Our Mission | Inspiring Children to Learn Through Creative Play
Our Vision | Empower our community to ignite intergenerational exploration and discovery
Photo by Zak Stone
Gilbert House Children's Museum is comprised of 20 hands-on exhibits, our Outdoor Discovery Area, camps, field trips, membership opportunities, and educational programs in the sciences, arts, and humanities. The Museum is composed of five historic houses; the Rockenfield House, Gilbert House, Parrish House, Little Gem, and Wilson-Durbin House
The Gilbert House Children's Museum is a private nonprofit 501(c)(3) children's museum connected to downtown Salem's Riverfront Park. Founded in 1989, Gilbert House Children's Museum provides innovative and stimulating educational experiences which spark children's natural curiosity. The Museum is named after Salem native, A.C. Gilbert, an extraordinary scholar, inventor, Olympic athlete and gold medalist, entrepreneur, and magician. An advocate of learning through play, Gilbert was the proud inventor of the Erector Set, the inspiration for our giant outdoor Erector Set, the highlight of our 20,000 ft² Outdoor Discovery Area.
