Here is the scoop on visiting Richmond area museums with kids.
The Children’s Museum of Richmond (CMoR)
Two locations:
- Downtown Location – 2626 West Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23220 Phone: 804.474.CMoR (2667)
- Chesterfield Location – 6629 Lake Harbour Drive, Midlothian, VA 23112, in the Winterpock Crossing Shopping Center Phone: 804.474.7075
Voted Richmond’s Best Museum for Families, the Children’s Museum’s goal is to bring out the potential in every child. There are all kinds of interactive activities that will not only amuse but also educate children ages one year (crawling) through nine.
Here’s what you can find at CMoR Central:
- A Pretend Play Grocery Store, Bank, Classroom, News Station and Garage
- A Backyard with a giant playground and other fun outdoor activities
- An Art Studio for painting, coloring, gluing, and cutting all kinds of artwork
- A special gated farm-themed play area for children under 3 years of age
- A water play area
Pictures of CMoR Central:
Here’s what you can find at CMoR Chesterfield:
- A large open play area artificial turf
- Diner play area
- Life-size fire truck and school bus
- Art Studio
- Grocery Store
- Special toddler/child play area
Pictures of CMoR Chesterfield:
NOTE: Become a Museum Annual Passholder and enjoy two museums for the price of one.
See the website or call for details on admission, fees (children under the age one are free), hours and membership.
Parking: Free parking is available at each museum.
The Science Museum of Virginia
2500 West Broad Street, Richmond VA 23220 Phone: 804.864.1400
At the Science Museum of Virginia your child can enjoy hundreds of unique hands-on exhibits that encourage your child to have fun while exploring science. There are permanent exhibits – Speed, Boost, Lightspace (for the 5 and under crowd). In addition there are ever changing traveling and seasonal exhibits. Another favorite – Rat Basketball in the Live Animal Lab!
The Science Museum is also home to Virginia’s largest movie screen ‘The Dome’ where you can experience over-sized movies and planetarium shows. For show information visit the website.
Visit the website or call for details on hours, admission fees, and membership.
Parking: Free parking is available in the lot in front and to the side of the museum.
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
200 N. Boulevard, Richmond, VA 23220 Phone: 804.340.1400
VMFA has an extensive collection of world art. The museum offers art programs designed for children, teens, and their families. Through the Children & Teen Studios, children of all ages can participate in a variety of art programs and exhibitions (most require pre-registration). The museum also sponsors family open houses and community events.
Black History Museum and Cultural Center
00 Clay Street, Jackson Ward, Richmond, VA Phone: 804.780.9093
Founded by Carroll Anderson in 1981, the Black History Museum and Cultural Center moved to it’s current location in 1991. The building, originally purchased by Maggie L. Walker in 1922, became the African-American branch of the Richmond Public Library in 1932. In 1991 it was converted to a museum dedicated to preserving visual, oral and written records and artifacts commemorating the lives of African-Americans from their arrival in Virginia in 1619 to the present day. Art, photographs, artifacts, videos, and historical documents are used to highlight the achievements of African-Americans. See the website or call for details on admission fees and hours.
Virginia Holocaust Museum
2000 E. Cary Street, Richmond, VA Phone: 804.257.5400
The Virginia Holocaust Museum tells the story of the Holocaust and its victims. The museum is located in a renovated tobacco factory in Shockoe Bottom where visitors walk through time and experience the Holocaust through many exhibits including a concentration camp, a cattle car, a ghetto, and a hiding place. Due to the graphic nature of the museum exhibits, it is not recommended for children under Grade 6. Free, although donations are accepted.
Richmond National Battlefield Park’s Civil War Visitor Center
470 Tredegar Street, Richmond, VA 23219
The Richmond Civil War Visitor Center is a free museum operated by the National Park Service in the Pattern Building of Tredegar Ironworks. It is the anchor location for the Richmond National Battlefield Park and features programs and exhibits related to the story of Richmond during the Civil War and the area battlefields. The park commemorates four major actions of the U.S. Civil War. There is a Junior Ranger Program where children ages 4 -13 can complete varied age related activities and earn a certificate with patch or badge for completion. Free.
The American Civil War Center
490 Tredegar Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219 Phone: 804.780.1865
Opened in 2006, The American Civil War Center is located in the Old Gun Foundry of Tredegar Ironworks. This museum interprets the Civil War from three perspectives – Union, Confederate, and African American. The exhibits present the story and legacy of the Civil War through film, timeline, and interactive displays. There is an admission fee, but children 5 and under are free.