Children's Museum of South Dakota facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Children's Museum of South Dakota

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Established	2010
Location	521 4th St, Brookings, South Dakota, U.S.

The Children's Museum of South Dakota is a fantastic place for kids and families to learn and play! It's located in Brookings, South Dakota. This special museum opened its doors in 2010. It was built inside an old elementary school that was completely updated. The museum is huge, covering 44,000 square feet. It's filled with over 5,000 "loose parts" – these are items like blocks, tubes, and fabrics that kids can use to build, create, and imagine anything they want! Outside, there's a fun playground, and inside, you can grab a snack at Café Coteau.

Discover the Children's Museum of South Dakota

The Children's Museum of South Dakota is designed to make learning exciting. It offers many year-round play areas where you can explore different themes. Imagine building a fort, experimenting with water, or creating art! The museum focuses on hands-on activities. This means you get to touch, build, and interact with everything. It's a great way to discover new things and use your imagination.

What Makes This Museum Special?

The museum has many different areas to explore. Each one is designed to spark curiosity and creativity. You might find zones for science, art, or even pretend play. These areas encourage kids to think, solve problems, and work together. It's all about learning through fun experiences.

Explore Unique Exhibits

The museum has many different areas to explore. Each one is designed to spark curiosity and creativity. You might find zones for science, art, or even pretend play. These areas encourage kids to think, solve problems, and work together. It's all about learning through fun experiences.

Meet Mama the T. rex

One of the most exciting attractions is "Mama." She is a full-size, moving Tyrannosaurus rex! Mama is one of the very few permanent, animatronic T. rex models in the entire United States. Seeing her up close is like stepping back in time to when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. It's a thrilling experience for all visitors.

Tangle Town: An Art Adventure

Another amazing feature is "Tangle Town." This is an interactive art installation created by the famous artist Patrick Dougherty. He is known for making incredible sculptures using natural materials like sticks and branches. Tangle Town is a giant, woven structure that you can walk through and explore. It feels like being inside a magical forest made of twigs!

How the Museum Operates

The Children's Museum of South Dakota is a non-profit organization. This means it's not run to make money, but to serve the community. It is managed and supported by a special fund called an endowment. This fund comes from The Dale and Pat Larson family foundation. Their generous support helps the museum provide amazing experiences for everyone.

The museum is very popular! More than 100,000 people visit it every year. This shows how much families enjoy the fun and educational activities offered there. It's a place where kids can learn, grow, and make lasting memories.