Brooklyn Children’s Museum is a hands-on museum for children aged 6 months to 10 years in the Crown Heights neighbourhood of Brooklyn, and the world’s first children’s museum, founded in 1899. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport and parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
This guide was updated in July 2026. General admission is $15 per person, but the museum also offers free entry every Thursday from 2 to 5pm through its Community Access Thursdays programme, a detail some general guides leave out. The museum also occasionally adds one-off closures beyond its regular Monday–Tuesday schedule, so it’s worth checking the online calendar before a visit.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | Wed–Sun, 10am–5pm (last entry 4:50pm); closed Mon–Tue |
| Ticket prices | $15 per person; free every Thursday 2–5pm |
| Address | 145 Brooklyn Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11213 |
| Nearest transport/parking | 3 train to Kingston Avenue; no dedicated parking, street parking nearby |
| Typical time needed | 1.5–3 hours |
Brooklyn Children’s Museum opening hours
Brooklyn Children’s Museum is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm, with last entry at 4:50pm. It’s closed Monday and Tuesday.
The museum occasionally adds one-off closures beyond this regular schedule, so it’s worth checking the online calendar for your specific visit date.
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Brooklyn Children’s Museum ticket prices
General admission costs $15 per person; the museum doesn’t publish a separate reduced rate by age. Members enjoy free admission along with discounted guest admission.
The museum is free for everyone every Thursday from 2pm to 5pm through Community Access Thursdays, supported by Amazon. Tickets can be reserved online in advance or bought at the door, though group visits aren’t permitted during this window.
Brooklyn Children’s Museum also provides free or discounted admission to a number of partners, including the Association of Children’s Museums, the Association of Science and Technology Centers, Cool Culture, Culture Pass, EBT/SNAP cardholders, healthcare workers, NYPD, FDNY, Blue Star Families, teachers, veterans, and active military personnel, on presentation of ID at the front desk.
Opening hours and admission fees were checked on the official Brooklyn Children’s Museum visitor page and last updated in July 2026.
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How to get to Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Brooklyn Children’s Museum is in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, at 145 Brooklyn Avenue.
By subway, take the 3 train to Kingston Avenue, or the A or C train to Nostrand Avenue or Kingston-Throop Avenues; each stop is roughly a 10-minute walk from the museum. By bus, the B43, B44, and B65 all stop nearby on Brooklyn Avenue or St Marks Avenue.
Parking at Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Brooklyn Children’s Museum doesn’t have a dedicated parking lot, though street parking is usually available within a few blocks. Limited, unmonitored stroller parking is available at the museum itself.
How long to spend at Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Most visitors spend one and a half to three hours at Brooklyn Children’s Museum, exploring its three floors of exhibits at a relaxed pace.
Families visiting during Community Access Thursdays should note the free window runs only from 2pm to 5pm, so plan arrival accordingly.
Accessibility at Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Brooklyn Children’s Museum states it is committed to making its facilities and programmes accessible to all members of its community, regardless of ability, as part of its published Safe Space Policy. The museum doesn’t publish a separate, detailed accessibility guide online, so it’s worth emailing hello@brooklynkids.org in advance for specific accessibility questions.
Inside Brooklyn Children’s Museum: what to see
Totally Tots is a dedicated space designed for the museum’s youngest visitors to explore and play safely.
A live-animal collection, cared for by the museum’s animal maintainers, includes reptiles, amphibians, and fish, with regular programmes introducing visitors to individual animals.
Three floors of interactive exhibits cover science, culture, and hands-on play, aimed at children from 6 months to 10 years old.
A café and rooftop terrace offer coffee, snacks, and a place for families to take a break; food is otherwise not permitted in the exhibit spaces.
Self-check lockers are available to rent for the day, useful for families not wanting to carry bulky bags through the exhibits.
Practical visitor tips
| Topic | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | Visit on a Thursday afternoon between 2 and 5pm for free admission, if your schedule allows. |
| Crowds | Weekend afternoons tend to be busiest; weekday mornings are generally quieter. |
| Layout | Start on the ground floor and work upward through the museum’s three levels. |
| Entry process | Reserve tickets online in advance, especially for Community Access Thursdays. |
| On-site logistics | Rent a locker if you’re travelling with bulky bags, since they can’t be checked at the door. |
Frequently asked questions about Brooklyn Children’s Museum
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Brooklyn Children’s Museum suitable for toddlers? | Yes, it’s designed for children from 6 months old, with a dedicated toddler area. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance? | Advance booking is recommended, particularly for the free Thursday afternoon window. |
| Is Brooklyn Children’s Museum open on Mondays? | No, it’s closed Monday and Tuesday; it opens Wednesday to Sunday. |
| Is admission ever free? | Yes, every Thursday from 2pm to 5pm, and always free for members. |
| Is there parking at Brooklyn Children’s Museum? | No dedicated lot, though street parking is usually available nearby. |
Things to do near Brooklyn Children’s Museum
The Jewish Children’s Museum, a nearby museum with interactive exhibits on Jewish heritage, is a short walk away.
The Brooklyn Museum, a major art museum, is a short subway ride away.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden, next to the Brooklyn Museum, is a short subway ride away.
The Weeksville Heritage Center, preserving a 19th-century free Black community in Crown Heights, is about 10 minutes away.
Prospect Park, a large park with a zoo and lake, is a short subway ride away.
What to visit tomorrow
The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is about 45 minutes away.
The Long Island Children’s Museum in Garden City is about 1 hour away.
The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City is about 1 hour away.
The Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia is about 1 hour 45 minutes away.
The Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk, Connecticut, is about 1 hour 15 minutes away.
