130 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14202The children’s museum also celebrated the completion of a recent capital project and recognition by USA Today as the 5th-best children’s museum in the country
Explore & More – The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Children’s Museum announced Wednesday the second phase of its construction plans, which include transforming the Moving Water exhibit on the second floor into a temporary exhibit space this fall, the further expansion of the third floor to add a Creativity Lab, as well as plans to enclose the fourth-floor outdoor terrace to build an exhibit & play space that can be used year-round.
The Temporary Exhibit Gallery is scheduled to open in mid-September. The first exhibit featured will be Science + You, a groundbreaking interactive children’s exhibit showcasing the importance of science in promoting health and wellness.
“I couldn’t be more excited about the future of Explore & More. We added so many wonderful and necessary elements in the first phase of construction, so why stop now?” said President & CEO Michelle Urbanczyk. “We have become a destination for families from near and far because of our belief that every child deserves the right to play. Phase II of construction enables us to strategically utilize every square inch of the museum so that we can continue to provide a best-in-class experience. All of this is possible through the support of the community, local businesses, organizations like the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, and officials at New York State, Erie County, and the City of Buffalo – just to name a few.”
The first phase of construction, which began in fall 2023, included security upgrades, a re-imagined lobby featuring a new Guest Services and Gift Shop experience, an expansion of the third floor to include the M&T Bank Celebration Room, renovations to the Low Bridge Café, new and updated exhibits on each floor, and updated graphics. The construction project culminated this past month with the installation of an exhibit in the lobby featuring a timeline of the life of Ralph C. Wilson, Jr., allowing children to see that Mr. Wilson was once a kid just like them and that they can grow up to be anything they can dream of.
Explore & More made the announcements at a press event at the museum Wednesday morning, which also featured remarks from Mrs. Mary Wilson (Board Chair & Life Trustee of The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation), U.S. Congressman Timothy M. Kennedy, New York State Assemblymember Jonathan Rivera, Karen Utz (Regional Director of Western New York at Empire State Development), Mark Wendel (President of Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation), and Buffalo Common Council Member Mitch Nowakowski.
Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York State is committed to building vibrant, inclusive communities, and Explore & More Children’s Museum stands as a shining anchor of Canalside’s economic and cultural rebirth. By transforming our waterfront into a world-class destination for families, this museum does more than just welcome visitors—it actively drives regional tourism, supports local businesses, and injects long-term economic vitality into downtown Buffalo.”
Erie County Deputy County Executive Lisa M. Chimera said, “Explore & More is an invaluable resource for our region, providing children and families with a welcoming place to learn, play and discover. Erie County is proud to support the museum’s continued growth, its commitment to creating meaningful employment opportunities for people with disabilities, and its important role in strengthening Canalside and our waterfront. Congratulations to Michelle Urbanczyk, the board, staff and every partner who helped make these improvements and this beautiful tribute to Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. possible.”
Science + You opening September 2026
The 2,000 square-foot Science + You exhibit offers a child-sized laboratory where children can explore how scientists impact health and wellness. Through hands-on, interactive machinery, processes and technology, Science + You demonstrates the role science plays in keeping the body healthy. A demonstration area of the exhibit also will allow visiting scientists and educators to perform fun and interactive scientific experiments appropriate for young children.
The exhibit was created by Kohl Children’s Museum of Greater Chicago, located in Glenview, Illinois, working with scientists from Abbott Laboratories. Since its debut there in 2011, the exhibit has traveled to museums in Washington, D.C. and San Francisco, as well as internationally to Germany and Brazil.
Science + You will be on display September 26, 2026 through January 9, 2027. Other upcoming temporary exhibits include Hero Quest, Storyland, and Monsters on Vacation.
The demolition of Moving Water will begin in September. Explore & More will hold a “Last Splash” event on August 29 and 30 during regular museum hours, where children can experience their favorite aspects of the exhibit one final time before construction begins.
We’re officially ‘a handful’
At the event, the museum also celebrated its recent recognition by USA Today, in which it placed fifth in the 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards’ rankings of the nation’s best children’s museums. The museum would like to thank the Western New York community for their support. Without their votes each day, a Top 5 showing would not have been possible.
The USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards is USA Today’s flagship awards program, highlighting the best of the best in various travel and lifestyle categories, including destinations, food and drink, and attractions.
Locally, Explore & More was just named the Buffalo Spree 2026 Best of WNY Winner for Best Family Activity and is currently nominated for five Best of 716 Awards, including Best Museum and Best Destination for a Child’s Birthday Party.
