Children’s Museum of Stockton: Imagination Unleashed

Story by Barbara Daly | Photos Courtesy of the Children’s Museum of Stockton

“Aren’t they enchanting?” exclaims one young mom as she snaps a picture of her child beaming next to the gigantic toy soldiers at the front of the Museum.

sparkling in the sunlight, the majestic figures tower above the Children’s Museum of Stockton’s entrance like guardians of imagination mesmerizing visitors before they even walk through the doors. Meandering inside, more than 40 climb-on, walk-through, step-into exhibits are within this 20,000-square-foot facility.

Here, it’s all about exploring, using your own imagination to try out all the possibilities. It’s a break from screen time, a chance to tap into the potential of life outside the home, school and beyond the neighborhood. It’s about testing out what the future may hold.

Whether exploring space, farming, firefighting, curing the latest illness in the Emergency Room, patrolling the streets as a police officer, flying overhead in a helicopter or taking local transit, at the Children’s Museum of Stockton imaginations soar, creativity thrives, and learning becomes an unforgettable experience.

Like the space exhibit where visitors experience what it’s like to be aboard the International Space Station. This is the museum’s newest exhibit, which delves into space exploration through the experiences of local astronaut Jose Hernandez. Jose was just a young boy working in the fields with his family in the Central Valley when he aspired to be an astronaut. His father encouraged him to work hard, study and shoot for the stars, and that’s just what he did. At the Children’s Museum of Stockton, young visitors learn that they too can achieve their dreams.

The museum is also excited to announce a new executive director. Carrie Grover comes to the museum with a successful background in helping nonprofits flourish. Mrs. Grover is thrilled to be part of this dynamic environment. “As a parent myself, I know how important it is to have a safe place where we can go with our children to explore, learn and have fun together. The Children’s Museum inspires curiosity, creativity and experimentation that can establish a lifelong love of learning. I want that experience for everyone in our community.”

In addition to the many interactive exhibits and programs, the museum hosts special guests on Super Saturdays. Entertainers, musicians, scientists, storytellers, dancers, rappers and poets perform and engage visitors with hands-on activities. These events are always crowd pleasers.

Visitors travel to the museum from around the Central Valley, but most days you’ll also find families and field trips from the Sacramento region and the Bay Area.

In the heart of Stockton, the Children’s Museum is passionate about reaching out to the underserved in our community. Free days bring out thousands of families with little ones. Halloween and Christmas are the most popular events, with many adorable costumes, sweet faces and lots of gratitude.

Executive director Carrie Grover sums it up best. “The Children’s Museum of Stockton is a magical place where children’s laughter fills the air and curiosity is celebrated. With its engaging exhibits, hands-on activities and commitment to fostering creativity, this vibrant environment sparks the joy of learning and discovery in children of all ages.”

The Children’s Museum of Stockton is a nonprofit organization located at 402 West Weber Avenue and can be reached by phone at 209-465-4FUN. For more information about hours, events and museum history, please visit childrensmuseumstockton.org