The Providence Children's Museum

The Providence Children's Museum is Rhode Island’s best indoor playground and a great place for children from age 1-11 to learn about a wide array of subjects while climbing, building, burrowing and sliding through different brightly colored environments inside the museum. This is a hands on experience that will offer a moderate amount of indoor exercise.

The water exhibit which is called Water Ways is clearly a favorite with children of all ages while the Little Woods area with its tree house, bear cave and slide are great for children up to four years of age. From geometry to engineering there is a lot of fun for the preteen crowd here and they’ll be having such a good time in these engaging and interactive exhibits that they will hardly notice that they are learning new things.
There is a separate area for toddlers to play in, as well as an outdoor area in the warmer months.

The museum opened in 1977 after a group of local volunteers incorporated the Children's Museum as a non-profit organization. It was originally housed in a Victorian home in Pawtucket that was leased to the volunteers by the Pawtucket Congregational Church. In 1997 the museum was moved to its current location on South Street because it had outgrown the previous residence. It was renamed to the Providence Children's Museum at this time.

The Museum is located at:
100 South Street
Providence, RI 02903
Phone: (401) 273-5437
There is free off-street parking in Providence Children's Museum's lot, as well as metered parking available on the streets surrounding the Museum.

From the North:
Take 95 North to Exit 20 and bear right at the light, onto Point Street. Take the first left after the light onto Hospital Street. The Museum will be on your right.

From the South:
Take 95 South to Exit 21, Atwells ave. Continue straight for one mile and turn left onto Point Street. Take the second left onto Hospital Street. The Museum will be on your right.

From the West:
Take 195 West to Exit 1A (Point Street) and bear right at the light, onto Point Street. Take the first left after the light onto Hospital Street. The Museum will be on your right.



While you are in the Providence area here are a few more fun places to take the kids.

Impact Skatepark – skateboard and bicycle park
101 Dexter St. East Providence, RI
Exit 4 off of I-195
Phone: (401) 434-3889

Roger Williams Park & Botanical Center
It's 40 acres and takes about a half day
Largest indoor gardens in New England
The zoo has many exotic animals – giraffe, gibbon, alligators, kangaroos, wildebeest and a snow leopard.
1000 Elmwood Avenue
Providence, Rhode Island 02905

Bank of America City Center
Skating rink – rentals available
2 Kennedy Plaza, Providence, RI
Phone: (401) 331 5544