Children's Museum of South Dakota

What Children's Museum of South Dakota does

The Children's Museum of South Dakota is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit children's museum located at 521 4th Street in Brookings, South Dakota, housed in a renovated 1936 brick school building that comprises 38,000 square feet of indoor space with 21,000 square feet of interactive exhibits plus a 1.5-acre outdoor prairie. It operates as South Dakota's first and only broad-based, cross-discipline children's museum, serving families with children of all ages, K-12 school groups, low-income families through the Museums for All Access Initiative, and 21+ adults via Museum After Dark events. Its core product is 29 themed exhibit areas spanning science, engineering, art, geography, history, and culture, anchored by unique assets including the only full-size permanent animatronic T. rex dinosaurs (Mama and Max) on display in the United States, a LEED Silver-certified sustainable building, an indoor prairie, water and sensory play areas, international cultural exhibits (Guatemala, Mozambique, Asian New Year celebrations), and the Maker Studio. Programming is delivered through a Reggio Emilia-inspired child-empowerment framework emphasizing open-ended materials and child-led inquiry.

The museum earns revenue through a diversified mix of streams: standard general admission ($9 per person), Access Admission ($3 per person for up to 6) and Access Family Membership ($36.80 per year) for qualifying low-income families, Standard Family Membership ($110 per year), field trip admissions for school groups, birthday party and facility rentals (Party on 1 and Party on 2 studios), Café Coteau on-site food service (operated independently of museum admission via Toast Tab online ordering), gift shop retail, fee-based STEAM/art/Maker Studio summer camps and classes, and adult-only Museum After Dark evening events. Charitable contributions, including a structural endowment from the Larson Family Foundation, support operating costs. The go-to-market motion is event-driven and tourism-dependent, combining walk-in admissions, school and community partnerships (Brookings School District, South Dakota State University, Dakota Prairie Elementary via the Innovation Learning Lab), earned media and tourism partnerships (South Dakota Department of Tourism, Visit Brookings, Travel Channel, Midwest Living, TripAdvisor), and multi-channel social and content marketing.

The organization employs approximately 25 staff and serves roughly 120,000 visitors annually, having welcomed its one-millionth cumulative guest in July 2020. The operating model is governed by a Board of Directors with Kate Treiber as Executive Director, supported by an Associate Director, Director of Marketing, Education Manager, Café Manager, and Guest Experience Manager. The museum does not have a parent operating company in the conventional sense; the Larson Family Foundation, founded by Dale Larson (former CEO of Larson Manufacturing), is the founding financial partner that funded startup costs and established the operating endowment.

Name

Children's Museum of South Dakota

Legal name

Children's Museum of South Dakota

Website

https://prairieplay.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Children's Museum of South Dakota is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating 29 interactive exhibit areas across a renovated 1936 school building and 1.5-acre outdoor prairie in Brookings, SD, serving roughly 120,000 families, K-12 school groups, and low-income visitors annually through admissions, memberships, camps, and Café Coteau, supported by the Larson Family Foundation endowment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Museum and Informal Education

NAICS

Museums (712110)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Children’s Museums (THAJADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA), Museum, Zoo & Attraction Gift Shops (CRALAJAG)

Keywords

• Children's museum exhibits
• Interactive learning experiences
• Play-based education
• Museum admission programs
• STEAM education programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Brookings

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, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. General Admission: Daily admission fees charged to visitors. Standard admission is $9 per person. No admission required for café or gift shop.
2. Memberships: Annual family memberships providing unlimited access. Standard membership is $110/year. Access Membership (low-income families) is $36.80/year with up to 2 named adults, 5 named children, and 1 caregiver.
3. Facility Rentals: Birthday party bookings and event space rentals. Birthday parties and private events use spaces like Party on 1 and Party on 2 studios.
4. Café Coteau Food Service: On-site restaurant serving lunch, snacks, and treats including famous macaroni and cheese, grab-and-go selections. Open to public without museum admission. Provides catering for museum events and birthday parties.
5. Gift Shop: Retail sales of curated toys related to museum exhibits, souvenirs, and museum merchandise.
6. Camps and Classes: Fee-based summer camps (STEAM camps, art camps, Maker Studio camps) and classes for children. Maker Studio offers open exploration and structured programs.
7. Field Trips: School group visits at $9 per person with 1 adult per 5 children ratio requirement. Requires 2-week advance booking.
8. Donations and Grants: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supported by charitable donations including Access Fund contributions. Fully funded initially by Larson Family Foundation with endowment for operating costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Children's Museum of South Dakota operates a 38,000 sq ft LEED Silver-certified facility in Brookings, SD, featuring 29+ interactive indoor and outdoor exhibits designed for hands-on, play-based learning across science, engineering, art, culture, geography, and history. The museum complements its core exhibits with Café Coteau on-site dining, a gift shop, summer camps and classes, birthday party and event rentals, the Maker Studio, the Access Initiative for low-income families, and field trip programming for schools.

Product overview

The Children's Museum of South Dakota is a single, unified museum offering with 29+ interactive exhibits across themed indoor and outdoor spaces (KidStreet, The Prairie, Sensations, outdoor prairie play), complemented by Café Coteau dining, camps and classes, birthday parties, event rentals, and accessibility programs. The museum operates as a unified visitor experience with ticketing, membership, and educational programming integrated into the core offering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Interactive Exhibits 29+ hands-on, interactive museum exhibits covering science, engineering, art, culture, geography, and history designed for children and families to learn through play, including the signature Mama and Max animatronic T. rex dinosaurs.
• Café Coteau On-site restaurant serving lunch, snacks, and locally-roasted Kool Beans Coffee, including grab-and-go selections and SDSU ice cream; open to the public without museum admission and offers catering for events.
• Field Trips Educational field trip experiences for school groups available Tuesday-Saturday at $9 per person, with structured programming and a 1 adult per 5 children ratio requirement.
• Birthday Parties Private party bookings for children's birthdays utilizing spaces like Party on 1 and Party on 2 rooms.
• Event Rentals Facility rental for private events, corporate gatherings, and facility-wide experiences.
• Maker Studio Hands-on maker space for inventing, tinkering, and creative projects featuring robotics, circuitry, pottery, sculpture, and paint, used for classes and camps.
• Camps and Classes Summer camps, STEAM camps, art camps, and ongoing classes including Maker Studio programs and Playful Preschoolers sessions.
• Museum After Dark Adult-only (21+) evening events featuring museum exhibits, games, live music, drinks, and food, held periodically as special programming.
• Access Initiative Financial accessibility program offering $3 daily admission and $36.80 yearlong family memberships for those qualifying for public income-related assistance, in partnership with Museums for All.
• Innovation Learning Lab Program in partnership with Brookings School District and South Dakota State University offering authentic inquiry-based learning experiences for school-aged children.
• Membership Program Yearlong family memberships providing unlimited access to museum exhibits and perks, with options for household and caregiver additions at $110/year standard and $36.80/year Access.
• Gift Shop Retail shop offering curated toys and gifts related to museum exhibits, located on-site and open without museum admission.

Quantifiable outcome

• Welcomed 100,000th guest within 11 months of opening (Aug 2011)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Wooden Legs Brewing CompanyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Downtown Brookings craft brewery partnering for Museum After Dark 21+ events. Provides beer selection for adult-only evening museum events.
• Career AdvantageminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Employment consultant organization providing work experience and training for individuals with disabilities. Museum provides inclusive work environment and has hired employees through the program.
• Project SkillsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021High school work experience program connecting students with disabilities to job training opportunities. Museum provides on-the-job training and has hired program participants.
• Project SearchminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Program providing work experience and employment training for individuals with disabilities. Museum has provided employment opportunities through the program.
• AdvanceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Employment program for individuals with disabilities. Museum provides work experience and training opportunities.
• Museums for AllcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020National initiative between Association of Children's Museums and Institute of Museum and Library Services providing $3 admission and affordable memberships to low-income families. Museum offers $3 Access Admission and $36.80 Access Family Memberships.
• Association of Children's Museums (ACM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Industry association partnership for Museums for All initiative. Also partnered for Celebrations exhibit showcasing Asian New Year traditions with Freeman Foundation support.
• Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Federal agency partnership supporting Museums for All initiative that provides access to museums for low-income families.
• Brookings Parks, Recreation and Forestry DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnership to relocate portions of Patrick Dougherty's Tangle Town sculpture to Dakota Nature Park. Department provided heavy equipment and staff for relocation, extending the art installation's life as wildlife habitat.
• Kool Beans CoffeeminorOthers · 1 January 2019Local Brookings coffee roaster whose coffee is served at Café Coteau, the museum's on-site restaurant.
• South Dakota State University Dairy BarminorOthers · 1 January 2019SDSU ice cream supplier for Café Coteau, providing Brookings's favorite ice cream as a local product offering.
• Dakota Prairie Elementary SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Elementary school that partnered with the museum for Innovation Learning Lab. Students created their own museum experience at their school based on visits to the Children's Museum.
• Brookings School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Weekly collaboration bringing school-aged children to the museum for Innovation Learning Lab experiences focused on inquiry-based learning and real-world problem solving. Dakota Prairie Elementary students created their own children's museum as part of the program.
• South Dakota State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Academic partner in Innovation Learning Lab collaboration, contributing educational expertise and student involvement to the inquiry-based learning program.
• Patrick DoughertyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Internationally acclaimed stick sculpture artist who created Tangle Town installation using 6 tons of willow saplings with help of 77 volunteers. Installation stood on museum grounds 2017-2021.
• Freeman FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Foundation partner supporting the Celebrations exhibit exploring Asian New Year celebrations in South Korea, China, and Vietnam. Exhibit includes resources from Asian Art Museum and Asia Society Texas Center.
• Banner AssociatesminorOthers · 1 January 2013Engineering firm awarded ACEC National Recognition Award and South Dakota ACEC Grand Award of Excellence for structural design of museum renovation.
• Habitat for HumanityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Referenced in Guatemala exhibit where children help build a Habitat for Humanity house, learning about earthquake-resistant construction and cultural housing differences.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Minnesota Children's Museum: Mid-sized Midwest children's museum in St. Paul offering hands-on exhibits, school field trips, and access programs. Comparable scale (~25 employees range) and regional tourism model as CMSD.
• Omaha Children's Museum: Another Midwest children's museum of similar scale; serves a comparable family demographic through interactive exhibits, memberships, and school partnerships. Operates in a small metro relative to its tourist draw.
• Madison Children's Museum: Madison, WI children's museum with similar nonprofit governance, exhibit-renewal programming, and sustainable-built infrastructure — directly comparable in scale, mission, and operating model.
• Kohl Children's Museum: Chicago-area children's museum of comparable size, exhibit count, and family-visit programming; another direct Midwest analog in the small-to-mid children's museum segment.

Broad incumbents

• Strong National Museum of Play: Rochester, NY play-focused children's museum; reinforces the same play-based learning narrative and serves as a research anchor for the broader children's museum field via its National Toy Hall of Fame.
• Please Touch Museum: Philadelphia-based children's museum; co-featured with CMSD in Chicago Tribune '3 must-see museums for the younger set' list. Same hands-on exhibit model and family-visit revenue streams.
• Children's Museum of Indianapolis: Largest children's museum in the world; shares the same target demographic (families with young children), play-based learning philosophy, and is explicitly named alongside CMSD in Chicago Tribune 'must-see' coverage. Operates at substantially larger scale but in the same product category.
• Boston Children's Museum: One of the oldest and largest U.S. children's museums; same exhibit-based learning and accessibility programs including Museums for All. Comparable in mission though much larger scale.

Regional players

• Children's Discovery Museum (San Jose): San Jose-based children's museum with hands-on exhibits and similar field-trip/membership revenue model; operates in a different geography but illustrates the same category as CMSD.

Others

• Association of Children's Museums (ACM): Industry trade association that CMSD is a member of; runs the Museums for All access program and outstanding-practice awards. Ecosystem enabler rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cmsouthdakota
• YouTubeyoutube.com/ChildrensMuseumofSouthDakota
• Facebookfacebook.com/ChildrensMuseumSD
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/children's-museum-of-south-dakota
• Instagraminstagram.com/prairieplaysd

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Children's Museum of South Dakota