130 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14202play into
possibilities
Become a Member
Experience the power of play all year long with annual membership plans!
Field Trips & Outreaches
For Educators: Visit with your class or we can bring the fun to you!
Make a Donation
We are over 95% self-funded so every donation makes a difference!
Birthdays & Rentals
Make memories at our museum! Perfect for parties and events. Unique spaces for all occasions.
2025 & 2026 Winner: Best Destination for a Child’s Birthday (Best of 716)
Exhibits & Play Spaces
Our three jaw-dropping exhibit floors tell the unique story of Buffalo and what makes us proud to be from Western New York in fun and educational ways!
Terms & Conditions Apply
With the purchase of a physical gift card, ticket will be mailed. For all digital gift card orders, ticket will be saved digitally and can be redeemed upon guestโs next visit. Tickets and membership codes expire one (1) year from date of purchase.
All purchases result in a discount code issued digitally to the email provided at checkout. The discount code can also be found on the receipt at the time of purchase. The code can then be used to activate or renew a membership online, in person, over the phone, or via email. All ticket and membership codes expire one (1) year from date of purchase.
This deal cannot be applied to prior purchases and cannot be stacked. All orders may take 3-5 business day to process.
Offer expires December 31, 2026.
Mini-Golf Night for Grown-Ups on November 7
We’re turning the museum into a miniature golf course just for grown-ups! Join us on Saturday, November 7 for Fore & More, a 21+ event! Check-in is at 5:30pm. Putting begins at 6pm. Powered by Puttering Around Mobile Mini Golf
Get ready for a Paw-Some Adventure! Explore & More is joining Gabbyโs Dollhouse MEOWseum Discovery Days on open museum days from November 6-15, 2026 in partnership with DreamWorks Animation and the Association of Childrenโs Museums.
What to Expect
Cat-tastic Photo Opportunity: Snap a picture with a magical Gabbyโs Dollhouse backdrop and life-size Gabby standee! Perfect for sharing those adorable moments.
Find the Gabby Cats scavenger hunt: Help us find Gabbyโs fairy cat best friendshiding throughout the museum!
Creative Activities: Join us for activities celebrating imagination, curiosity, and teamwork.
DJ Catnip Dance Parties: Boogie to your favorite Gabbyโs Dollhouse tunes!
Plan your visit
Whether you’re coming for the 1st time or the 100th, here is what you need to know about your trip to Explore & More!
Upcoming Events
What’s New?
The first featured exhibit in our brand-new Temporary Exhibit Gallery is Science + You, a child-size laboratory! This exhibit will be on display through January 9, 2027!
Featured Classes
TODDLER TIME: $20 (includes class and museum admission for 1 child + 1 guardian)
Great for ages 18mo-3yrs
UPCOMING CLASSES:
Saturday, November 21 – 9am-10am | Turkey Tots
Saturday, December 12 – 9am-10am | Jingle Bell Jam
About Explore & More
A world-class childrenโs museum that celebrates the power of child-led play, Explore & More – The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Childrenโs Museum features 43,000 sq. feet of fun in downtown Buffalo. The museum, which opened in its new location in 2019, sits at the crossroads of replica canals and bridges that have become year-round community destinations at Canalside.
#5 Children’s Museum in the Country (USA TODAY 10Best Readersโ Choice Awards, 2026)
Best Family Activity (Buffalo Spree 2026 Best of WNY Winner)
Best Destination for a Child’s Birthday Party (Best of 716, 2025 & 2026)
Nonprofit Company of the Year (Buffalo Business First, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
Yes! Explore & More was named the #5 children’s museum in the country in USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Poll in 2026.
Explore & More was also awarded 2026’s Best Family Activity and 2025’s Best Programming for Kids in Western New York by Buffalo Spree.
The museum has ranked #1 on KidsOutAndAbout.comโs list of Places to Take Kids in Buffalo in 2024 and 2025, was named Buffalo Spreeโs Best Family Destination in Winter in 2024, and won Best Customer Service in 2024’s Best of 716 voting. Explore & More was also named a favorite museum and a favorite indoor attraction in 2025’s Best of 716 readers’ poll.
In October 2026, Explore & More was named Buffalo Business First’s Nonprofit Company of the Year.
The 43,000 sq. ft. museum features three floors of exhibits that showcase the history, innovation and wonder of Buffalo and Western New York. At our Canalside location, we are accessible to over 225,000 children under the age of 15, and more than 1.3 million total people in the 50 miles surrounding the museum. While kids (and adults) of all ages will find fun things to see and do, toddlers through third graders tend to engage the most with our exhibits.
Yes! Admission is just $16 for adults and kids ages 1 & up. Admission is free for children under 1.
Members get in free, too! Our Guest Services staff can help find the perfect membership plan for you and your family. Just give us a call at 716-655-5131.
The Low Bridge Cafรฉ, located on the museumโs first floor, offers tasty and affordable snack options and ice cream bars. No outside food or drink is allowed inside the museum (unless your child has food sensitivity or allergies).
Yes! Explore & More was founded on the belief that every child deserves the right to play, laugh, and learn.
Through exhibits that highlight neighbors from all over the world, bilingual signage, cultural activities, Au-Some Evenings, and opportunities for children who might not otherwise be able to visit, we are continually considering ways to be more inclusive.
Explore & More in invested in creating a museum that delights children with all abilities. We have developed customized visual, social, communicative, sensory and behavioral supports throughout the museum. We invite our guests to check out our sensory-friendly backpacks, utilize in-museum universal changing tables, or take a break in one of our sensory-friendly rooms.
We sure do! All activities within our Tinkering Tank, Art Studio and Cooking Galley are free with the price of admission during museum hours.
Explore & More is licensed through the New York State Office of Child and Family Services as a child care center so the museum is able to offer a variety of day camps all year long, from select days off from school to summer vacation. Members receive a special discount. Specialty classes like Toddler Time are also available for an additional fee.
And donโt forget about events like Grown Up Night of Play for adults that are scheduled throughout the year.
You bet! Explore & More is an awesome place to host a birthday party or any other special event. We were named Best Destination for a Child’s Birthday in the 2025 and 2026 Best of 716 readers’ polls. Our Celebration Room provides a great space to host parties, professional development, or teambuilding exercises. You can also rent out the Gathering Hall, Rooftop Terrace or even the entire museum! Email bookings@exploreandmore.org for more information.
Explore & More is over 95% self-funded so the support of the community is critical to the museum’s survival. Please consider making a donation to the museum today. Every dollar is appreciated.
Sponsorship opportunities are available as well – please email info@exploreandmore.org for details.
We are also always looking for volunteers to assist us in fulfilling our mission. Please click here for details.
