Santa Fe Children’s Museum

In contrast with traditional museums that typically have a hands-off policy, the Santa Fe Children’s Museum (SFCM) is a highly interactive space and engages children ages 0-8 and their families in safe, accessible, stimulating, parent-approved play. Located on the historic Armory Campus in Santa Fe, the building was originally constructed in the 1930s. SFCM was founded in 1985 by four local educators, Ellen Biderman, Ellyn Feldman, Susan McIntosh, and Londi Carbajal, who perceived a need for learning opportunities in the community that would be distinctly different from those provided in school or home settings. Today, SFCM serves 60,000 visitors on an annual basis. We attract a diverse cross-section of people and provide shared experiences through interpretative and interactive exhibits, art presentations and programs, and cultural performances. Our 8,000 square foot facility and acre plus outdoor space contain 30+ exhibit spaces that encourage hands-on exploration and learning focused on art, community, and culture. For visitors that cannot visit the Museum due to economic or geographic challenges, we offer discounted and free admission, camp scholarships, Grab and Go Kits for home learning, Virtual and In-Person Field Trips, and programs at schools, community centers, and partner organizations. Santa Fe Children’s Museum offers regular weekly programs and special events overflowing with experiential, inquiry-based hands-on activities that align with New Mexico State Curriculum Standards. These are designed to offer science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) education rooted in children’s natural sense of joy and discovery, which cultivate habits of inquiry. We are rooted in the concept of Access for All as we honor, celebrate, and interweave our regional multicultural heritage. Northern New Mexico is a diverse mix of ethnicities within a wide range of socioeconomic circumstances, with a high concentration of wealth within a small geographic area. Staff and Board members of the Museum are native Santa Feans or represent the diversity of our community. Of a staff of 13, four are Hispanic. Of our board of 14, two are Hispanic, one is Lebanese, one is Spanish/Hispanic, and one is of two or more ethnicities. Additionally, the board has one of Navajo descent. SFCM is a meeting place for families to envision the communities they want to live in, as well as a place of respite, education, and security for children. Towards this goal, we provide: free admission for Title 1 low-income school field trips; camp scholarships; bilingual and sensory-friendly programs; SNAP and EBT recipients, military, first responder, and teacher discounts; and complimentary memberships. A sample of current programs includes field trips; Grab & Go Kits; Fine Art Fridays; our Mobile Museum, the Van of Enchantment; science and discovery camps; early-education programming; and The Backyard, an acre plus natural playspace featuring a community garden, playground, and traditional horno oven.