Santa Fe Children’s Museum

The Santa Fe Children’s Museum (SFCM) was founded in 1985 by four local educators, Ellen Biderman, Ellyn Feldman, Susan McIntosh, and Londi Carbajal, who perceived a need for experiential learning opportunities in the community that would be distinctly different from, yet complementary to, those provided in school or at-home settings. The founders sought to create a dynamic, hands-on, exploratory environment that included opportunities for family engagement. SFCM’s mission is discovering the joys of learning, play, and community. We build upon a child’s sense of joy and discovery by cultivating habits of inquiry in the arts, sciences, and humanities. The museum is based on a simple idea: children learn by doing. As such we encourage active participation in the learning process through highly interactive exhibits and programs, engaging children aged 0-8 and their families in safe, accessible, stimulating and challenging play.

SFCM serves around 60,000 visitors on an annual basis. We attract a diverse spectrum of people and provide shared learning experiences through dynamic, interpretative and interactive exhibits, STEAM programs, and cultural experiences. Our 8,000 square foot facility and acre plus outdoor space contain over 30 exhibit spaces that encourage hands-on exploration and learning focused on art, community, and culture. For visitors that cannot visit the Museum due to economic or geographic challenges, we offer a number of different options. These include discounted and free admission, camp scholarships, STEAM educational Grab and Go Kits for home learning, Virtual and In-Person Field Trips, and outreach across the community through our Access for All initiative that works to reduce barriers to ensure accessibility and inclusion throughout New Mexico and beyond.

Summer Events at SFCM