Chicago Children's Museum

What Chicago Children's Museum does

Chicago Children's Museum is a nonprofit children's museum founded in 1982 (originally as Express-Ways Children's Museum by the Junior League of Chicago) and currently operating at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois. It serves families with children from infancy through age 10+, schools and educational groups on field trips, and accessibility-focused audiences through targeted programs. The museum's core technology is hands-on, experiential exhibits built around physical play, covering STEM, arts, imaginative role-play, and early childhood development across more than 15 permanent installations including Dinosaur Expedition (with Suchomimus skeleton), Tinkering Lab (STEAM maker space), Skyline (construction), Pritzker Playspace (early childhood), Kids Town (urban role-play), and Treehouse Trails. Several exhibits were developed or validated through research partnerships with Loyola University Chicago, Northwestern University, and the University of Chicago Fossil Lab under paleontologist Paul Sereno.

The business model is a diversified nonprofit revenue stack: paid general admission ($21 for Illinois residents, $25 for non-residents), annual memberships with reciprocal benefits at 300+ museums, individual and corporate donations, foundation grants (W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Globe Foundation), corporate sponsorships (Shriners Children's, Chef Art Smith's Reunion), field trip programs, birthday party packages, parking add-ons, and a B2B exhibit licensing/rental program for portable designs such as Skyline Tool Box, Forts To Go, and Tire Mountain. Accessibility initiatives include Museums for All ($5 admission for EBT/WIC holders) and Play For All events for children with disabilities. Recent strategic activity centers on rotating premium temporary exhibits (Spinosaurus opening March 2026; Castle opening May 2026 with Shriners Children's) supported by flagship sponsors and foundation grants. The organization employs between 101 and 250 staff and is led by President and CEO Jennifer Farrington with a team of seven Vice Presidents.

Name

Chicago Children's Museum

Legal name

Chicago Children's Museum

Website

https://chicagochildrensmuseum.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Chicago Children's Museum is a nonprofit children's museum at Navy Pier in Chicago, founded in 1982, serving families, schools, and accessibility-focused audiences through hands-on permanent and temporary exhibits covering STEM, arts, and early childhood development, funded by admissions, memberships, donations, and foundation grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Museum and Educational Exhibits

NAICS

Museums (712110), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Children’s Museums (THAJADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Science & Technology Museums (THAJADAD), Natural History Museums (THAJADAC)

Keywords

• Children's museum exhibits
• Interactive learning experiences
• Play-based education
• Field trip programs
• Museum memberships

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. General Admission: Ticket sales for museum entry priced at $21 per person for Illinois residents and $25 for non-residents, with free admission for children under 1, veterans, and active military
2. Membership Program: Annual memberships providing unlimited admission, parking benefits, reciprocal museum discounts, and exclusive member events
3. Gift Tickets: One-time gift tickets valid for one year from purchase, available in quantities
4. Donations: Individual and corporate donations supporting the museum's mission and accessibility programs
5. Birthday Party Packages: Partnership with Chef Art Smith's Reunion for birthday party packages
6. Exhibit Sales and Rentals: Rental and sale of CCM-designed exhibits (Skyline Tool Box, Forts To Go, Tire Mountain) to other institutions
7. Corporate Memberships: Corporate membership packages with employee benefits and parking discounts

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Chicago Children's Museum operates a hands-on, play-based learning facility at Navy Pier in Chicago, offering 15+ permanent interactive exhibits (including Dinosaur Expedition, Tinkering Lab, Skyline, Pritzker Playspace, and Treehouse Trails), temporary traveling exhibitions, and educational programs. The museum generates revenue through general admission tickets, annual memberships, field trip programs, birthday party packages, donations, and rentals of its proprietary exhibit designs to other institutions.

Product overview

Chicago Children's Museum is a physical children's museum at Navy Pier offering hands-on exhibits and educational programs focused on play-based learning. The museum provides multiple permanent exhibitions including Dinosaur Expedition, Tinkering Lab (STEAM maker space), Skyline (construction), Pritzker Playspace (early childhood), Kids Town (role-play), Treehouse Trails, and Michael's Museum. Additional offerings include temporary exhibits like Castle (opening 2026) and Spinosaurus (2026), plus exhibits available for sale/rental (Skyline Tool Box, Forts To Go, Tire Mountain). The museum also runs accessibility programs including Museums for All and Play For All, and sells birthday party packages through partner restaurants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dinosaur Expedition A permanent exhibit re-creating the Saharan expedition where paleontologist Paul Sereno discovered Suchomimus, featuring a life-size skeleton, excavation pit, and comparison activities with T-Rex. Designed for children and families visiting the museum.
• Tinkering Lab A DIY maker space featuring STEAM learning where children use building and problem-solving skills to solve engineering challenges with professionally trained educators. Developed in partnership with Loyola University Chicago and Northwestern University.
• Skyline A permanent building exhibit where children design and construct kid-sized skyscrapers using wooden struts and real tools, including a Skyscraper Challenge activity. Made possible with NSF grant support.
• Pritzker Playspace A welcoming early childhood environment designed for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers featuring drop-in play blocks with sensory activities, supporting developmental growth for children ages 0-3.
• Kids Town An urban neighborhood exhibit promoting role-playing, problem-solving, and creative exploration through activities including a grocery store, car wash, and CTA bus, targeting children ages 4-8.
• Treehouse Trails An enchanted forest setting featuring a canoe, fishing area, mountain waterfall, tree house fort, log cabin, and infant area for camping and climbing activities.
• Michael's Museum A permanent exhibit featuring nearly 100 collections of tiny objects, miniatures, trinkets, and curiosities donated by curator Michael Horvich.
• Castle exhibit A fantastical castle experience featuring secret tunnels, a rope bridge, tower, dungeon, throne room, wizard's room, kitchen, feasting table, market, and costume play; presented by Shriners Children's.
• Spinosaurus at CCM A temporary exhibit featuring a Spinosaurus skull replica and hands-on interactive components, presented by University of Chicago Fossil Lab paleontologist Paul Sereno.
• Museums for All Program A cooperative initiative with IMLS and ACM offering $5 admission per person for families presenting EBT or WIC cards, for up to 6 people. Available unlimited times.
• Play For All A program creating inclusive, accessible experiences for visitors with disabilities, with pre-registration required and free admission for the first 250 families, supported by Shriner's Children's Hospital.
• Skyline Tool Box (exhibit for sale/rental) A portable building system with pre-drilled wooden struts, hardware, tools, and props that can be rented or purchased for external use by other institutions.
• Forts To Go (exhibit for sale/rental) A fort-building kit with blankets, wooden doors, tables, chairs, and fasteners available in Mini, Town, and City sizes for external venues.
• Tire Mountain (exhibit for sale/rental) A climbing structure made of stacked tires accessible from all points including wheelchairs, with rappelling ropes and a summit bell, available for external venues.
• Birthday Parties Birthday party packages offered in partnership with Chef Art Smith's Reunion restaurant at Navy Pier.
• Annual Membership Program Annual memberships providing unlimited admission, parking benefits (20% discount, plus 8 free parks with add-on), 50% off general admission at 300+ reciprocal children's museums worldwide, and exclusive member events.
• Field Trips and Group Visits Structured educational visits for school groups and educational organizations with advance booking required.

Quantifiable outcome

• Served over 11 million children and families in 40+ years of operation

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.

• Shriners Children'sflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 May 2026Presenting sponsor of Castle exhibit (May 2026-January 2027), supporting accessible fantasy play experiences for children.
• Shoreline SightseeingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOperates water taxi boats between Navy Pier and Museum Campus during summer months, and shuttle taxi service to the Loop. Provides transportation access for museum visitors.
• Project ExplorationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit founded by Paul Sereno that co-developed the Dinosaur Expedition exhibit featuring Suchomimus skeleton and excavation experiences.
• Loyola University ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Tinkering Lab research studying how children and families learn about engineering. CCM educators and Loyola researchers collaborate on learning studies.
• Northwestern UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Tinkering Lab research studying how children and families learn about engineering through hands-on maker experiences.
• University of Chicago Fossil LabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPaleontologist Paul Sereno's lab provides Spinosaurus exhibit including skull replica and interactive components.
• Shriner's Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for Play For All events creating accessible experiences for children with disabilities.
• Chef Art Smith's ReunioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDining partner on Navy Pier offering 20% off food for CCM ticket holders; hosts birthday party packages for museum families.
• Harry Caray's TavernminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDining partner on Navy Pier offering free children's meals with adult meal purchase for CCM members.
• FlyoverminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChicago attraction partner offering free child tickets with CCM membership.
• Go City PassesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTourism pass partner offering 5% discount for CCM members on city attractions.
• Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency co-sponsoring Museums for All initiative with Association of Children's Museums.
• Association of Children's Museums (ACM)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association co-sponsoring Museums for All initiative encouraging museum attendance by low-income families.
• IL ABLE (Illinois Achieving a Better Life Experience)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Illinois State Treasurer's office to educate visitors about ABLE savings plans during Play For All events.
• Navy PiercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for Chicago Children's Museum with 1,500 parking spaces, accessible entrance in Family Pavilion, and first-come-first-served parking with CCM member discounts.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/chicagochildrensmuseum
• Xx.com/childrensmuseum
• Facebookfacebook.com/chicagochildrensmuseum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chicago Children's Museum