Where Play Meets Learning: The Santa Fe Children's Museum

Located just a short distance from the downtown Plaza on Old Pecos Trail, the Santa Fe Children's Museum is a vibrant hub designed specifically to ignite the curiosity and joy of learning in young children. Founded in 1985 by four local educators, it holds the distinction of being the first children's museum established in New Mexico.  

Housed in a building originally constructed in the 1930s on the historic Armory Campus, the museum embraces the simple but powerful idea that children learn best by doing. It offers a welcoming environment filled with interactive exhibits and programs that encourage hands-on exploration in the arts, sciences, and humanities, reflecting Santa Fe's diverse community through bilingual and playful experiences.  

The museum features both indoor exhibit spaces and an impressive 1.5-acre outdoor "Backyard" area. Inside, kids can engage with favorites like giant bubbles, a puppet theater, dress-up areas, water play stations, and a dedicated toddler zone. Outdoors, the fun continues with climbing structures, gardens, an adobe playhouse, a sand pit, and more, providing ample space for discovery and physical activity.  

A visit to the Santa Fe Children's Museum is a must-do for families visiting or living in the area with young children (primarily geared towards ages 0-10). It provides a stimulating environment where kids are encouraged to touch, experiment, and let their imaginations run wild – a welcome contrast to more traditional museum settings.

It’s the perfect place for kids to burn off energy while simultaneously engaging their minds. Whether they're tending to plants in the garden, meeting resident critters like the cornsnake or tortoise, creating art, or building with blocks, the focus is on fun, experiential learning. The combination of indoor and outdoor activities also makes it a reliable destination regardless of the Santa Fe weather.

Here are 5 things most people don't know about the Santa Fe Children's Museum:

1. Historic Military Origins: The museum building itself dates back to the 1930s and was part of the Santa Fe Armory complex used for National Guard training, including for units involved in the defense of the Philippines during WWII.  
2. Expansive Outdoor "Backyard": The outdoor space, known as "Earthworks," is a significant 1.5-acre area recently renovated for accessibility. It includes a community garden, greenhouse, adobe playhouse, traditional horno oven, sandpit, and music plaza.  
3. Regular Free Admission Window: To increase accessibility, the museum currently offers free admission for all visitors on Thursday afternoons between 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm. (It's always good to double-check current hours/specials before visiting).  
4. Garden That Gives Back: The museum maintains a community garden that serves as a teaching tool and helps address local food insecurity, donating around 1,000 pounds of fresh produce annually to local shelters.  
5. Consistent Weekly Programs: Beyond the permanent exhibits, the museum hosts regular weekly programs included with admission, such as "Wee Wednesdays" for toddlers, "Seeds & Sprouts" gardening, "Animal Meet & Greet," "Fine Art Fridays," and "Science Saturdays."  

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