Visitor Guidelines & FAQ
We’re dedicated to joyful learning, creativity, and community — a place where children and families come together to explore, create, and play. To help ensure everyone has a safe, fun, and welcoming experience, please review our visitor guidelines and helpful FAQs below.
You’ll find important information on tickets, hours, museum policies, accessibility, and more — all organized in easy-to-browse sections to help you plan your visit.
For general questions, please email us at [email protected]. If you know the department you need, you can find contact information—including email addresses and phone numbers—in the FAQ section below.
Safe Space Policy & How to Reach Us
CMOM is dedicated to providing a safe, welcoming, and respectful environment for all children and caregivers. Our mission is to foster curiosity, early development, and joy through inclusive, hands-on learning.
We value the diversity of our community and expect all visitors to treat one another—and our staff—with respect and kindness, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, or ability.
To support a positive environment, we ask that visitors:
- Avoid verbal or physical confrontations
- Follow museum rules, including using designated stroller parking and no food/drink in exhibits
- Refrain from behavior that is threatening, disrespectful, discriminatory, or disruptive
CMOM does not permit harassment, hate speech, racism, or any conduct that puts others at risk.
Visitors who compromise the safety or well-being of others may be asked to leave, and in serious or repeated cases, access may be permanently revoked.
Thank you for helping us ensure CMOM remains a safe and joyful space for all.
- General Info: 212-721-1223 | [email protected]
- Ticketing | [email protected]
- Membership: 212-721-1234 | [email protected]
- Early Childhood Classes: 212-721-1226 | [email protected]
- Guided Group Visits: 212-721-1225 | [email protected]
- Development Department: 347-341-7458 | [email protected]
Planning Your Visit
October – June:
Tuesday – Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm and federal holiday Mondays
July – September:
Monday – Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm
Yes! Tickets to CMOM are easy to purchase and we participate with many programs to provide discounted and free admission.
- All visitors must have a ticket for entry.
- Visitors are allowed to re-enter the museum throughout the day of their visit.
- Members are required to show their membership card upon entry.
Information on admission rates can be found in our Visit section. You can save one dollar by purchasing online in advance!
/If you have a Cool Culture Pass, please do the following for a seamless visit:
- The Cool Culture pass provides free general admission for up to 5 guests, including the card holder
- A valid photo ID is required to verify the Family Pass holder’s last name
- For groups of more than 5, admission fees apply to additional guests
- Nannies and caregivers may only use the Family Pass when the cardholder is present.
No, CMOM does not have a café or dining area. However, you are welcome to leave and return throughout the day to enjoy nearby dining options where we have discounts available. Just ask for a return sticker from Security or Guest Services at the door!
No. For the safety and comfort of all visitors—especially those with food allergies—outside food and snacks are not permitted inside CMOM.
We do allow water and baby formula. We kindly ask that you use spill-proof containers whenever possible to help protect our exhibits.
We appreciate your cooperation in keeping our exhibits clean and safe for all children.
We provide complimentary Stroller & Coat Check using Chexology, a digital system. This provides a more streamlined process for our visitors and attendants and everything is connected to your personal phone number!
Yes! CMOM is committed to providing an inclusive experience for all visitors. The museum is wheelchair accessible, however please note that the Lower Level of the Dynamic H2O exhibition has limited accessibility.
We offer a fully accessible restroom on the Third Floor and an ambulatory accessible restroom on the Lower Level.
We also have accessible elevators and stroller parking. If you need assistance during your visit, our staff is happy to help.
Personal care attendants accompanying visitors with disabilities receive free admission.
Restrooms are available on the Lower Level and the Third Floor, both with infant changing tables. A fully wheelchair accessible restroom is available on the Third Floor, with an ambulatory accessible restroom on the Lower Level.
We are happy to work with a variety of programs like Cool Culture, etc. Just show your card at the desk and get your tickets. Currently you are not able to book these tickets on our website, but we always have tickets set-aside on-site for these partners! Check out our full list of partners.
All partner, discounted and complimentary tickets must be redeemed in person at our Admissions desk. For information on what programs we participate in and what offers each one provides, check out our page with more information.
We have all been there! If we find items that are missing their owner, we keep lost items for 30 days at our Stroller & Coat Check area.
To report or claim a lost item, please fill out our Lost & Found form. A team member will contact you if your item is found.
Visitor Guidelines
We ask that adults only supervise their own children. If you have a concern about another visitor’s behavior, please notify a CMOM staff member—we’re here to help!
First Aid kids are available on-site should they be needed.
We know some children may need quieter areas. While CMOM can be lively, we encourage you to explore different spaces within the Museum or ask a staff member for suggestions on less busy areas. Sensory Kits are also available to borrow at no additional cost during your visit. Each kit is designed to help children regulate, refocus, and feel at ease.
CMOM is designed for hands-on exploration, and we love seeing kids engaged and excited! To ensure a safe visit:
- Keep an eye on your child at all times.
- Encourage gentle play—exhibits and materials should be used with care.
- Climbing is only allowed in designated areas built for active play.
We encourage movement and active play, but for safety, we ask that children walk while inside the Museum. There are plenty of fun spaces for climbing and jumping in designated areas!
To ensure clear pathways and safe spaces for all visitors to move and play, we provide complimentary stroller check at the entrance. This helps keep our exhibits open and accessible for everyone. We also want to be sure that we have emergency exists always clear and not cause any fire and safety concerns.
Health & Safety
We understand that illness happens, especially with our audience being little ones. Please reach out to [email protected], and we will do our best to accommodate you to another date!
For General Visitation tickets only. Registered programs and special events not included.
For health, safety, and cleanliness, we ask that children keep their shoes on throughout the museum, except in designated baby and toddler barefoot areas:
- Baby Grand Central (Lower Level): Shoes must be removed before entering.
- Baby Steps in PlayWorks (Third Floor): Babies and toddlers may be barefoot in this space.
Yes! We take cleanliness very seriously and ensure that our spaces and the facility are cleaned regularly. We also provide hand sanitizer in a variety of easy-to-access locations for those who would like to use it.
We take cleanliness and hygiene seriously at CMOM! Our exhibits are cleaned daily throughout the day to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all visitors. Our Clean Team is on staff, regularly checking and sanitizing exhibit spaces, restrooms, and floors. You’ll often see them making their rounds to keep everything fresh and tidy, so you can focus on having fun! If you ever need assistance or notice something that needs attention, just let a staff member know—we’re happy to help
In the case of anyone getting hurt, we have First Aid kits available on-site. Caregivers should ask any CMOM staff member for assistance and we are happy to provide help immediately.
Membership & Discounts
We encourage all members to reserve tickets online prior to arriving here at CMOM. Reserve your tickets here.
Yes. This can be done within two weeks of your visit. Please visit our admission desk with your receipt or contact us at [email protected] or at 212-721-1234.
Yes. Up to one month after expiration, please contact us at [email protected] or at 212-721-1234.
Yes. You can purchase a gift membership online here or contact us at [email protected] or 212-721-1234.
Please visit the Membership page for more information.
You can access your digital membership card via the eMembership Card app using your Member ID for log in. Instructions to download your card can be found here.
Yes. Your caregiver can bring the children under your membership. Please provide the caregiver with a print or digital copy of the reservation confirmation email and the digital membership card.
Please contact us at [email protected] or 212-721-1234.
Please contact us at [email protected] or 212-721-1234, and we can retrieve your membership number.
No. All memberships to the CMOM are nontransferable and nonrefundable. We are appreciative of your support as members, and your membership helps fund our mission and keeps CMOM accessible to all families.
We encourage you to reserve a ticket on our website using the member ID provided by your library. Upon arrival, please present a copy of your reservation confirmation email and the pass provided to you by your library.
Yes. Please email [email protected] for more information.
We encourage you to reserve a ticket on our website using the member ID provided by your company. Upon arrival, please present a copy of your reservation confirmation email.
If you do not have a reservation, you must present a photo ID company badge upon arrival.
Your caregiver can bring the children to the Museum under your company’s corporate membership. Please provide the caregiver with a print or digital copy of the reservation confirmation email.
Yes. You can double the amount of your membership contribution through your employer’s matching gifts program. For more information, please contact us at [email protected] or call us at 212-721-1234.
Education & Classes
Yes! We have year round registered classes for children with our wonderful educators. You can sign-up for email to stay notified when registration opens, and visit our Education page to learn more.
Currently, we do not provide drop-off camps.
We have programs throughout the year for School Groups and Camps during the Summer. Sign-up for email and bookmark this page to learn more about the offerings.
CMOM hosts a variety of School Residencies where we come to your schools and bring selected curriculum into your facility, for your students! Learn more about options here.
Other Common Questions
At this time, we no longer offer birthday party services. However, we invite you to explore our variety of other programs and events designed for families and children.
The Upper West Side is filled with wonderful restaurants, parks, and other cultural institutions to visit. Plan your day at CMOM and include a visit to one of two great parks nearby.
Riverside Park’s entrance on 83rd Street has a beautiful playground and ample benches for picnics. Three blocks east of the Museum is Central Park where there are ball fields, fountains, playgrounds and plenty of space for picnicking.
CMOM has a list of restaurants with discounts and offers. Check them out for your next visit!
CMOM recognizes that there are many wonderful organizations supporting children in the tri-state area. We are happy to donate a limited number of complimentary memberships. Please email [email protected] for more information.
Yes! CMOM will be moving in 2028 to a fabulous larger building on 96th and Central Park West. Until then we look forward to seeing you and your family at 83rd street! Learn more about our future home.
Important Visitor Information
By visiting CMOM and any of its offsite events and programs, you agree to release, waive, discharge, and covenant not to sue the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) or its affiliated entities, directors, board members, employees, staff, members, volunteers, vendors, agents, representatives, attorneys, predecessors, successors and assigns (collectively, Releasees) from any and all liability for any loss or damage incurred by you or any child or anyone else under your care, direction or supervision (Releasors) and any claim or demands, for any and all injuries incurred while visiting CMOM, any of its offsite locations, events and programs or participating in any CMOM activity, whether or not caused by the negligence of any of the Releasees. You further agree that you and all Releasors release, waive, discharge, and covenant not to sue the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) or any Releasees from any and all liability for any loss or damage, and any claim or demands, and any and all injuries incurred while visiting CMOM or any CMOM offsite location or participating in any CMOM activity, whether or not caused by the negligence of any of the Releasees during this and future visits to CMOM and any of its offsite locations, events and programs. You further agree to indemnify and hold harmless CMOM and the Releasees from and against any and all claims, causes of action or lawsuits, attorneys fees and expenses, for liability, damages, compensation or otherwise brought by you, and any child and anyone under your care or under your supervision or any other Releasor, including any attorneys; fees and related costs and medical bills and costs which may arise related to a visit to CMOM or any CMOM offsite location or event or participation in any CMOM activity on or off premises.
By purchasing a ticket and entering CMOM, you acknowledge and agree that you and any minors in your party may be photographed or recorded for promotional purposes. These images or videos may be used by CMOM in marketing materials, on our website, social media, advertising, and other non-commercial promotional content. CMOM will not sell or license any images of visitors for third-party commercial use.
If you have concerns or wish to avoid photography, please speak to a staff member upon arrival.