, or train conductor on the top floor -- or just have a society, safari, or pirate themed birthday party in a private room. And on the bottom floor, get wet in the water or try your hand at the theater as an actor, director, or puppeteer! My daughter loves the museum, even though she's not even two yet. They also have toddler and preschool classes as well as summer camps. Annual memberships are affordable. You can get a combined annual membership with the zoo as well. For the size of the place you will be hard pressed to find a better children's museum. read more

It wasn't bad for my 3 year old, but my 10 year old son was bored to tears after an hour. A lot of the stuff seemed geared to the under 10 set, which is fine. My three year old loved the grocery store and hospital stations, but was really bummed out that the water works station was shut down for the day. (I overheard a parent say that it gets shut down a lot?) My biggest complaint was the prices. I was charged admissions for both my children, and myself. I didn't play (none of the equipment was sized for adults) but I was still charged? I don't understand charging for adults too. (Not to mention I had to pay for parking, because they have ZERO parking.) I did like the face painters they had, and my daughter loved it there. Overall, not bad, but not for kids older than ten. read more

Woohoo, says it all. I'm from Los Angeles and have seen too much for my own good. This museum is what I think of Lincoln. Smart, Cool, refreshingly refreshing...We don't have one of these. I came home thinking about that children's museum. read more

Just ok I think. Because we just moved here from Orlando. So spoiled...Good place though rainy or shiny.

Awesome place for kiddos and families. Staff was friendly. Great for what you pay. It would've been nice to advertise family friend places to eat in this area. My girls loved it. Nice walk downtown. read more

Kids LOVED this museum! We belong to the one in Omaha and really like it but this was new and different and they had a blast. 3 levels of fun--downstairs favorites were the water area, ground hog play area and the golf ball room. Main level was fun with all the businesses and themed rooms--favorite was the TV studio. Upstairs with art, plane and space stuff. A small cafe would be awesome addition! read more

The Children's Museum is a fun time for any kids! The areas are being changed frequently so it seems like a new place every time you walk through the door. There are 3 levels of multiple stations for your kids to enjoy(some of them are pretty fun for adults too!). There's face painting available, plenty of play as well as a little learning thrown in with all the fun. The parking can be difficult to find, however, with all the parking garages around it isn't a complete lost cause. The only thing that can't put a damper on your day is it seems when they are extremely busy there are times that certain kids forget to share and be mindful of the younger ones. There have been a few times where the older kids have pushed down my 4 year old or haven't been very good about letting the littler kids play too. This is no fault of those working there, it just something to keep in mind if you have younger kids and it's very busy. Having a birthday party there is super easy and cheap. Over all a great time, especially if you can sneak in when the older kids are in school! read more

Our favorite place to go. My daughter is five and cannot get enough of the museum. The exhibits are educational, fun and clean. Parking is fairly close and there are many dining options nearby if you plan to make a day of it. You also have the option of packing a lunch and eating it inside the snack area at the museum. When I tell people about Lincoln, NE I always add that it is a family friendly town with an awesome Children's museum and Children's Zoo. read more

WONDERFUL place for kiddos of all ages. We took our 3, 7, and 9 year olds and they all enjoyed it equally! Parking was a PAIN, but the kids LOVED every moment we were there. We spent about 3 hours total there. Multilevels with a tree that goes from bottom to top levels. It was really neat. I definitely think we will be returning - SO MANY playscapes to see and things to do. We had a wonderful time! The Omaha Children's Museum is good, but THIS PLACE was GREAT!! read more