Curiosity Lives Here: Hands-On Discovery Across Five Historic Homes
At Gilbert House Children's Museum, learning is an adventure! Explore over 29 hands-on exhibit spaces and a half-acre of dynamic outdoor play. Don't miss the 20,000-square-foot Outdoor Discovery Area, inspired by Salem native A.C. Gilbert (inventor of the Erector Set), where towering, climbable structures invite children to build, climb, and explore his legacy through play.
Explore Our Spaces
Your Adventure Starts Here!
Walk through the gates and into a world of exploration! Welcome to the Rockenfield House, your very first stop on your way to an adventure! Our friendly faces at the Welcome Desk are here to greet you and kick off your two-story journey of imaginative play and awesome discovery. Get ready for some serious fun!
Check out the exciting spaces you'll find across both floors:
Airflow Alley: Experiment with air pressure and movement in fun, hands-on ways.
Salem Station: Explore all things that go! This exhibit features trains, a Cherriots bus, and a mechanics car for vehicle-based roleplaying and discovery.
Forest Friends: Our special, cozy room for the littlest explorers (ages 0-2), designed for safe, gentle play and connection with nature.
Recollections: Discover the dazzling science of light, shadows, and color fractals through interactive displays.
Come Explore Our Namesake!
The Gilbert House is two stories packed with hands-on fun and discovery for all ages! Step inside our namesake building and embark on an adventure through engaging and imaginative exhibits.
Dive into learning and play with these exciting experiences:
Farm to Table: Discover where our food comes from.
Science Lab: Wonder. Question. Discover. Conduct exciting, inquiry-based experiments.
Gilbert Grill: Step back in time to a 1950s-themed diner to roleplay as chefs and servers.
Vet Clinic: Care for adorable pretend patients.
Lights Camera Action: Step into the world of theater and performance.
Grandma's Club House (The Blue Blocks Room): Enjoy classic activities, cozy corners, and imaginative play centered around the blue boxes.
Fortopia: Build, design, and climb in a world of forts.
Sensory Portal: Engage your senses in a unique way.
USS Gilbert: Navigate and command your own imaginary vessel!
Pixel Peg: Ignite your creativity on our massive "Lite Brite" style wall, using light and color to build glowing masterpieces.
Don't forget to stop by for a memorable photo in our Big Chair before you leave!
The Parrish House is the place where your imagination takes charge! This is a dedicated space where every visitor—from budding inventors to seasoned tinkerers—can thrive, experiment, and build their wildest ideas. Get ready to put on your creative hat!
Step into our ultimate maker space and explore these focused areas:
Creative Space: A free-form area for art, design, and imaginative projects.
Engineering Studio: Put your design skills to work! This studio is fully stocked with STEM building materials to help you construct, tinker, and explore structural design.
Test Lab: Put your creations to the ultimate test and see how they stack up!
Whether you’re building a skyscraper or an art masterpiece, the Parrish House is the home for your next big idea!
Unleash Your Inner Creator!
Get Your Hands Dirty!
Get ready to get your hands dirty! Tucked right next to Rockenfield, Nature’s Workshop is our premier outdoor discovery space where children connect with the natural world through messy, imaginative play. It’s a place where there are no instructions—only endless possibilities.
Dive into nature and play with these exciting experiences:
The Mud Kitchen: Mix, pour, and "cook" up a storm! This is the ultimate sensory experience where dirt and water become the ingredients for a five-star mud pie.
Loose Parts Play: Use branches, stones, stumps, and other natural treasures to build forts, fairy houses, or whatever your mind can dream up.
Tactile Discovery: A dedicated space to engage with textures, explore the earth, and enjoy the freedom of true outdoor play.
Nature Engineering: Challenge yourself to build and design using only the unique materials found in the wild.
Discovery Dig: Get your hands into the earth while searching for hidden wonders in the soil.
Don't forget to wear your play clothes—the best adventures at Nature's Workshop usually end with a little bit of mud!
Pop into a World of Wonder!
The Bubble Factory is a shimmering world of sensory delight! Step inside this fan-favorite space where soap and water transform into a dazzling spectacle of light and color. It’s a place to slow down, watch the rainbows dance, and enjoy the pure, tactile joy of sudsy exploration.
Dive into the suds with these exciting experiences:
The Giant Bubble Hoop: Step into the center and slowly pull up a shimmering wall of soap! Challenge yourself to see just how tall you can make the bubble before it pops.
The Big Bubble Table: Test your skills at our massive dip station. Use oversized wands to create wandering bubbles and sudsy sculptures that float and stretch.
The Bubble Air Table: Experiment with airflow and soap! Grab a wand and use the steady stream of air to blow, shape, and launch your bubbles into the air in a whole new way.
Don't worry about a few splashes—the best memories at the Bubble Factory usually come with a little soap and water!
Our Backyard,Your Playground!
Welcome to the Outdoor Discovery Area—20,000 square feet of backyard adventure! This expansive space is designed for big movements and even bigger imaginations. Offering kids the space to run, climb, and engage with the world around them in a fresh-air environment, it’s the ultimate destination for active explorers. From the sandy depths of a prehistoric dig to the peak of Fort Gilbert, your next great discovery is just around the corner.
Embark on an adventure through these exciting zones:
Adventure Avenue: Grab a truck and hit the road! This zone features winding paths, tunnels to crawl through, and plenty of heavy-duty toy trucks for young drivers to navigate. The avenue is lined with benches where parents and kids can sit together to refuel with a snack, watch the play unfold, or simply enjoy the sunshine.
Mammoth Dig: Follow the concrete riverbed straight to the sand! Grab a shovel and head to the dig site to uncover hidden "fossils" and treasures in our massive prehistoric-themed area.
Fort Gilbert: Let your imagination take flight at our signature fort! Whether you're building towering structures or setting up an outdoor canvas retreat, this is the place to design your own secret hideout.
Tumble Land: Ready for some high-energy fun? Explore our squish pad and spinners designed for jumping, twirling, and soft landings.
Discovery Campground: Step into the world of the great outdoors! Practice your camping skills in this dedicated space for forest-themed play.
Sensory Garden: Slow down and engage your senses among the plants and textures of our peaceful garden path. Create a rhythm on the cajon or get lost in the swirling patterns of the hypnotic disc.
Rock Climbing Areas: Challenge your strength and coordination on our boulders designed specifically for young climbers.
Pavilions & Picnic Areas: Take a breather in our shaded seating areas—perfect for a mid-adventure lunch or a place to gather with friends.
With 20,000 square feet to explore, our Outdoor Discovery Area is where energy meets endless imagination!
The Ultimate Climbing Adventure!
The Erector Set is a massive, maze-like vertical playground designed for our most daring explorers! Standing as a towering landmark in our Outdoor Discovery Area, this iconic structure is a nod to the legacy of our namesake, A.C. Gilbert, and is inspired by his world-famous building set inventions. It’s a giant puzzle of ladders, platforms, and paths just waiting to be conquered.
Navigate the heights with these exciting features:
A Vertical Maze: Challenge your navigation skills! With a complex web of ladders and stairs, every climb offers a new way to explore the structure.
The 52.5-Foot Peak: Experience the thrill of Salem's tallest play structure, reaching an impressive 52.5 feet into the sky.
Interactive Ball Run: The fun starts right on the ramp! Grab a ball and watch it zoom down our custom ball run built right into the structure’s entrance.
Slides at Every Level: You don't have to go all the way to the top to start the fun! Discover three different slides located at various heights and on different sides of the maze.
Built for Discovery: This towering structure provides a unique bird's-eye view of the entire Outdoor Discovery Area as you navigate your way through.
Whether you’re navigating the maze or racing down the slides, the Erector Set is where high-flying fun meets a world of discovery!
The Community Hub
Wilson-Durbin is the heart of our specialized programming and group celebrations! This versatile space is designed to transform from a quiet learning environment into a bustling celebration center. Whether it’s a focused morning of education or an afternoon of birthday fun, Wilson-Durbin is where our community comes together to create, learn, and celebrate.
A space for every occasion:
Summer Camps & Homeschool Classes: Our dedicated classroom setting provides the perfect environment for deep dives into science, art, and history during our seasonal camps and homeschool sessions.
Make & Take Story Time: Bring the little ones for an engaging story hour followed by a creative craft they can take home.
Birthday Parties: Celebrate your big day with us! Wilson-Durbin offers a private space for cake, gifts, and memories in between exploring the museum.
Workshops & Special Events: From guest speakers to hands-on workshops, this is where our newest programs come to life.
Grand Opening
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3/20
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Grand Opening 〰️ 3/20 〰️
Where Every Bite Refuels Discovery
Take a break and recharge for your next big adventure! The Playgrounds Café is our dedicated "fueling station" designed to keep explorers of all ages energized and ready to learn. Whether you’re a parent in need of a high-quality caffeine boost or a junior scientist ready for a healthy lunch, our menu is built to satisfy. From delicious coffee, fresh salads to hearty sandwiches and grab-and-go snacks, we provide the nourishment needed to power through a full day of play.
This space is more than just a place to eat; it’s where our community of parents and caregivers can connect and catch their breath while children enjoy a healthy refuel. It provides a comfortable setting to gather, share a story from the day’s discoveries, and plan your next stop in the museum. Whether you are treating yourself to a fresh pastry or cooling down with a refreshing drink, the Playgrounds Café ensures your journey of discovery never skips a beat.