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Tickets & Admission
Children under 12 months: FREE
Adults & Children (12 months+): $12 per person
EBT/WIC Cardholders: $3 per person*
Library Pass Holders: $6 per person
*To reserve EBT/WIC admission, please call 978-538-5765.
Reserving Tickets
We strongly encourage reserving tickets online, as museum capacity is limited.
Prefer to visit without a reservation? Walk-in tickets are available every day on a first-come, first-served basis for all visitors, including members and guests using discounts. If a session is at capacity, you may need to wait while we operate on a one-in, one-out basis.
Library Pass Program
Did you know you can borrow a North Shore Children’s Museum pass from your local library?
Participating libraries offer 50% off general admission for groups of up to 5 visitors. Contact your local participating library to learn more about reserving a museum pass.
Participating Libraries (*as of 11.4.25): Andover-Memorial Hall, Beverly, Burlington, Danvers, Georgetown, Gloucester, Groveland, Hamilton-Wenham, Haverhill, Ipswich, Lynn, Lynnfield, Manchester by the Sea, Melrose, Middleton, Nahant, Newburyport, Newbury Town, North Andover (Stevens), North Reading (Flint), Peabody, Reading, Revere, Salem, Saugus, Swampscott, Topsfield, Wakefield, Wilmington, Winchester
Admission Information
VISITING A FEW TIMES A YEAR?
Consider purchasing a membership, which gives you and your family unlimited access to the museum. Learn more about our membership options.
Hours of Operation
Wednesdays: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm & 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm (Closed 12:00-1:00PM)
Thursdays: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm & 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm (Closed 12:00-1:00PM)
Fridays: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm & 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm (Closed 12:00-1:00PM)
Saturdays: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm, 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Sundays: 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm, 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Please check the monthly calendar on our homepage for any schedule changes, such as holiday closures or special school break hours.
Parking
The rear lot behind the Museum at 10 Main Street is not public. There is typically street parking available on Main Street, and the closest public parking lots are the Central Street Lot, Mill Street Lot, and Foster Street Lot. All public lots are just a short walk away.
Cancellations
Guests who have purchased tickets online and need to cancel their visit are asked to contact NSCM as soon as possible to enable staff to release the tickets for other visitors. If you contact us before the end of the ticket timed session, we will transfer your tickets to another play session. If a transfer is not possible, (i.e. you are visiting from out of town), we can explore refund options with you.
Access for All Income Levels
We are proud to offer free or reduced admission to over 26% of our visitors through a variety of discount programs:
- NSCM participates in the Card to Culture* and Museums for All programs by extending discounts to EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare health plan insurance cardholders. Present one of these cards at the ticket desk and pay just $3/ticket. Sold out online? No worries – we save tickets for walk-ins with these cards. NSCM has partnerships with 30+ local libraries which offer 50% off tickets. Visitors need to reserve a pass for the date you want to visit and then pick it up at your local library or download it digitally from the library website in advance. NSCM tickets may then be purchased online or at the ticket desk under the library pass rate of $6. Contact your local library for details!
- NSCM offers Town Free Days multiple times per year, thanks to support from generous sponsors. Follow us on social media (@nschildrensmuseum) so you don’t miss our next one!
*Mass Cultural Council’s Card to Culture program is in partnership with the Department of Transitional Assistance, the WIC Nutrition Program, and the Massachusetts Health Connector. See the complete list of participating organizations offering EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare discounts.
Sensory-Friendly Play Sessions: Every Child Initiative
We support all families and children with different sensory processing needs. To ensure our friends with Autism or other sensory processing disorders can enjoy our museum, we offer a low-sensory play session once a month. This two-hour session has a reduced admission capacity and lower lights and sounds. We have noise-canceling headphones and “sensory boxes” available, as well as a high staff/volunteer:visitor ratio to ensure all of your needs are met. Advanced ticket purchase is recommended due to reduced capacity of these special sessions.
Our next Low Sensory Play Session will be Saturday, June 20 from 2pm to 4pm.
Everything Starts with Play!
