Every Thursday, from 4 pm – 6 pm, ALL visitors get to enjoy our immersive exhibits and programs for FREE!

Mission

Discovering the joys of learning, play, and community.

The Santa Fe Children’s Museum builds upon a child’s sense of joy and discovery by cultivating habits of inquiry in the arts, sciences, and humanities.

Values

The Santa Fe Children’s Museum celebrates and advocates for all families.  

We champion a community dedicated to creating a more diverse, equitable, empathetic and enjoyable world. 

Our staff and board are committed to honoring each family’s experience and contribution.

We believe that together we can build a joyful, inclusive space for imaginative learning.

The Santa Fe Children’s Museum has a DEAI Committee, composed of staff, contractors, and community members, who are committed to evaluating and growing an inclusive environment at the Santa Fe Children’s Museum.

Philosophy

The Santa Fe Children’s Museum is based on a simple idea: children learn by doing.  The museum provides an informal environment that fosters connections among children and families and encourages active participation in the learning process through interactive exhibits and programs. As a site for family outings, children and parents are brought together in the spirit of challenging play.

Located on the historic Armory Campus in Santa Fe, the building was originally constructed in the 1930s. SFCM was founded by four local educators who perceived a need for learning opportunities in the community that would be distinctly different from those provided in school or home settings.

Convinced that experiential learning is a necessary complement to traditional education, the founders sought to create a dynamic, hands-on, exploratory environment that included opportunities for family engagement.

The Santa Fe Children’s Museum Board of Directors and Administration, Museum staff- acknowledge that the land upon which the Museum occupies is located on Pueblo land.

We honor these Indigenous peoples and their stewardship of this land, including the significant cultural impact within the current state of New Mexico and beyond. We further acknowledge that the historical genocides, broken treaties, and wars that scattered the Pueblo population cannot be undone. We dedicate ourselves towards constant learning about the history of the land on which we reside and their original peoples, and humbly recognize our shared history.

Founders Susan McIntosh, Ellen Biderman,  Ellyn Feldman, and Londi Carbajal 

Today, SFCM remains the only organization of its kind in the region serving 60,000 children and families on an annual basis through dynamic exhibits, programs, and cultural events. Providing “Access for All,” SFCM works to reduce barriers to ensure accessibility, playing a vital role in the lives of countless children and families throughout New Mexico.

We honor the dedication, foresight, and commitment of the Santa Fe Children’s Museum’s founding members as we strive to continue following the mission they outlined.