About Curious Kids'

On behalf of our Board of Directors and Staff members, we welcome you to two centers of Curious Hands-on Discovery, located on the shores of Lake Michigan next to Silver Beach! Curious Kids’ Museum on the Bluff opened in 1989. The new Discovery Zone by Curious Kids’ Museum, below the Bluff, opened in 2010 in partnership with the Silver Beach Carousel and Shadowland Ballroom.

Curious Kids was founded by educators and parents to provide children in SW Michigan and visitors from everywhere, alternative, fun approaches to Education in Science, History, Culture and Technology. Challenged by the lack of quality educational opportunities outside the school environment, the founders’ goal was to establish a place where children and their families could pursue their natural curiosity about the world through exploration and play with interactive exhibits. Our motto is “Learning is Fun”, and we take this as a serious guideline for all exhibits and programs. Building self-esteem, fostering interaction between children and adults of different backgrounds and styles, as well as creating an engaging place to stimulate curiosity in people of all ages represent the heart of Curious Kids Museum and Discovery Zone.

Just a few Facts about Curious Kids…

• Curious Kids’ Museum hosts over 100 hands-on Exhibits for ages 1- about 10 years old. Enjoy a wide variety of Discovery Fun from the Awesome Apple Orchard to the Vet Clinic to Global Child Village, to Media Mania. Navigate the Great Lakes ship, Be an electron to make electricity, pull a bubble around you, and much more.
• Discovery Zone by Curious Kids’ Museum engages visitors in 4 water exhibits like Lake Michigan Water Table, Water Power Tower, Wave Table and Clean Water Bio-Sand filters Plus the Kids’ Climbing Wall, Lighthouse Kids Climbing Tower and Whisper Tubes in the outdoor science gallery. Explore Curious Kids’ in Outer Space with international space station, Planet Parade, Mars Rovers, Mercury Capsule and more in the Gast Traveling Exhibit Gallery.
• Curious Kids’ Museum has served over 1,450,000 visitors since 1989. Over 8,000 visitors were economically disadvantaged children with free transportation/admission to ensure No Child Is Left Out.
• Discovery Zone serves about 50,000 visitors per year.
• Curious Outreach Traveling Exhibits and Programs serve 10,000 students and customers annually.
• Curious Classroom Curriculum Units bring touch-to-teach Science Topics to over 6,000 students annually.
• Curious Birthday Parties include 1.5 hours of Museum fun time plus your party at either location.
• Scout programs for Girl and Boy Scouts provide Badge Quests and fun Overnights at either Museum.
• Summertime Day Camps for ages 6 & up, plus Curiosity Camps for kids ages 4-6 for half days fill up fast.
• Curious Kids plays an important role in providing the essential stepping stones to the lifelong use and appreciation of Science, History, Diverse Cultures and Technology.
• Quality of Life enrichment and attraction is often said about the education and fun provided by Curious Kids.
• About ½ of operating costs are covered by admission fees. The balance comes from Museum supporters, foundation grants and fundraisers. Curious Kids is regarded as a “community treasure.”
• For 12 years, Curious Kids has been voted both “Best Museum” and “Best Place to Take Kids” by Readers’ Choice polls for the Herald Palladium newspaper. Both Lakeshore Magazine and Shore Magazine voted it #1.
• Triple AAA lists Curious Kids’ Museum as one of only 28 Great Experiences for members (GEM) in Michigan.

Visitors Say...

“Per square foot, the amount of CKM activities that cognitively, tactically and emotionally meet the needs of kids ages 1-8 is exceptional. No others in the Tri-State area do that.” (Chicago Tribune writer and mother of 2 children)

“The exhibits fascinated my child and helped her learn how her world works. It also helps with Self-confidence as she tries new things,” stated a mother from Virginia.

“These kids haven't been to Chicago Museums. For them a visit to Curious Kids' is special. They walk out of there charged up with ideas and remember most of what they experienced.” (Benton Harbor Teacher)

“The mini Climbing Wall and Splash Tables at the Discovery Zone were hands-down winners for both the 5 year old and the 18-month old in our brood…Balance the frenzied pace of Disney World with a trip to St. Joseph MI.”

See you at Curious Kids!

Oh, and bring your swimming suit to enjoy the Whirlpool Splash Fountain too!

Excitedly, Patricia Adams/Executive Director

Mission Statement

The Curious Kids' Museum encourages discovery, wonder and awe for children. This interactive hands-on playground for the mind fulfills its educational leadership role by stimulating curiosity, awareness and life preparedness in Science, Culture, History and Technology. Through its programs and exhibits, the Museum encourages people of all ages to explore the world around them in a unique and open-ended manner.