Our staff carefully monitors museum facilities around the clock. We work hard to ensure children enjoy play time in a safe and clean environment, and in return expect parents to screen their children’s health and play responsibly. All visitors will screened with a thermal scanner to ensure they are not running a fever before entering the Museum. Parents of potentially sick children will be addressed in a respectful manner. In addition, school and organized groups are required to provide signed confirmation that no student on a tour is ill.*

*Groups visits are currently on hold at this time in order to promote social distancing.

Following CDC, state, and local guidelines, the Museum reinvented the visitor experience using outside-of-the-box thinking to provide a safe and imaginative place for learning.  Below is a Play Safe list of our physical distance, health and safety practices.

• A larger cleaning crew – one for each gallery – to disinfect surfaces, components and “high touch” areas, like door handles and elevator buttons.
• Deep cleaning with oxychlorine disinfectant occurs nightly.
• New installations include: 50-sneeze guards; 24-hand sanitizing stations; hand sanitizing bars at entry, HEPA filters, additional UV lights in our air ducts.
• Fresh air is circulated in our building frequently each day.
• De-installation of 48-hands-on components and pausing Challenge Course, PowerTower and Tot*Spot.
• Pausing groups, rentals, and parties.
• Staff required to check temperature before work.
• Staff required to wear masks.  
• Staff required to consistently wash hands.
• Staff will be monitoring the number of visitors in and out of our galleries and other public spaces.
• Timed entry tickets for 2.5-hour visit will ensure a consistent flow of families at a 20-percent reduced capacity (a little over 100 visitors max. at a time).  
• Museum visitors ages 2+ required to wear masks.
• Temp check before entry using thermal scanners like in airports.  
• Use of hand sanitizing bars at entry.
• Contactless on-line reservations.
• Individualized“Epic Adventure Packs” – no sharing!
• Minimized hands-on components.  Maximized minds-on discoveries with one-way Epic Adventure scavenger hunt.
• Wipes and “dirty bins” for used toys available to visitors.  
• Signage and our staff will encourage social distancing, hand washing, and other safe behavior.

No. As posted at the entrances to the Museum and according to laws of the State of Texas, for the safety of our children, no weapons (including concealed or open carry) are allowed in the museum. The Museum is committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment. This policy is a proactive step towards reducing risks associated with intentional or accidental use of weapons regardless of whether a federal or state license to possess the same has been issued to the possessor. Anyone possessing a weapon will be asked to remove it from our premises immediately. The only exception to this policy is law enforcement.

Pursuant to Section 30.06, Penal Code (trespass by license holder with a concealed handgun), a person licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (handgun licensing law), may not enter this property with a concealed handgun.

Pursuant to Section 30.07, Penal Code (trespass by license holder with an openly carried handgun), a person licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (handgun licensing law), may not enter this property with an openly carried handgun.

All children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Any unsupervised child under 16 will be escorted to the Information Booth and remain there until a parent or caretaker is located. The child will not be allowed to leave the Museum until a parent or caretaker is located.

Because of updated procedures and Museum flow in order promote social distancing, timed tickets allow for a 2.5 hour visit. This allows for plenty of time to complete our Epic Adventure scavenger hunt and experience demonstrations with our educators.

Children’s Museum Houston serves children from birth to age 12 and their families. Each of our exhibits, experiences, and programs have been designed to engage a broad range of children’s ages and interests. Only the giant 3-story climbing structure, the Power Tower, and the Challenge Course are limited to children 5 to 15 years old. Tot*Spot is limited to children younger than 35 months and their caretakers.*

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*Please note, the Power Tower, Challenge Course and Tot*Spot are currently closed per recommendations by health experts to promote social distancing.

No, to enter the Museum, your group must include a child. The museum is designed for children 0 to 12 years of age and their families. Children younger than 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Private events for adult audiences are exceptions. If you’re an adult without a child interested in visiting the Museum during regular business hours, you may schedule an appointment with our administrator. A valid ID or driver’s license must be presented upon arrival.

Children’s Museum Houston reserves the right to conduct security checks or refuse admission to anyone who might negatively affect the experience for our core audience.

• Following CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines, staff and visitors ages 2+ must wear a mask that covers the nose and mouth to enter the Museum. Parents visiting with children who have ASD and similar processing differences are encouraged to let our staff know.
• We will check your temperature before entry using thermal scanners like in airports. You’ll proceed to the hand sanitizing bars and then scan your online reservation at the box office. It’s all contactless!
• Our robust cleaning practices have leveled up! A larger cleaning crew – one for each gallery – will constantly disinfect surfaces, components and “high touch” areas, like door handles and elevator buttons.
• Wipes and “dirty bins” will be available for used toys.
• We’ve installed 50-sneeze guards, 24-hand sanitizing stations, two hand sanitizing bars, HEPA filters, additional UV lights in our air ducts and removed 48-hands-on components.
• We circulate fresh air in our building frequently each day.
• Deep cleaning with oxychlorine disinfectant will occur nightly.
• Our staff will be required to wear masks and our educators will be at each gallery encouraging families to maintain six feet of physical distance.
• We’ve minimized hands-on components but maximized minds-on discoveries. Individualized “Epic Adventure” packs will be given to every child which will include all tools needed to complete their adventure – no sharing!
• One entry point. One exit point. Dedicated, separate entrances and exits will be clearly marked for each purpose and staff will be on hand to facilitate and monitor the process.

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• In accordance with the recommendations by state, city and county public health officials, the Museum will re-open at 20% capacity to allow for proper social distancing (a little over 100 visitors max. at a time).
• Timed entry tickets for pre-reserved entry and exit times will ensure a consistent flow for visitors.
• Our Epic Adventure Scavenger Hunt is all about maintaining physical distance from other visitors while still experiencing all the museum has to offer.  You’ll get to experience each gallery with just a couple of other families while following a one-way scavenger hunt.
• You will see our staff throughout the museum monitoring the number of visitors in and out of our galleries and other public spaces and encouraging physical distancing.
• Signage and our staff will encourage social distancing, hand washing and other safe behavior.

• In order to make sure we can effectively monitor social distancing, the following exhibits will NOT be open at this time: Tot*Spot, Challenge Course, Power Tower.
• Groups, birthday parties and rentals are temporarily on hold.

• We recommend you purchase your tickets in advance and will do our best to accommodate walk-up visitors based on availability.  Link will go live soon!
• Timed entry reservations are available every half hour starting at 10:00 am Wednesday to Saturday and Sunday starting at noon. The final reservation of the day is at 4:30 pm. Please keep in mind our doors close at 6 pm.
• Your tickets are valid for a 2.5 hour visit which will allow you to complete your Epic Adventure! You can visit the museum anytime within the 2.5 hours of your purchased admission time.
• If you purchase a ticket and are not able to visit, just let us know 24 hours before your visit date and time so that we can make room for others. If you would like to reschedule your visit or receive a refund, please contact onlinetickets@cmhouston.org and include your order number, which can be found in your confirmation email.

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Please contact onlinetickets@cmhouston.org to receive an order number. Bring both your online reservation and the physical ticket or pass during your scheduled visit.

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Yes! Please be assured that existing memberships will be automatically extended the length of our closure to ensure you have your full 12 months of free admission. No action is required.

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• If you’re an Open Doors organization, you will be notified via e-mail on how your individual recipients can make an online reservation.  Due to social distancing requirements, we are currently not allowing groups to visit.
• If you have an Open Doors pass that hasn’t been redeemed, please reach out to opendoors@cmhouston.org to receive an order number.  Please bring both your online reservation and the physical pass during your scheduled visit.

• SNAP and TANF benefit recipients may reserve tickets online using promo code: TXAP
• SNAP and TANF recipients must bring online reservation and award letter for the current month or present their current shopping list or a store receipt that shows the date within the month that they’re visiting along with a valid state issued photo ID. Recipients may also use the website or mobile app as verification.

Texas Lone Star card holders may reserve tickets online using promo code: TXAP

Texas Lone Star card holder must be present, bring online reservation, a valid state issued photo ID and show one of the following to gain admission:

• Award letter for the current month you are using the card
• The app on your phone with the expiration date
• A recent receipt that shows that you are using the card

• WIC benefit recipients may reserve tickets online using promo code:  TXAP
• WIC recipients must bring online reservation and award letter for the current month or present their current shopping list or a store receipt that shows the date within the month that they’re visiting along with a valid state issued photo ID.