Admissions
Admission to the Museum is called Pay As You Will which means that it is by donation only. This admission model is the only one of its kind among children’s museums in the nation and has been recognized with a national award from the Association of Children’s Museum and as a finalist for the IMLS National Medal of Honor.
Pay As You Will admission is supported by Puyallup Tribe of Indians Charity Trust and US Bank Foundation. KeyBank is a founding Pay As You Will partner.
All donations made through Pay As You Will support the Museum and keep it accessible for every family in our community.
Why Pay As You Will is Important
At the Children’s Museum of Tacoma we want to ensure that every child and family can come play, so we offer Pay As You Will admission. Please consider making a donation of admission – at any level – when visiting the Museum. Your support of Pay As You Will admission means we will be able to serve more families everyday!
Historically, the Children’s Museum of Tacoma has offered free admission through a number of programs: First Fridays Free, Library Passes and Free Market Play days. In 2010, almost 50% of the Museum’s visitors took advantage of one of these access programs. One-third of these visitors are low income. When the Museum opened it’s current facility Pay As You Will Admission offered a greater capacity to reach more families, engage more children in playful learning and support more parents.
Your membership supports Pay As You Will admission for families in our community
Museum Membership
Free Access, member only hours and programs, perks, and more…
Benefits of becoming a member
Not sure about becoming a member? Read about our member only programs.
Other ways to play
Group Visits
Schedule your Group Visit to enhance classroom learning, spark creative spirit and promote community building. Seeking more from your museum experience? Arrange an enrichment group visit featuring an additional 30 minutes and facilitated workshop for you and your students to enjoy.
Blue Star Museums
Memorial Day through Labor Day
The Children’s Museum is honored to be a part of the Blue Star Museums program. Organized through a collaboration of the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families and Department of Defense, Blue Star Museums offers free admission to military members and their families at thousands of museums across the United States. Find a museum near you.
Culture Kids
Qualifying children age 0-5 and their families are invited to enjoy music, dance, paintings, theater, history, art and more – for FREE- and several museums and theaters in our community.
Culture Kids offers young children in Tacoma Head Start, ECEAP and other qualifying programs free arts and culture experience before their 5th birthday. If a child in your care is enrolled in one of these programs, please ask your teacher for a pass or visit artsandculturecoalition.org/culture-kids.
Foster Playful Families
The Children’s Museum of Tacoma is proud to support our community by providing free memberships for all foster care families in Pierce County. To sign up a foster family for a free membership visit the Admissions Desk at the Museum and bring your guardianship documentation.
- All membership benefits above for one household for one year
- Children can bring any two adults as chaperones
For more information please email or call Miranda Owen at 253-627-6031 ext 228