What Lincoln Children's Museum does

Lincoln Children's Museum is a private nonprofit 501(c)(3) operating a 23,000+ sq. ft. three-floor interactive children's museum at 1420 P Street in downtown Lincoln, Nebraska. Founded in 1987 and opened permanently in December 1989, the museum serves families with children ages 0-12 through hands-on exhibits including a first-of-its-kind three-story Luckey Climber, the LNKLab maker space for ages 8-12, MathHappens Math Room, and rotating temporary exhibits such as PIXEL THIS and Gabby's Dollhouse MEOWseum Discovery Days. The facility also houses Kazoo's U-Stop Cafe and the LCM Toy Store, and is KultureCity-certified for sensory inclusion with dedicated weekly Sensory-Friendly Hours.

The organization monetizes through a diversified mix of earned revenue streams: daily admission ($12.95-$16.95 per age tier), annual memberships in four tiers ($135 Basic to $195 Museum Traveler), birthday party packages ($475 for up to 50 guests) and private museum rentals ($425), week-long summer camps ($265-$305) and day camps ($60-$80), school field trips ($10/student), scout workshops, Museums To You off-site programs, and exhibit kit rentals. Ticketing, membership management, and camp registration are processed through Blackbaud. The museum is a member of the Association of Children's Museums, enabling reciprocal access benefits across nearly 200 member institutions nationwide.

As a 501(c)(3) receiving no city, state, or federal tax dollars, Lincoln Children's Museum is supported by 30+ local corporate and foundation sponsors — including Rogers Foundation, Johnny Carson Foundation, Molex, Runza, HomeServices of Nebraska, and Woods Bros Realty — alongside individual donations and earned program revenue. Recent strategic activity has centered on launching new STEM-focused exhibits for older children, expanding the membership tier structure, and securing flagship content partnerships (notably with DreamWorks Animation) to drive visitation. The institution is governed by a Board of Directors led by President Mackenzie Long and managed operationally by CEO Tara Knuth, with a small named full-time staff supplemented by part-time Playologists and cafe associates.

Name

Lincoln Children's Museum

Legal name

Lincoln Children's Museum

Website

https://lincolnchildrensmuseum.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lincoln Children's Museum is a private nonprofit 501(c)(3) operating a 23,000+ sq. ft. three-floor interactive children's museum in Lincoln, Nebraska, serving families with children ages 0-12 through hands-on exhibits, memberships, camps, birthday parties, and educational programs, funded by earned revenue and 30+ local corporate and foundation sponsors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Museum / Educational Entertainment

NAICS

Museums (712110), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Museums (71211)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945)

akta.pro primary industry

Children’s Museums (THAJADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Museum, Zoo & Attraction Gift Shops (CRALAJAG), Kids & Family Learning Workshops (Family Crafts, Junior Maker Classes) (THAJAKAO), Kids Crafts & Educational Craft Kits Retail (CRALACAG)

Keywords

• Children's museum
• Interactive exhibits
• Educational programs
• Summer camps
• Field trips

Headquarters

HQ city

Lincoln

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, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Daily Admission: Visitors pay admission fees to enter the museum. Pricing varies by age category: Caretaker ($13.95), Youth 19mo-15yrs ($16.95), Senior 65+ ($12.95), Infant 0-18 months (free).
2. Memberships: Annual family memberships provide unlimited visits with tiered pricing: Basic ($135), Basic + One ($159), Museum Traveler ($195), and Super Pass for organizations (quote-based). Members receive discounts on camps and events.
3. Birthday Parties & Private Events: The museum generates revenue through private event rentals including Ultimate Birthday Parties ($475 for up to 50 guests), private museum rentals ($425), and add-on services like glitter tattoos ($30) and jumbo games ($25+).
4. Camps & Programs: Week-long summer camps priced at $265-$305 (member/non-member) and day camps at $60-$80. Scout workshops, field trips, and MathHappens Math Room sessions provide additional program revenue.
5. On-site Amenities: Revenue from Kazoo's U-Stop Cafe (food service) and LCM Toy Store (retail merchandise). Member discounts apply.
6. Museum Rentals & Off-site Programs: The museum offers rental items including exhibit learning kits ($60 first week, $25 additional weeks), Museums To You educator-led programs ($125-$150), and jumbo yard game rentals ($25-$100). Private event rentals generate additional revenue.
7. Donations & Grants: As a private nonprofit 501(c)(3), the museum receives donations from individuals and corporate partners. No city, state, or federal tax dollars are received. Membership fees support discounted access for lower-income families.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Lincoln Children's Museum operates a 23,000+ sq. ft., three-floor interactive children's museum in downtown Lincoln, Nebraska, offering hands-on learning through play. Its core offerings include daily admission, tiered annual memberships, summer and day camps, school field trips, scout badge workshops, private birthday parties, after-hours event rentals, off-site Museums To You programs, and exhibit kit rentals. On-site amenities include Kazoo's U-Stop Cafe and the LCM Toy Store.

Product overview

Lincoln Children's Museum is a 23,000+ sq. ft. three-floor interactive children's museum offering a portfolio of interconnected products and services centered on hands-on learning through play. Core offerings include general museum admission and tiered membership programs (Basic, Basic Plus One, Museum Traveler, Super Pass) providing unlimited access and reciprocal benefits. The museum features permanent exhibits including the Luckey Climber (three-story climbing structure), LNKLab (maker space for ages 8-12), MathHappens Math Room, and the recently added Tiny House. Service products include birthday party packages (Ultimate Birthday Party starting at $475), summer and day camps ($60-$305), school field trips ($10/student), scout workshops, and private event rentals. The organization extends its reach through off-site programs including Museums To You educator visits, Exhibit Learning Kits for weekly checkout, and Jumbo Yard Game rentals. On-site amenities include Kazoo's U-Stop Cafe and the LCM Toy Store. Accessibility offerings include KultureCity sensory certification and weekly Sensory-Friendly Hours. All offerings are coordinated through Blackbaud for ticketing and membership management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• General Museum Admission

Quantifiable outcome

• Founded 1987; 10,000 families attended initial 1988 exhibit; permanent museum opened December 1989
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 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

Integration1 record

Partnerships

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

• DreamWorks AnimationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 August 2026Partner for Gabby's Dollhouse MEOWseum Discovery Days (August 14-23, 2026). Provides themed photo opportunities, scavenger hunt content, and DJ Catnip Dance Party music.
• Association of Children's MuseumsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 August 2026Co-organizer of Gabby's Dollhouse MEOWseum Discovery Days program alongside DreamWorks Animation.
• MolexcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor powering the Tinker Theatre exhibit (Tinker Theatre Powered By Molex). Supports hands-on STEM programming through exhibit sponsorship.
• RunzacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRestaurant chain sponsor of the Runza exhibit (pretend play restaurant) and food catering partner for museum events. Provides pizza for party packages.
• Home Real EstatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of the Tiny House exhibit along with Woods Bros Realty, providing hands-on pretend play real estate experience.
• Woods Bros RealtycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of the Tiny House exhibit with Home Real Estate.
• Hausmann ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction company sponsoring the Hausmann Cuckoo Construction Zone exhibit (clock tower block play structure).
• UBT (Union Bank & Trust)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBanking sponsor of UBT Bank exhibit teaching children about money, savings, and banking skills.
• LES (Lincoln Electric System)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal utility company sponsoring museum exhibits.
• Smart ChickenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal food company sponsoring museum exhibits.
• KawasakiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporation sponsoring museum exhibits.
• Sampson ConstructionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction company providing financial support as community partner.
• KultureCitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSensory certification partner providing training, sensory tools, and guidelines for creating inclusive experiences for guests with invisible disabilities.
• University of Nebraska-LincolnminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudents and faculty contributed to developing the museum's sensory-inclusive social story resource for children with autism.
• Sassy Mama for Autism (Cris)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal autism advocate contributed to developing the sensory-inclusive social story.
• Girl Scouts Spirit of NebraskacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPre-planned badge workshops available through Girl Scouts website, with museum providing facilitated programming for scout troops.
• Lincoln Children's ZoominorGTM or Marketing PartnerCross-promotional partnership offering LCM members $10 off Lincoln Children's Zoo membership.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Omaha Children's Museum: Direct regional peer operating a hands-on children's museum in Omaha, NE — the same state and comparable tier, serving young families with interactive exhibits, memberships, and field trips. Highly comparable business model and audience.
• Strong National Museum of Play: ACM peer operating a play-based interactive museum in Rochester, NY with similar exhibits, membership tiers, and educational programming. Strong comparator for visitation and membership economics.
• Please Touch Museum: Philadelphia-based children's museum with hands-on exhibits, tiered memberships, field trips, and private event rentals — a same-category, comparable-scale nonprofit operator.
• Madison Children's Museum: Mid-sized ACM-member children's museum with multi-floor interactive exhibits, memberships, camps, and school programs. Closely comparable operating footprint and program mix.
• Discovery Children's Museum: Las Vegas-based children's museum with STEM-focused exhibits and similar membership/event/pricing model. Comparable scale and ACM membership context.
• Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose: ACM-member children's museum in San Jose with similar hands-on exhibits, membership tiers, camps, and field trip offerings. Comparable mission and program structure.

Others

• KultureCity: Nonprofit that provides the sensory-inclusion certification, training, and tools LCM has adopted. Comparable as an adjacent mission-aligned organization serving the same inclusive-family audience.
• Association of Children's Museums (ACM): Industry trade association that LCM is a member of; sets industry standards and operates the reciprocal Museum Traveler program across ~200 member museums. Relevant ecosystem/context player rather than a direct competitor.

Regional players

• Lincoln Children's Zoo: Lincoln-based family attraction with cross-promotional membership partnership with LCM ($10 off reciprocal). Comparable as a local family-entertainment destination competing for the same Lincoln family leisure dollars.

Broad incumbents

• Children's Museum of Indianapolis: The largest children's museum in the world and ACM member. Comparable in core mission (hands-on learning for kids) and reciprocal membership program, but operates at significantly greater scale, footprint, and budget — a benchmark for the category ceiling.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/LincolnChildrensMuseum
• Instagraminstagram.com/lincolnchildrensmuseum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lincoln-children's-museum

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Lincoln Children's Museum