The Children’s Museum of the Upstate

Looking for something a little different to do this summer with the children or grands?  How about a trip to Greenville’s own Children’s Museum of the Upstate?  This museum, which happens to be a Smithsonian Affiliate, provides educational learning that is fun for the whole family!  With the engaging exhibits, the children won’t even realize this is an educational experience. Adults have even been known to leave learning a thing or two. 😉

The downtown Greenville location has multiple galleries that cover a wide range of topics such as science, health, arts, and more.

Museum Level Layout
Level 1: The first level incorporates Greenville’s own Reedy River for a display that illustrates the properties of water with miniature waterfalls and dams. And then the life-size Reedy River is only a short walk away in Greenville’s infamous Falls Park. There are even hands-on exhibits on level 1 that allow your children to manipulate water flow and explore sounds, and create art.

Level 2: Part of the second level is the “Teddy Bear Clinic”, an extension of the Children’s Hospital exhibit because as we all know, sometimes Teddy needs a little TLC too. For any little child that can’t let go of their favorite teddy, this one is a winner. The entire floor is set up with interactive exhibits designed to build a child’s imagination. Children can shop at a grocery store, pretend to be a bank teller, or test their strength in the climbing area. This level is the perfect place to spend an afternoon with kiddos that need to get their energy out!

Level 3: Finally, the third level gets a little wild as there is “The Great Outdoors” display that features the various indigenous wildlife of Upstate South Carolina with engaging activities. This level is more educational in nature and strives to teach kids more about STEM concepts, nature and conservation, and science.

Current Exhibits & Events
With COVID restrictions relaxing, the museum is ramping back up its classes and programs! One of our favorites, perfect for young children, is the Story Time hour. Typically at 11 AM various days of the week, it’s a great experience for kiddos (and break for adults!). The science program, Spark!Lab, and art classes are also being scheduled for June and beyond.  To see what events are scheduled this summer, visit: https://www.tcmupstate.org/greenville-events. Need a summer camp for your child? Each week, the museum features cool themes like Art Adventures for little Picassos or Galactic Voyagers for those future astronauts. You can sign up for a variety of activities based on age group, ranging from PreK to 5th grade.

Want to visit?

The museum is open Monday thru Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM and on Sunday 11 AM to 5 PM.  Check the site and their social profiles for any seasonal changes to their dates. You need to purchase tickets in advance, which you can purchase on their website. Children under the age of 1 are free, as well as members. For more information, such as hours of operation, museum maps, and tickets, please click here.  If you would like to become a member, which provides you with free trips and discounts on parties, camps/classes, and store purchases, click this link to learn more! https://www.tcmupstate.org/membership.