What expERIEnce Children's Museum does

expERIEnce Children's Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating a three-floor, 25+ exhibit hands-on STEAM learning facility at 420 French Street in downtown Erie, Pennsylvania, serving families with children ages 0–13 from the Erie region and surrounding tristate area. The museum's core product is its physical exhibit base—including themed installations such as Erie Recycles, Tinkering Tank, Construction Zone, smART Studio, My Erie, Lake Life, and a certified outdoor classroom—supplemented by value-added programming (Sensory Time, STEAM Time, Story Time, Art Time), summer camps, birthday party packages, field trips, homeschool and Girl Scout workshops, and a sensory-friendly Au-some Morning program. A Mobile Museum program extends six portable lab units (Magnet, Flight, Maker, Light, Sensory, Chalk) to schools, festivals, libraries, and events within a 75-mile radius on a fee-for-service basis.

The business model blends transactional and recurring revenue streams: unit-priced admissions ($13 child / $12 adult / $10 senior-military-AAA), tiered annual memberships (General, Museums for All, Therapist/Organization, Gift), seasonal camps ($185 Mini Explorer half-day, $285 Junior Creator full-day), birthday party rentals ($360–$400), field trip group rates ($10/student), and Mobile Museum fees ($250 first hour + $100/hour). Philanthropic and corporate sponsorship revenue—including Erie Gives Day ($57,143 raised in 2025), ECGRA Lead Asset designation, Erie Insurance, UPMC Health Plan, and PSN Labs—underwrites programming and accessibility initiatives. Ticketing is processed through the Roller app platform, and the museum holds memberships in ACM, ASTC, American Alliance of Museums, and PHMC. The organization is led by Executive Director Ainslie Brosig with a 12-employee staff and a board drawn from regional institutions (Erie Insurance, Gannon University, Penn State Behrend, Wegmans, PSN Labs, Wabtec).

Name

expERIEnce Children's Museum

Legal name

expERIEnce Children's Museum

Website

https://eriechildrensmuseum.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

expERIEnce Children's Museum is a nonprofit children's museum in Erie, Pennsylvania, operating 25+ hands-on STEAM exhibits across three floors, summer camps, birthday parties, field trips, and a Mobile Museum outreach program serving families with children ages 0–13 in the regional tristate market.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Museum & Educational Experiences

NAICS

Museums (712110)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

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 exhibits
• STEAM education programs
• Interactive play-based learning
• Mobile museum outreach
• Summer camp programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Erie, PA

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. General Admission: Daily admission fees charged to visitors. Children ages 1-17 pay $13, adults $12, seniors and military $10. Children under 1 and members receive free admission.
2. Museum Memberships: Annual membership programs offering free admission, early access, member events, and discounts. Includes General Memberships, Museums for All, and Therapist/Organization Memberships.
3. Birthday Party Packages: Standard and private birthday party rentals with exclusive use of party rooms, museum admission for guests, and optional add-ons like cupcake decorating, glitter tattoos, and slime bar.
4. Summer Camps: Weeklong camps for ages 4-13 including Mini Explorer half-day camps ($185) and Junior Creator full-day camps ($285) with various themes.
5. Field Trips: Group visits for schools with discounted rates of $10 per student for groups of 10 or more, including chaperone requirements and classroom rentals.
6. Mobile Museum Services: Mobile museum units deployed to schools, festivals, and events at $250 for first hour plus $100 per additional hour, with travel fees for distances over 10 miles.
7. Donations and Fundraising: Annual fundraising through Erie Gives Day and other donation programs. Donations support hands-on exhibits, programs, and community outreach efforts.
8. Gift Shop and Gift Cards: On-site gift shop offering museum merchandise and gift cards for museum visits, camps, and memberships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

expERIEnce Children's Museum is a nonprofit children's museum operating over 25 hands-on STEAM-focused exhibits across three floors plus a certified outdoor classroom in downtown Erie, PA. The museum supplements its physical exhibits with value-added programming (Sensory Time, Story Time, STEAM Time), birthday party packages, summer camps, field trips, homeschool programs, Girl Scout workshops, memberships, and a Mobile Museum outreach program serving schools and community events within a 75-mile radius.

Product overview

expERIEnce Children's Museum is a nonprofit children's museum offering a unified hands-on experience focused on play-based learning and STEAM education. The core offering includes over 25 interactive exhibits across three floors plus a certified outdoor classroom for children ages 8 and under. The museum supplements its physical exhibits with value-added programming (Sensory Time, Wonder Time, Story Time, STEAM Time), outreach services (Mobile Museum, Educational Programming), and educational camps (Mini Explorer and Junior Creator). Additional offerings include birthday party packages, field trips, homeschool programs, Girl Scout workshops, and memberships that provide early access and member perks. The museum also hosts special events like Au-some Morning for sensory-sensitive visitors and Global Neighbors for cultural exploration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Museum Exhibits Over 25 hands-on, interactive STEAM-focused exhibits across three floors and a certified outdoor classroom for children ages 0-13, including role-play areas, tinkering stations, and construction zones.
• Memberships
• Birthday Party Packages
• Summer Camps
• Field Trips
• Mobile Museum
• Educational Programming
• Homeschool Programming
• Girl Scout Workshops
• Au-some Morning
• Global Neighbors Cultural Series
• Value-Added Programming
• Gift Cards

Quantifiable outcome

• 60,000+ annual visitors served
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 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

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PSN LabscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 August 2026PSN Labs is a Boardwalk Sponsor of the Street Soiree 2026 annual fundraiser and has been a dedicated museum supporter for years. They help create unforgettable experiences where children can discover, imagine, and learn through play.
• Erie InsurancecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 August 2026Erie Insurance is a Boardwalk Sponsor of the Street Soiree 2026 annual fundraiser, supporting hands-on learning for local children through museum exhibits and programming.
• UPMC Health PlancoreGTM or Marketing PartnerUPMC Health Plan sponsors sensory backpacks available for checkout at the museum and sponsors the Au-some Morning sensory-friendly events for children with autism and sensory sensitivities.
• Erie Arts & CulturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerErie Arts & Culture partners with the museum on the Global Neighbors cultural series, bringing local artists, dancers, and musicians from around the world to the museum monthly. They provide a Folklorist in Residence to coordinate guest artists.
• Great Lakes Insurance Services Group, LLCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGreat Lakes Insurance Services Group sponsors art materials for Teaching Artist Time and Art Time programs at the museum.
• PSN LabscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPSN Labs sponsors STEAM Time programming at the museum, supporting hands-on seasonal learning experiences in science, technology, engineering, art, and math.
• Widget FinancialminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWidget Financial is a local not-for-profit credit union that sponsors the Shimmer Wall at the museum and participated in Meet 'n Learn programming.
• Emily Wachter Intervention ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmily Wachter Intervention Services partners with the museum to create Sensory Time bins for children with sensory sensitivities.
• DreamBuilders Sensory PlayspaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDreamBuilders Sensory Playspace partners with the museum to create Sensory Time bins and offers sensory-friendly playspace workshops and events.
• Therapy Dogs UnitedminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTherapy Dogs United visits the museum monthly during Sensory Time, bringing therapy dogs for warm, furry fun for families.
• Hazards Mini GolfminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHazards Mini Golf offers $2 off a round of mini golf for up to 4 players when visitors show their expERIEnce Children's Museum receipt.
• Ye Ole Sweet ShoppeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerYe Ole Sweet Shoppe provides a free chocolate chip cookie to museum members who show their receipt and digital membership card the same day as their visit.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Strong National Museum of Play: Rochester, NY-based museum dedicated to play and interactive learning for children and families, with hands-on exhibits and educational programming of similar scope to expERIEnce.
• Discovery Children's Museum: Las Vegas-based children's museum with 9 interactive exhibit themes, science and art programs, and field trip offerings — comparable in target age range and exhibit-based model.
• Please Touch Museum: Philadelphia-based children's museum focusing on hands-on play and learning for ages 0-7, with comparable educational programming, membership tiers, and birthday party offerings.
• Children's Museum of Pittsburgh: Established children's museum in nearby Pittsburgh with hands-on STEAM exhibits, maker programming, and a similar nonprofit membership model. Most directly comparable peer in the Pennsylvania/regional market.
• Madison Children's Museum: Nonprofit children's museum with rooftop and outdoor classrooms, hands-on exhibits, and inclusive programming — a strong analog for expERIEnce's outdoor classroom and STEAM focus.
• Glazer Children's Museum: Tampa-based children's museum with hands-on STEAM exhibits, field trip programs, birthday parties, and summer camps — closely aligned operating model and product mix.
• Kohl Children's Museum: Glenview, IL children's museum with hands-on exhibits, school field trips, summer camps, and member programming — comparable product mix and visitor experience.

Broad incumbents

• Children's Museum of Indianapolis: One of the largest children's museums globally, with STEAM-focused exhibits, accessibility programming, and a multi-floor interactive layout analogous to expERIEnce's structure.
• Boston Children's Museum: Large, well-established children's museum with extensive hands-on exhibits, school programs, and memberships. Comparable operating model but at significantly larger scale and national draw.

Others

• Association of Children's Museums (ACM): Industry association of which expERIEnce is a member. Provides reciprocal admission network, industry benchmarking, and grant pathways — directly relevant as an ecosystem and network partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/eriekidsmuseum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/experiencechildrensmuseum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 expERIEnce Children's Museum