Exhibits

Conestoga Wagon

Conestoga Wagon outside with owl sculpture
Step back in time and climb aboard our authentic Conestoga wagon! Imagine what life was like for pioneer families traveling west as you explore this covered wagon filled with period toys and activities.

Pneumatics Air Tubes

Air tubes with plastic balls
Watch plastic balls zoom and soar through our network of clear air tubes! Discover the power of air pressure as you send balls flying on currents of wind through twists, turns, and tunnels.

Trains

small boy playing at a giant table of trains with a train mural in the background
All aboard! Build your own railway at our expansive train table, then climb into our real caboose with an interactive busy board that brings the sounds of the railroad to life. Sponsored by Pacific Union

Water Table

outdoor water table with various layers and obstructions
Splash into hands-on science at our multi-level water table! Guide boats and fish through flowing currents as you navigate different layers and obstructions to discover how water moves and flows. Sponsored by Idaho Fish & Game

KTVB News Station

Kids' sized news station with spots for weather and regular reporting
Breaking news—you're the reporter! Dress up in blazers and ties, grab a microphone and script, then step in front of the camera at our news desk or green screen weather station to broadcast your own stories. Sponsored by KTVB

Outdoor Idaho

cookware on logs set up for a fire in front of a mural of mountains
Experience the great outdoors without leaving the museum! Cook by the campfire, hop on an ATV, paddle a canoe with life vests, and explore Idaho's wilderness through hands-on adventure and imaginative play.

Design, Build, Test

Room with rig-a-ma-jig building supplies, foam blocks, and bottle launchers.
Put your engineering skills to the test! Construct creative structures with foam building blocks and Rig-a-ma-jig pieces, or launch bottle rockets with our air shooters to explore the power of air pressure.

Conservation Cabin

inside a cabin with a bear chair, animal and plant posters, and environmental activities
Become a junior naturalist in our cozy cabin! Explore Idaho's wildlife through hands-on environmental activities, learn to identify animal scat, and discover local plants and animals while sitting in our bear chair.

Hot Air Balloon

Hot air ballon kids can step inside of next to wind tubes with parachute men
Take flight in our life-sized hot air balloon basket that sways as you soar! Watch parachute figures float in the wind tunnel, then discover how hot air balloons work through informational displays and books. Sponsored by CapEd Credit Union

Gona's Reading Ranch

Exhibit with pretend play horses kids can sit on, tree, white board with words and symbols
Saddle up at our reading ranch inspired by local author Miss Gona! Ride horses, send messages on a telegraph machine, create stories with magnetic words and images, and explore books in this literacy-filled western adventure. Sponsored by Carla Osbourne

Community Room

Room with STEM toys, giant legos, Snap Circuits, etc.
Build, create, and experiment with STEM activities, giant LEGO bricks, and Snap Circuits boards! This versatile space is also home to our camps and birthday parties, making it the perfect spot for learning and celebration.

Indoor Farm

Fake Cow in corner that kids can milk, plus fake river and stones
Experience farm life up close! Milk Penny the cow, explore a flowing river, and visit our egg incubator to watch baby chicks hatch and grow in this hands-on agricultural adventure.

Whoosh Air Tunnels

giant all of twisting tubes that fluffy balls fly through
Feel the power of wind as fluffy balls dance and fly through our air tunnels! Experiment with air currents and discover how wind works in this exciting, hands-on exhibit.

Mine

Entrance to mine with mining information graphic on the wall
Strike it rich in our mining adventure! Gear up with safety vests and headlamps to dig for gold and fill your wheelbarrow, while learning about gems, minerals, and real mining history.

ABC Workshop

room with giant wooden planks to build structures and magnetic wall with ball ramps and ledges
Build your imagination with LEGOs galore and wooden panels that connect to create house-like structures! Experiment with our magnetic wall by arranging tunnels and ramps to send plastic balls racing through your custom-designed course.

Zamzow's Barn

Inside barn with informational posters about farming and pretend play food
Discover where your food comes from! Explore nutrition through hands-on play with plastic food and learning plates, while discovering how plants grow, how cows are milked, and the journey from farm to table. Sponsored by Zamzow's

Pirate Ship

Pirate ship with ocean creatures
Ahoy, mateys! Climb aboard our indoor pirate ship jungle gym for high-seas adventure. Dress up in pirate costumes, search for treasure, and explore the ocean alongside stuffed sea creatures on your voyage!

Airplane

Giant Airplane kids can explore and play in
Ready for takeoff? Climb into our life-sized airplane and take the pilot's seat! Pack your luggage, check the flight board for destinations from Boise, and explore books about aviation and travel as you prepare for adventure.

Dino Dig

Outdoor area with dinosaur statues
Become a paleontologist in our outdoor excavation site! Dig through sand to uncover dinosaur fossils and explore prehistoric creatures in this hands-on archaeological adventure.

Gravity Cars

Cars lined up ready to go down a ramp with a timer at the bottom to see who wins
Ready, set, race! Mix and match car tops and bottoms to design the fastest vehicle, then send it down the ramp. Watch the monitor to see which car wins and check the times—experiment with different combinations to find the ultimate speed machine!

Toddler Town

Exhibit with little playgrounds, books, and toys for tots
A special space just for our littlest explorers (ages three and under)! Play with age-appropriate toys, playsets, dollhouses, stuffed animals, and books in this safe, engaging environment designed especially for toddlers.

Reptiles

Aquarium and tanks with reptiles and amphibians
Meet our scaly and slimy friends! Get up close with tree frogs, anoles, a bearded dragon, mourning geckos, a painted agama, a Russian tortoise, Leopard gecko, stick bugs, and fish in our live animal habitat.

Blue Blocks

Giant Blue blocks of different shapes and sizes in a fort-like structure
Build anything you can imagine with our giant blue blocks! This outdoor Imagination Playground features oversized blocks in all shapes and sizes for endless creative construction and collaborative play.

Chickens

Chicken coop outside with chickens inside
Visit our outdoor chicken coop and meet our feathered friends! Watch real chickens peck, scratch, and roam in their home while learning about farm life and where eggs come from.

Pollinator Area

Mural and Tube painted with pollinating animals and caterpillar play set
Buzz into the world of pollinators! Explore our colorful mural and painted tube featuring bees, butterflies, and other pollinating animals, then crawl through our caterpillar play set in this nature-inspired outdoor space. Sponsored by Garden Clubs of Idaho

Doctor's Office

Doctor's office exhibit with giant operation table, Skelly telly, x-rays, and other educational medical toys.
The doctor is in! Examine x-rays, use real medical tools at our giant operation table, and watch your skeleton move on the Skelly Telly's augmented reality screen as you explore the human body and play doctor. Sponsored by Independent Doctors of Idaho

Lite Brite

Giant Lite Brite board kids can put colored pegs into
Light up your creativity! Use colorful pegs on our two giant Lite Brite panels to design your own glowing masterpiece or recreate one of our patterns in this classic illuminated art experience.

Planetarium

Sign to Kid's Planetarium Entrance
Journey through the cosmos in our immersive planetarium! With eight different shows and daily showings, explore stars, planets, and the wonders of space from the comfort of our theater.

Peterson Car Garage

Blue Car in garage that kids can fix up
Rev up your mechanic skills! Change tires, honk the horn, flip turn signals, and work under the hood with our interactive busy board. Grab plastic tools and get hands-on with car repairs in this automotive adventure. Sponsored by Peterson Chevrolet

One Earth

Earth exhibit about energy, the environment, and natural disasters
Power up your planet knowledge! Crank our human-powered generator to compare electricity use, learn about earthquakes, explore weather through books, and discover how to protect our environment. Sponsored by INL

Charlie's Produce

Truck with vegetables labeled Charlie's Produce Truck
Delivery driver wanted! Climb into Charlie's Produce Truck and take the wheel, then sort and count crates of veggies in the back using our counting sheet to make sure your delivery is complete. Sponsored by Charlie's Produce

Trader Joe's

Trader Joe's pretend grocery store with pretend food, little shopping carts, and cash registers
Go grocery shopping at our miniature Trader Joe's! Fill your cart with pretend food, scan items at the cash register, and play shopper or cashier in this imaginative market. Sponsored by Trader Joe's

Dentist Office

Kid's pretend play dentist with dentist chair, teeth, toothbrushes, etc.
Open wide for your dental adventure! Sit in the dentist chair, examine teeth and x-rays, and use toothbrushes to practice good dental hygiene while playing dentist and patient. Sponsored by Smiles 4 Kids

Vet Clinic

Exhibit with cages of stuffed animals, x-ray monitor, and various vet accessories
Calling all animal doctors! Care for stuffed animal patients in their cages, examine x-rays on our monitor, use veterinary tools, and learn about pet care through this pretend-play experience. Sponsored by West Vet

Beam

Interactive Projector with various games
Step into our interactive floor projection room! Play rotating games that change every few minutes, from math challenges and history adventures to just-for-fun activities that respond to your every move.

Rocket Ship

Rocket ship with floating astronaut
Blast off into space! Suit up in astronaut gear, climb into our rocket ship, and use the control panel and monitors to launch, track radar, and explore the planets with space toys by your side.

Sluice

Sluice where kids can pan for gemstones
Strike it rich! Pan for real gemstones in our water sluice and discover hidden treasures just like miners and prospectors do in this hands-on mining experience.

Children's Theater

Photo of Kid's theater with puppets, tiny stage, and tables with activities
The show must go on! Put on puppet shows from our tiny stage, dress up in costumes, and explore creative activities at our theater tables in this imaginative performance space.

Idaho Pizza Company

Pretend play restaurant with felt pizzas, plastic salads, and tables and chairs.
Welcome to our pizzeria! Take orders from menus, create felt pizzas and plastic salads with all your favorite toppings, then serve customers at the dining tables in this delicious pretend play restaurant. Sponsored by Idaho Pizza Company

Gravel Pit

Gravel pit area with construction trucks, shovels, and other sand toys
Welcome to our Gravel Pit! Learn through playing with construction trucks and shovels in our outdoor area. Sponsored by Tate's Rents

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