Duluth Childrens Museum

What Duluth Childrens Museum does

Duluth Children's Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit children's museum located in Duluth, Minnesota, founded in 1930 and recognized as the fifth oldest children's museum in the United States. The organization operates a single physical facility at 2125 West Superior Street in Lincoln Park, opened in 2021, which houses interactive exhibits including Adventure Climber, Aviation Exploration, Learning Lab, Little Explorers, STEM Stations, and rotating seasonal exhibits such as Pollinator Garden, Manoomin (wild rice), Snöland, and Little Farmers Market. The museum also maintains a permanent collection of more than 10,000 artifacts representing local and international history. It serves families with children from birth through age 10, school and educational groups, and families experiencing financial barriers, including through the Discovery for All access program that has reached over 400 families.

The business model is a hybrid nonprofit revenue structure. Earned revenue is generated through general admission ($10 per person), tiered annual memberships ($100-$150), facility rentals for birthday parties ($300-$340), summer camps for grades K-5 ($250-$270), workshops ($25-$30), school field trips ($6-$8 per child), mobile outreach programs (starting at $125), and e-gift card sales. Admission and membership revenue cover approximately half of the $500,000 annual operating budget, with the balance sourced from corporate sponsorships (including named partner Essentia Health), foundation grants, individual donations, and fundraising events. Distribution occurs through on-site visits, school and community outreach across northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin, and reciprocal membership networks including ACM and ASTC Passport Program, as well as access affiliations with Museums for All and Blue Star Museums.

The organization employs approximately 9 people under Executive Director Drew Jensen, who was appointed in 2023 and oversees 5 direct reports. Strategic partnerships include Northland Foundation (Play and Learn), Duluth ECFE, and Duluth Public Schools (ISD 709). The museum received the Association of Children's Museums Award for Outstanding Practice in 2025. There is no proprietary technology platform, no AI or machine learning capability, and no digital product surface beyond standard e-commerce (e-gift cards) and newsletter communications; the business is fundamentally a physical experiential venue with community programming.

Name

Duluth Childrens Museum

Legal name

Duluth Children's Museum

Website

https://duluthchildrensmuseum.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1930

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Duluth Children's Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a single-site children's museum in Duluth, Minnesota, serving families with children ages 0-10 through interactive exhibits, summer camps, field trips, workshops, and mobile outreach across northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Museum and Educational Services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Children’s Museums (THAJADAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Kids & Family Learning Workshops (Family Crafts, Junior Maker Classes) (THAJAKAO)

Keywords

• Children's museum
• Hands-on learning exhibits
• Educational programs
• Summer camps and workshops
• Field trip programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Duluth

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Admission Fees: General admission fees charged per visitor. Children under 1 are admitted free. Socks available for purchase at $2.50 per pair.
2. Membership Program: Annual household memberships at three tiers: Discover ($100), Adventure ($125 with caregiver pass), and Explore ($150 with caregiver pass and ACM reciprocity). Grandparent and Home Daycare options available. Discovery for All scholarship memberships for qualifying families.
3. Birthday Party Rentals: Private 2-hour rental of first floor for parties up to 50 people. Members pay $300, non-members pay $340. Extended hour add-on available for $150-$170.
4. Summer Camps: Themed day camps for grades K-5, priced at $250 for members and $270 for non-members. Limited capacity camps like Kitchen Science priced at $250-$270.
5. Workshops: Drop-off workshops for ages 5-10 at $30 (non-members) or $25 (members). Family workshops and DCM Presents programs at $30 combination tickets.
6. Field Trips and Group Visits: Group visits for 10-40 children at $6/child (open exploration) or $8/child (facilitated program). Chaperones admitted free.
7. Outreach Programs: Museum programs delivered off-site at schools and community locations. Groups up to 25 at $125, with additional fees for larger groups and travel.
8. Donations and Fundraising: Individual giving, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and special events including annual Night at the Brewseum fundraiser.
9. E-Gift Cards: Digital gift cards available for purchase through the museum shop.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Duluth Children's Museum operates a single-site physical museum in Duluth, Minnesota, offering hands-on learning through interactive exhibits designed for children from birth through age 10. Its core offering is exhibit-floor admission ($10/person) complemented by annual memberships, themed summer camps, drop-off and family workshops, field trip and group visit programming, off-site outreach modules, and private facility rentals for birthday parties and events.

Product overview

The Duluth Children's Museum is a single-site children's museum offering hands-on learning through creative play and interactive exhibits. The museum operates as a unified visitor experience centered on its exhibit floor (Adventure Climber, Aviation Exploration, Learning Lab, Little Explorers, STEM Stations, and seasonal exhibits), complemented by fee-based education services (Camps, Workshops, Field Trips, Daily Programs, Outreach) and facility rentals. The museum also offers membership programs with tiered benefits and reciprocal admission agreements with ACM and ASTC networks. Financial accessibility is supported through Discovery for All scholarship programs and participation in Museums for All and Blue Star Museums initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• General Museum Admission Walk-in admission to the museum's exhibit floor for visitors ages 1 and older at $10 per person, with children under 1 admitted free. Socks required for climbing are available for purchase at $2.50/pair. Includes access to all interactive exhibits such as Adventure Climber, Aviation Exploration, Learning Lab, Little Explorers, and STEM Stations. Open Tuesday-Saturday, 9am-4pm.
• Annual Museum Membership Year-round unlimited-visit membership in three tiers: Discover ($100/yr, household of two adults and dependent children under 18), Adventure ($125/yr, adds one caregiver pass), and Explore ($150/yr, adds caregiver pass plus 50% off admission at 300+ ACM reciprocal institutions). Includes Grandparent, Home Daycare, Youth Serving Organization, and Discovery for All scholarship options.
• Birthday Party & Private Event Rentals Private 2-hour rental of the museum's first floor for parties and events of up to 50 people. Members pay $300 and non-members pay $340. Extended hour add-on available for $150-$170. Optional facilitated programs (Stomp Rockets, Slime, Masks & Crowns) available for $60 each.
• Summer Camps

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 400 families annually receive access through scholarship and discount programs
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Association of Children's Museums (ACM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of ACM Reciprocal Network allowing Explore-level members to receive 50% off admission at over 300 participating children's museums worldwide.
• Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of ASTC Passport Program providing reciprocal benefits with participating science and technology centers.
• Museums for AllcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational initiative providing $3/person admission (up to 5 people) with SNAP EBT card for low-income families, with over 700 participating museums.
• Blue Star MuseumscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with National Endowment for the Arts and Department of Defense offering free admission to active-duty military personnel and families from Armed Forces Day through Labor Day.
• Duluth ECFE (Early Childhood Family Education)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Duluth Public Schools for Young Parent Program combining young parent education classes with museum play-dates.
• Lake Superior Chamber OrchestraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for Art of Music family workshop exploring connection between sound and color with professional musicians.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Madison Children's Museum: Upper Midwest single-site children's museum focused on hands-on, nature- and culture-themed exhibits for ages 0-10. Comparable regional scale, mission, and equity-driven access programs.
• Minnesota Children's Museum: Operates the largest children's museum in Minnesota (Saint Paul) with hands-on exhibits, camps, and memberships for young children. Closest in-state comparable to DCM in audience, mission, and exhibit style.
• Omaha Children's Museum: Single-site Midwestern children's museum offering exhibits, camps, workshops, and birthday parties for young children. Comparable operating model and family programming mix.
• Children's Museum of Houston: Major single-site children's museum with exhibits, camps, and outreach focused on STEM and early childhood. Comparable in mission and programming depth, though at significantly larger scale.
• Port Discovery Children's Museum: Baltimore-based children's museum with hands-on exhibits, camps, and outreach programs. Comparable mid-sized museum operating model and ACM membership benefits.
• Marbles Kids Museum: Raleigh, NC children's museum offering interactive exhibits, camps, and field trips for young children. Comparable in scale, ACM membership, and family programming.
• Children's Museum of Pittsburgh: Mid-sized children's museum known for hands-on maker exhibits, camps, and outreach programming. Closely mirrors DCM's mix of exhibits, education services, and access programs.
• Please Touch Museum: Philadelphia-based children's museum emphasizing hands-on play for ages 0-7, with membership tiers and reciprocal ACM benefits. Comparable early-childhood focus and operating model.

Broad incumbents

• The Children's Museum of Indianapolis: The largest children's museum in the world, offering exhibits, programs, and memberships at a vastly larger scale. Serves as the industry benchmark for ACM-member museums like DCM.

Others

• Association of Children's Museums (ACM): Industry association that provides DCM's ACM reciprocity, peer benchmarking, and the Outstanding Practice award DCM won in 2025. Not a competitor but a key ecosystem participant.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/playduluth

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Duluth Childrens Museum