Explore & More is proud to celebrate 30-plus years of bringing the power of play to children and their families. We can’t help but look back on our roots with pride and gratitude.

Since the museum first opened in 1994, we have grown up alongside countless Western New Yorkers who came to play and share their smiles with us. We have been honored to be there through milestones and in treasured memories for families across our region and beyond.

Our first location was a 500-square foot basement schoolroom in East Aurora, NY, where an all-volunteer staff saw 1,000 visitors in that first year. We eventually grew to serve over 60,000 children and their families in a beloved 6,000-square foot facility on Gleed Avenue.

We have since expanded our footprint as we also expand our reach. Our new 43,000-square foot, four-story home at Canalside in downtown Buffalo opened in 2019, increasing our accessibility to visitors from across the state, as well as Erie, PA and Southern Ontario. The children who first visited us in East Aurora are now bringing their kids to Explore & More, and we can’t wait for the next generation to come make memories with their children.

We have stayed focused on the founding principle that play is essential to healthy brain development in children. As an anchor tenant of Canalside, we hope to be a welcoming community center that invites all families to play, wonder, discover, learn, and grow together.