Hours of Operation

Tuesday– Sunday

10:00 AM – 5:00 PM*

*To ensure the best experience, we close our gates at 4:30 PM. No entry will be allowed after this time.

Holiday Closures:

We are closed on Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.

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Admissions

•    Members: Free
•    Infants (under 1 year): Free
•    General Admission: $16.00
•    Seniors (60+) & Military/Veterans: $14.00

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Address

116 Marion St NE | Salem OR 97301

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Parking

Check Parking and Directions Page

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Questions

(503) 371-3631

Become a Member

Welcome to Gilbert House Children’s Museum, where learning is an adventure!

We're a place where hands-on play sparks curiosity, creativity, and discovery. Located in the heart of Salem, our museum is a community where children and their grown-ups can explore, create, and learn together. Come discover our 20+ exhibits, expansive Outdoor Discovery Area, and endless opportunities for fun!

Inspiring

Children

To

Learn

Through

Creative

Play

*

Inspiring Children To Learn Through Creative Play *

What’s Happening?

Calendar of home school adventures shows monthly programs like Mission to Mars and Storybook Play.

Join the Community

Book Your Party

Join The Fun

There is always something inventive, imaginative, and fun happening here!

Explore Our Exhibits

Don't just look—play! Our exhibits are waiting for you to jump in and explore.

Explore

Memberships

A joyful mother and her smiling daughter looking directly at the camera while engaging in creative play with colorful pompoms.

Gilbert Family

$140 for 1 year

Admission for 2 named adults and up to 4 children in the same household.

Join the Fun!

A parent kneels as two toddlers, one in a red shirt and one in a pink polka-dot dress, enthusiastically play together in a large, sandy construction zone with yellow toy dump trucks.

Gilbert Family Plus

$170 for 1 year

Admission for 2 named adults and up to 4 children in the same household.

+ 2 guests every visit

Join the Fun!

Admission for 2 named adults and up to 4 children in the same household.

+ 2 guests every visit

+ 1 named grandparent or caregiver

A happy young couple and two children sit at a small outdoor café table in a garden setting, laughing and connecting, illustrating family enjoyment.

Gilbert Family Extended

$210 for 1 year

Join the Fun!

Admission for 2 named adults and up to 4 children in the same household.

ACCESS Memberships are available by application to families who qualify for assistance through the programs listed below and have an annual income of $50,000 or less before taxes. Proof of eligibility is required as part of the application process.

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Access Member

$70 for 1 year

Apply Here

PLAY… It's what we do…

Programs

Gilbert House Children’s Museum is your go-to spot for awesome classes, exciting field trips, and cool activities!

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We offer a variety of experiences that ignite curiosity and inspire wonder. You can register for all our classes online!

Learn more

Ignite curiosity and foster a love for science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) through hands-on exploration! Gilbert House Children's Museum offers a unique and engaging environment, perfect for schools seeking inspiring educational experiences.

Learn more

Colorful illustration featuring the words 'Science Time' repeated multiple times, with various scientific icons such as a microscope, magnet, atom, molecular structure, lightbulb, and laboratory glassware in hexagonal frames, and a small sign reading 'Science Lab'.

Become a scientist during Science Time every day from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM! Our educators lead young explorers through guided experiences designed to spark curiosity and bring our "Wonder. Question. Discover." philosophy to life. These interactive sessions encourage kids to engage deeply with the world around them, asking big questions and finding answers through hands-on exploration and educator-led experiments. Free with admission!

Learn more

Girl flies over a rainbow with an book as a parachute, symbolizing imaginative storytime activity.

Enjoy weekly storytime every Friday at 11:30 4:00 PM! After Zach reads a new story, kids can craft a puppet or character from the tale. Free with admission!

Learn more

Get ready for a summer of adventure and discovery! Our summer camps at Gilbert House Children's Museum are led by experienced educators who make learning an absolute blast. Through hands-on, creative activities, we'll explore all the best parts of the museum. It's the perfect recipe for a fun and unforgettable summer!

Learn more

Whether you’re looking for a fun place for your kids or students to experience learning through play, or you want to bring science magic to your school, daycare, or library, we have everything you need.

What People are Saying

Gilbert House Testimonial Carousel

The Gilbert House is so much fun! I grew up going and recently took my daughter, and she was so happy to be there.

- Paige S

Opportunities for imaginative play seem to dwindle as our kids get older. Having a shared space like Gilbert House, where kids of all ages—and even their parents!—are encouraged to play, makes Salem a truly special place to raise a family.

- Kelle E

A membership at Gilbert House is so important to our family because we feel it's crucial to get our children out of the house and into a learning environment where they can be kids, use their imaginations, and grow their minds!

- Sean S

I've been going to the Gilbert House since I was a child and I want my kids to have the same experience. It is also a great sensory experience for one of my children who has autism.

- Michelle R

We were blown away by our first visit! I don't think I've ever seen our boys having so much fun. It's an amazing place to bring them even on rainy days where they can be engaged and have space to be themselves.

- Khalicia W

My sons love the Gilbert House. My dad used to take me when I was younger, and we created so many memories. I want to create those same memories with my kids!

- Dalia

We love the Gilbert House because it is such a fun, engaging, and safe place to play! We love learning and having fun all in one place and we love being able to grow here!

- Jessica K

My son went on a school field trip and we fell in love with the diversity of activities and things to learn and explore.

- Scott L

My two special needs kids love it here. It's good for their development, social skills, and sensory needs.

- Tanya L

My children are homeschooled and thrive at the museum. It's a very enriching environment for them and a place we can enjoy whatever the weather.

- Roxy

My son was diagnosed with autism last November, so finding activities for him to do outside our home is very limited. We have only taken him to the Gilbert House once, and he loved it so much! He was comfortable in the environment and enjoyed every second.

- Megan C

As a single father, I enjoy taking my kids to the Gilbert House to help create fun memories with them!

- Jonathan W

We love it there! Making memories is so important, and the kids can learn so much with such an amazing variety of hands-on activities. It has always been a favorite family place!

- Tiffany G

I brought my kids, and they had a blast! I loved that it felt safe and I wasn't stressed. It's amazing how many different activities there are for the kids.

- Renee P

We've been going here since my daughter was two. It is one of the most affordable, fun things for kids to do in Salem. We love the options of playing inside on rainy days and outside on sunny days.

- Kyle H

This place is incredible—part theme park, playground, and children's museum all in one! We were not expecting all of the activities. My kids had a blast and we could certainly spend the whole day here.

- Ahmad B.

I took my 9-month-old here, and we both loved it! She had a blast, and I was so happy to find a space that was perfect for her age.

- Kendra

We love everything about this place! The staff are amazing, and my kids (ages 7 and 9) love every exhibit. We can easily spend hours here weekly, and it never gets old.

- Emily H.

Your Donation Helps Us Build Imagination

While admissions and memberships help us with daily operations, your donations are absolutely crucial. They allow us to go beyond the everyday and build new, impactful exhibits, expand vital programs, and host special events like our Community Play Day. Your contribution ensures that we can continue to inspire young minds and provide broad access to all families.

Support Imagination