Get Tickets!

PLEASE NOTE that parking around the museum will be affected by a Road Race in the morning on Saturday, April 13. Parts of Henry Law Ave and Washington Street will be blocked off to vehicles. Due to this, we recommend parking in the 45 Orchard Street Parking Garage (1st and 2nd floors) and walking the short walk to the museum. See here for other parking options: https://www.dover.nh.gov/government/city-operations/police/parking-bureau/

Please leave strollers at home or park them in our coat room. We instead encourage you to bring front packs, or borrow one from the museum.


The Children's Museum of New Hampshire offers two floors of unique, interactive, hands-on exhibits where you can explore Nature, STEM, Pretend Play, Art, World Cultures, and more for ages 0-12.

Online Reservations Required. CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS>>

Perfect for families with children age birth to 12 years of age!

Please leave strollers at home or park them in our coat room. We instead encourage you to bring front packs, or borrow one from the museum.

Online Reservations Required. CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS>>

Children's Museum of New Hampshire
(formerly Children's Museum of Portsmouth)
6 Washington Street
Dover NH 03820
For Parking: With GPS, use 10 Henry Law Avenue, Dover, NH
Phone: (603) 742-2002 (we prefer email!)
Email: questions@childrens-museum.org

Online Reservations Required. CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS >>

HOURS

Tuesdays: 9am-Noon
Wednesdays: 9am-Noon or 1-4pm
Thursdays: 9am-Noon or 1-4pm
Fridays: 9am-Noon or 1-4pm (First Friday of the month, 4:15-7pm)
Saturdays: 9am-Noon or 1-4pm
Sundays: 9am-Noon


SCHOOL VACATION WEEK HOURS
Tuesdays - Saturdays, 9am-Noon or 1-4pm; Sundays, 9am-Noon. CLOSED MONDAYS

We close the museum between play sessions to clean. Your reservation is good for 1 play session.

Online Reservations Required. CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS >>

ADMISSION PRICES
$12.50 – adults & children over 12 months of age
$10.50 – seniors age 65+
No charge for Children's Museum of New Hampshire members and children under 12 months of age

Your paid admission is good for one timed play session.

See Discount info below.

Online Reservations Required. CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS >>

Online Reservations Required . CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS >>

We are asking visitors to Pre-Pay admission when they reserve their "play session" online. A play session refers to the date and time of your visit. Most days we have two play sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon (Tuesdays & Sundays only have a morning session).

Museum Members  are always free, but they must still reserve their play session online prior to arriving. To receive your Member discount, please follow the directions and first " Register " on the ticketing page (you only need to register once - please use the same name and email you used when you signed up for your Membership) and then "Sign-in" before adding anything to your cart. Please remember to show your digital Membership card at the museum.

Discounts  - If you'd like to use any discounts to pay for admission, please still reserve your play session online for free and follow the directions for reserving with discounts. We will confirm your discount at the door and accept payment then. Common discounts include Military families, Licensed NH Childcare Providers, EBT/WIC cardholders, Library passes, ASTC or ACM reciprocal museum members, etc.)

Refunds are not available unless:  A guest is unable to visit due to an illness, and we are unable to reschedule their visit. In that instance, we will refund any payments if you notify us in advance of your scheduled visit. Please email  questions@childrens-museum.org.

PLEASE NOTE  that your reservations are specific to the date and time you reserved. If you need to visit another date/time, please contact us - your tickets are not transferable to any other date/time unless you notify us and we reschedule for you: questions@childrens-museum.org.


To receive these discounts, follow the instructions on our ticketing page.

CMNH Members: If you are a Member of CMNH you will enjoy free admission year round. Guests of CMNH Members recieve 10% off admission. Don't forget to first "register" and then "sign-in" on our ticketing page to receive your Member discount.

Library Letters: You can reserve a letter from participating local libraries, to visit CMNH on a specific day. Those letters offer half-off admission for up to 4 people. Check with your local library for availability. Then reserve your date/time for your visit to CMNH and follow the directions on our ticketing page.

Military Discounts: Half-Off Military Appreciation Discount - For Active Military: During school year; For Veterans: Year Round. FREE Blue Star Museum Summer - For Active Military: Armed Forces Day through Labor Day (Exclusively sponsored by Service Credit Union).

Reciprocal Museum Membership: If you have a membership to another ASTC member museum, you can receive free admission into CMNH for up to 4 Admissions. If you are a member of another ACM museum, you can receive half off admission into CMNH for up to 6 Admissions. Must present a current reciprocal museum membership card. Reserve your date/time for your visit to CMNH and follow the directions on our ticketing page.

EBT Card & WIC Card Discount: The Children's Museum of New Hampshire offers $3 per person admission to those who show an EBT or WIC card and a valid ID at our front desk. This discount is valid for up to two adults (the EBT/WIC cardholder, his/her spouse/partner or co-parent) and their dependent children. The Children's Museum of New Hampshire accepts valid EBT/WIC cards from NH and other states. Note: EBT/WIC cards are NOT accepted for payment. Reserve your date/time for your visit to CMNH and follow the directions on our ticketing page.

Special Discount Days: Occasionally we are supported by a generous sponsor and are able to offer free admission days for residents of certain area towns. If you are interested in sponsoring such a day, please reach out to our Director of Development and Community Engagement, Monique Deforge at monique@childrens-museum.org.

Social Service Agency Client Passes: If you are a client of a social service agency, ask if they are one of our Funded Admission Partner Organizations. If you have a pass from a social service agency, reserve your date/time for your visit to CMNH and follow the directions on our ticketing page.

Teachers: Teachers who teach Pre-K through 5th grade can present proof of employment (school ID, pay-stub) and receive half off their admission only. Reserve your date/time for your visit to CMNH and follow the directions on our ticketing page.

Seniors: Our $10.50 Senior admission is technically a discount and cannot be combined with other discounts. Reserve your date/time for your visit to CMNH and follow the directions on our ticketing page.

If your specific circumstances prevent you from affording a visit to CMNH, please reach out to us at questions@childrens-museum.org and we may be able to assist.

Other questions? See our FAQ section below.

Get Tickets HERE

By reserving tickets to visit the Museum, you are agreeing to follow our health and safety guidelines, including:

  • Do not visit if you or anyone in your party is sick or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19

  • The Museum's play sessions are all "mask optional."

  • Leave your strollers at home or in the museum's coat room. We encourage you to bring your own front pack, or borrow one from the museum. Strollers on the exhibit floor are a safety hazard in the event of a fire.

  • Follow all safety signage in the museum.

  • Keep more than 6-feet physical distance from staff and other visitors not in your group.

  • No food or drink, other than water or baby bottles is permitted in the exhibits. We do have a small snack area for brief snacks during your visit. Breast feeding is always welcome.

  • For health code reasons, all visitors must wear some type of footwear inside the museum. Socks and bare feet are not allowed.

  • Adults are expected to help children follow the rules.

  • We ask that visitors stay with the individuals they are visiting with. A visitor group is defined as the 7 or fewer individuals you have reserved tickets for.

  • We reserve the right to refuse admission or ask people who are sick or not following the rules to leave the museum. 

Weapons Policy:

Nothing is more important to the Museum than the safety and security of its visitors and employees. The Museum prohibits any visitor, volunteer, employee, or other person from entering its property while carrying, possessing, or storing a weapon of any kind—including, but not limited to, a handgun, firearm, Mace, knife, or any other item which, in the Museum’s sole discretion, could be used as a weapon. This prohibition extends to all Museum property, including any space physically adjacent to the Museum, or at a Museum-sponsored event. This prohibition also applies regardless of whether the person is licensed to carry, possess, or store the weapon or whether the possession or storage of the weapon violates applicable law. The only exception to this policy is a law enforcement official duly authorized to carry such weapon(s).

Adults Without Children:

The Museum prohibits any adult who is not supervising, or accompanied by, a child from visiting the Museum during public operating hours, unless that person has received express authorization to do so from the Museum. If you’re interested in touring the Museum, please email our staff at questions@childrens-museum.org

Safe Space Policy:

CMNH fosters a culture of inclusion that promotes respect and celebrates diversity. We commit to making our facility and programs accessible and safe for all members of our community, regardless of race, ethnicity, faith, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical or mental disability.

The Museum will not tolerate harassment or disrespectful conduct of any kind. The Museum may refuse service to, or revoke access from, any person(s) threatening this safe, inclusive, and respectful environment. Behavior warranting such consequences includes, but is not limited to, verbal or physical harassment or discrimination against another patron, volunteer, or staff member, attempted theft or vandalism, or being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Are you still requiring masks?
All Museum play sessions are "mask optional."

Do I really have to reserve/pre-pay for tickets before I arrive at the museum?
Yes please! We have worked really hard to keep each 3 hour play session to a manageable and safe number of individuals. We can't do that without your help with reserving and pre-paying. Pre-paying online means check-in is much faster, and even if you have a discount or are a member and aren't paying online, your reservation helps us keep control of the number of visitors.

How many people do you let in per play session?
We have capped the number of visitors for each 3-hour play session at no more than 50% of our capacity which is around 250 people.

I'm a Member, do I still have to make reservations? Yes please! To reserve member tickets, first create an account on our ticketing site with the same email you used to sign up for your membership (you only have to do this once). If you have already created an account, click "Sign in" at the top of the tickets page and sign in. Reserve your tickets (please choose the regular "Adult", "Child", "Senior" ticket types, NOT the ticket types labeled "Adult w/discount (will pay at door)") and then show your membership card when you arrive at the Museum.

If I'm a CMNH Member can't I just make reservations using the $0 "w/discount" price types?
Please don't. To reserve member tickets, first create an account on our ticketing site with the same email you used to sign up for your membership (you only have to register once). If you have already created an account, click "Sign in" at the top of the tickets page before adding anything to your cart. Reserve your tickets (please choose the regular "Adult", "Child", "Senior" ticket types, NOT the ticket types labeled "Adult w/discount (will pay at door)") and then show your membership card when you arrive at the Museum.

I couldn't remember my password, went to change it and now I'm locked out of my account! What do I do? If you get a message saying your account has been temporarily locked due to multiple failed logins, or for any other reason, don't panic! Use the reset password option to reset your password. Then clear your web browser's cache, cookies, and temporary internet files for all time (instead of just the past 24 hours for example). Then sign in again using the new password. If you don't choose the option of resetting your password, the lockout will last for only 30 minutes. Password Requirements: Must be at least 12 characters in length, contain at least one numeric and special character; contain at least one uppercase letter; cannot contain your name, username, or organization in any text direction; must be changed every 365 days.

If I have a Membership to another children's museum or science museum, that's the same as being a CMNH Member right?
Not really. If you have a membership to another ASTC or ACM museum, we consider that a "discount" so when you go to the ticketing page to reserve a visit to CMNH, please choose the "Discount" options (Adult w/discount, Child w/discount, Senior w/discount) and then show proof of your other membership when you arrive at CMNH.

When can I visit, and how much does admission cost?
The Museum is open: Wednesdays through Saturdays from 9am-noon or 1pm; Tuesdays & Sundays, 9am-noon. Admission is $12.50 for adults and children aged 1 and older, $10.50 for seniors 65+, free for children under 12 months, and members. Your admission is good for one timed play session.

Do I just need to reserve one spot before I visit?
No, please reserve for the exact number of people attending. We use this information to limit the number of guests per play session, so don't just reserve one spot for yourself.

How far in advance can I reserve and pre-pay for tickets?
We release reservations up to 60 days at a time. Saturdays fill up quickly.

I have purchased or was gifted admission passes. How do I reserve my spots without paying admission again?
After you choose the date and time for your visit on our ticketing page, you will want to choose the price types called "w/discount", which will be a $0 reservation, just reserving your spots for that play session. Then when you arrive, please present your admission pass when checking in.

Is the museum accessible?
Yes it is! We have a ramp and an elevator to the second floor of the museum, and all the doors and restrooms can be opened using large push buttons. The second floor family restroom is equipped with an adult-sized changing cot. One-on-one aides or therapists are admitted for free when they visit with their client. Service animals are always welcome. Handicap accessible parking spaces are located alongside the museum on Washington Street. A ramp leads from the parking to our front door. If anyone in your group has sensory issues, we have noise dampening headphones available to borrow. We also offer monthly free "Exploring Our Way: Sensory Friendly Playtimes" for children on the autism spectrum or who struggle with sensory issues.

If I'm running late and can't get to the museum at the start of my reserved play session, what should I do?
Don't worry if you can't get to the museum right at the start of the session. If you have a reservation we will let you in anytime you arrive within that play session. Please just keep in mind that if you arrive late, your play time is limited and we will still ask all visitors to leave at the end of the session.

Do you really close the museum between play sessions?
Yes we do.

If we can't come on the date/time that we made reservations and pre-paid for what should we do? Email us at questions@childrens-museum.org as soon as you know you can't come during your scheduled visit. If you notify us before your play session begins and you either had to cancel because of a sick family member, or because you won't be in the area again to reschedule your visit, we may be able to refund you. Otherwise, we're happy to help you reschedule for another date/time.

I forgot to visit on the date I reserved tickets for...can I get a refund?
No, we're sorry. If you don't let us know that you can't visit prior to the start of your play session, we aren't able to give you a refund.

Why do I have to pre-pay online?
Pre-paying for your visit is becoming the standard for museums, and helps us keep the numbers of visitors per play session low. You must still make reservations even if you are a member or want to pay at the door with a discount.

Do you still offer Birthday Parties?
We are offering Sunday and Friday Birthday Parties and you can go here to learn more >>

What if I don't have internet access or for some other reason cannot make reservations online?
If for whatever reason you are unable to reserve your spot, please email us at questions@childrens-museum.org. If you need to speak to us over the phone, please call and leave a message at 603-742-2002. Please note that it is very hard for us to answer phone inquiries over the weekend.

I have a pass from my library. How do I reserve tickets and apply the discount?
Choose a date and time to visit on our ticketing page, and then choose the "Discount" price types (Adult w/discount, Child w/discount, etc.) and we will process your admission, with proof of discount, when you arrive at the museum. EXCEPTION: If you see a discount code on your Library letter, choose the Adult, Child, Senior price types - not "Adult w/discount" etc., then add the discount code when you get to the shopping cart and pre-pay your balance. Bring your tickets to be scanned when you arrive.

I have a coupon, am a member of an ASTC or ACM Museum, have a free pass, pre-paid pass, EBT/WIC card, or other discount. How do I reserve tickets and apply the discount?
After clicking on the date/time you want to visit, on the ticketing page choose the "Discount" options (Adult w/discount, Child w/discount, Senior w/discount) and we will process your admission, with proof of discount, when you arrive at the museum. EXCEPTION: If you see a discount code on your pass/flyer, choose the Adult, Child, Senior price types - not "Adult w/discount" etc., then add the discount code when you get to the shopping cart.

I or my partner are in the military. Do we get a discount?
Yes! During the school year we offer half-of admission for active duty, retired or veteran military members, their spouse and their dependent children. In the summer we offer free admission to military members and their families. To reserve your date/time to visit CMNH if you plan on using this discount: After clicking on the date/time you want to visit, on the ticketing page choose the "Discount" options (Adult w/discount, Child w/discount, Senior w/discount) and we will process your admission, with proof of discount, when you arrive at the museum. Learn more about the military discounts here.

Why can't I add enough tickets to my cart?
If you cannot add as many tickets to your cart as you'd like, that means there are fewer tickets available than you are requesting. Please select another date and/or time when available.

I was only able to reserve and pre-pay for one ticket for the day and time we want to visit, but there are three of us. Can I just add the other two people to my reservation when we arrive?
No. If there was only one ticket remaining when you reserved and pre-paid for tickets, that means there was only one spot left before we hit our maximum capacity. We have a very strict headcount limitation for health and safety purposes and will not be able to admit you with additional guests. Please reserve a different day or time, and please email us at questions@childrens-museum.org to release/refund that ticket.

I reserved and pre-paid for tickets online. Where are my tickets?
You will receive a confirmation email after your ticket request is processed. In that email you will find a link to your e-tickets. Please print or show us a copy of your e-tickets on your phone when you arrive at the museum. Museum Members, please still present your card when you arrive. Proof of any discounts will be checked when you arrive at the museum. If you don't see an email from the museum, please check your spam folder for an email from questions@childrens-museum.org

Our plans have changed, or someone in our party is sick. Can I use my tickets for a different date and time?
No. We have a very strict headcount limitation for health and safety purposes. When you reserve or pre-purchase tickets, those tickets are for that specific date and time, and we will not be able to admit you if you arrive on a different date or time. If you notify us prior to your scheduled visit, we can help you reschedule to a different date and time up to two months after your initial reservation. Refunds will not be available unless a guest is unable to visit due to an illness, we are unable to reschedule your visit, AND you notify us in advance of your scheduled visit. Please email questions@childrens-museum.org.

I want to gift someone a few one-time use admission passes to the museum. Do you sell gift cards for that?
CMNH admission passes can be purchased for gift-giving at $12.50 each online or in person at the museum. The admission passes are our version of a gift card! Passes will be emailed to the purchaser in the form of e-tickets. These passes do not expire.

Is there anything else to do in Dover, NH?
There is plenty to explore just outside the doors of the Children's Museum of NH, including the Dover Adventure Playground, a visit to The Noggin Factory toy shop, Lickee's and Chewies Candies & Creamery, as well as tons of amazing kid-friendly restaurants within walking distance of the museum.

Has the Museum instituted any health and safety protocols due to COVID-19?

Yes.

Physically distancing - We encourage families to spread out and give other families space when playing in the exhibits.

Face coverings - All Museum play sessions are now mask optional.

Frequent hand washing and sanitizing - The Museum has 17 hand-sanitizing stations and 12 sinks for hand-washing spaced throughout the building.

Ventilation - we have increased the air rate of exchange in our building to maximum levels and will keep windows open when possible to maximize air flow.

Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces - Museum staff cleans and disinfects surfaces and frequently replaces all exhibit props with new sanitized sets. Disinfectant wipes are placed strategically around the Museum for visitor use, and staff continually clean high-touch surfaces during the day.

Staying home if you are sick - The Museum asks that all visitors and staff stay home if they are sick or experiencing any symptoms associated with COVID-19.

I still need help! Who can I email?
You can email us at questions@childrens-museum.org and we'll do our best to help you.

"The kids had a great time. Everything was very clean. They had plenty of hand sanitizer stations and with the decreased number of people allowed in, it felt very safe."

-Cassie Stelmach

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