We made the 1 hour drive here and it was 100% worth it! It was $16 for ages 1 and up which is the same price for a regular indoor play place but this place was SO MUCH MORE FUN! They had 2 rows of free parking under the bridge and another free lot on the same side of the overpass and some street parking spots. There were 2 whole houses of various themed play areas to explore, including an area for littler ones. One big house for all things creative and DIY, and the best part was the outdoor space with a sandpit, bubble house, and a huge tree house structure. You can spend all day here! In fact, you really should because once your wristband and stamps are on, you can come in and out all day. Side note, they also have a coffee shop called Play Cafe with delicious drinks with very reasonable pricing! If we lived close we definitely would be members and visit all the time. We can't wait to come back again to explore more! read more

Gilbert House Children's Museum - Creative space - Children's Museums Near Me - Salem, Oregon

See all

We love Gilbert House! The staff is always kind and efficient and the times I've visited, the play areas have been well-kept and clean. My kids love the outdoor playground too. We love the bubble room and exhibits, and could easily spend the day here. Pro-tip, if you have a LINCC Library card, you can get a cultural pass and come here once a month for freeeee! read more

See all

Came here with myself, spouse, two kids (7&9) and a pair of grandparents. Positives: Museum was overall fun and engaging. Lots to do, and generally interesting and interactive exhibits for the kids to engage with. Some things keeping it from a Five-star: grandparents found it difficult to navigate. Not very accessible at all - either at the building entrances (stairs and weird threshold) or inside... Several staircases, no elevators. Outside exhibits were ostensibly fun, but we happened to come on a VERY hour day, and most of the outside metal play structures were too hot to play on. I feel like the upper limit of she for kids who would enjoy this place is probably 10 or 11. Lastly, address of this place confused my Google maps and tried to put my on the bridge that this place is under. read more

See all

This place is awesome! Great exhibits, and lots for the kids to do. It is clean and well maintained. My one issue is with the fact that it closes at 5. That is clearly posted, which is great. However, we tried to re-enter at 4:30 to do one last thing: the bubble room. Turns out they lock the gate at 4:30 and close the bubble room then. I just wish there was better signage; it doesn't feel great to have staff rush you out 30 minutes before closing time. read more

When I first learned about Gilbert House, I knew it was a place that my toddler son would enjoy, and resolved to someday take him there, even though it was an hour's drive south to Salem. This last Saturday was his 2nd birthday, so I knew the time had come: it would be a perfect place to hold a party for him! We arrived around 2pm, leaving us three hours to explore the place before it closed, and let me tell you: it wasn't enough! Although we were able to make it through just about every room in all of the houses that were open, plus spend some time in the outdoor play areas and structures, there were some places he didn't want to leave, so we had to coax him into the next room or towards the next feature, so he could experience as much as possible! And even though, by the end, it was apparent that he was totally exhausted, he still wanted to see and do more! As it was his birthday party, we had all the other boys with us, which included a 13-year old, a 10-year old, and an 8-year old (all boys), plus my wife and I, so it wasn't the cheapest outing at around $80 for admission for everyone, but the other boys loved their time here as well! Our 13-year old tried to "play it cool" and pretend he was too old for it, but was caught on multiple occasions goofing off with the various exhibits, so it was definitely just posturing on his part. And my wife and I, kids at heart, also enjoyed several of the attractions, as well as just absorbing the joy of watching all the boys have a blast! It was incredibly obvious that our toddler's favorite exhibits usually involved bright lights, pretty colors and music, as well as any sensory or fidgety elements and contraptions, and things/places he could climb on. The bubble shed was also a big hit, as were the ball tubes and "Plinko" board at the base of the outdoor Erector Set maze and slides. Private rooms can be booked for birthday parties and events, which can be cost effective if you are planning on having on hosting a large group of people here, which I would highly recommend for anyone looking for a fantastic birthday venue for kids aged 2-12 (right before they start becoming moody disaffected teenagers), as well as any adults whose inner child is still intact, or capable of being reawaked in the right environment. Parking is free on the weekends, paid during business hours, but there seemed to be plenty of it, and we had no issues finding a spot. There is a also little gift shop near the entrance with toys, snacks and beverages in case of an emergency tantrum. Our son also received a little gift bag with stickers, temporary tattoos, a pin, and some bubbles, which was a nice little touch as well! It's a shame that Gilbert House is so far from home for us, which means we probably won't come out here as often as our son would like, but I'm immensely glad it exists, and that it is engaging, educating, and exciting as it is, because I get the feeling that our son's time here will become a core memory, as the happy look on his face will do the same for his parents! Gilbert House is truly a wonderful place for kids of all ages, even ones with gray hair like me! read more

See all

What an amazing place for your children to spread their imaginations with so many different areas to explore and play in you could easily spend the whole day here. The parking is very limited. Arrive early. read more

See all

Inaccurate hours posted on the website. The website says it is open on Mondays and we drove an hour to visit to find them closed. read more

See all

Awesome! Lots to keep the kids engaged for a whole day. Very cool activity buildings, playground, and grounds in general. Staff were all terrific, helpful and patient. Highly recommend! read more

This place is great for kids. There is lots to do, so plan on spending several hours.

Very fun experience for the kids. Well organized and very easy to navigate. So much to see not enough energy for all of it. They have made activities accessible to children of different ages. read more

My 6 y/o was in awe with this place. There is so much for kids to explore. I loved that there is a "quiet room for nursing mommies" and "sensory room" for kids who get over stimulated. Make sure to pack your own lunch as there is no restaurant or snack area. read more

Fun for toddlers and little kids. They have an arts and craft room. My nephew really liked the room with the interactive green screen read more

See all

This is a wonderful place to visit - although it is very packed a lot of the times and my son has never been able to play in the bubble room yet. That is the only downfall. I wish they had 2 bubble rooms. My son's favorite part is the outside area by the slides where they have balls you can put in the tubes. read more

There is so much happiness in this place! There are many different sights to see, things to play with, experiences to learn from in this well organized play space! Our 2+ year old grandson loved investigating, playing and returning to Gilbert House! I highly recommend it for parents and grandparents with kids of varying ages! read more

definitely recommend this children's museum, they have a lot of different activities for age ranges zero and up I'm taking my daughter three times now and it's a great experience every time. They do a great job at keeping things, clean and orderly! Prices are great and you can leave the building and come back if your baby needed a nap or food! read more

Safe place to take kiddos. I brought my kids here often. The exhibits change and keep the kiddos interested.

This is a very fun children's museum that is worth the drive from the Portland area. The only less than ideal part of this museum is the eating area is uncovered out in the elements. read more

So did the village get small, or did my kids get big? That was the question of the day. When my boys were little, we came here several times a year. It was the perfect use of our OMSI membership, since they waive the admission fee ($7 for ages 3 - 59) as part of a reciprocal arrangement with other science centers: http://www.astc.org/passport/ I have very fond memories of this place and our visit today reminded me of why it is great for kids under the age of about 8 (your mileage may vary). The name 'discovery village' describes it well, since it is a collection of historic homes with indoor play areas connected by an outstanding outdoor section for a variety of experiences. Highlights were always the Bubble Room, where you can pull a lever and encase yourself in a giant bubble, or just use the giant wands to frolic around. The shadow room, where you pose for a photo and your shadow image remains on the wall behind you in a blacklight room. Lots of imaginary areas with costumes and props for your little actor. Outside there is an enormous wooden xylophone, as well as climbing structures in the form of a giant erector set, train and steamboat, and an over-sized chess set. This place is probably best suited for kids between ages 4 and 8. Old enough to be able to wander and discover while they are still in that blissful state of constant imagination without any self consciousness. Because the houses and outdoor areas have so many twists, turns and hidey holes, it can be a little stressful for parents keeping track of toddlers and more than one child. Taking my older child today, he declared the place "babyish." Which is family speak for "I'd be embarrassed to be seen here and take any pictures of me and you will die." For us, the visit today was a fond farewell to a place we cherished for a number of years. "Goodnight room, Goodnight moon, Goodnight red balloon." [1] So visit here when the kids are young and make sure you also stroll through Riverfront Park and ride the carousel. Unfortunately, I think my next visit here will probably be with the grand kids. No rush! ----------------------- A.C. Gilbert was a fascinating guy and known as "The Man Who Saved Christmas." He is one of those unique individuals that can truly be called a Renaissance man since he had so many interests and accomplishments, including winning a gold medal in pole vaulting at the 1908 Olympics and inventing the erector set. During WWI, manufacturing plants of all types were being directed to focus solely on providing military equipment and supplies for the war effort. A.C. Gilbert believed that "playing is essential to learning" and convinced Congress to permit him to continue manufacturing toys as well. After all, our next generation of engineers and scientists started by playing with erector sets, Lionel trains and chemistry sets. A movie starring Jason Alexander ("George" to you Seinfeld fans) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0339343/ tells the tale. [1] Much love to Margaret Wise Brown and 'Goodnight Moon', another childhood love we had to say goodbye to at a certain age. read more

Gilbert House Children's Museum - Children's Museums Near Me - Salem, Oregon

We love stopping here when we are traveling. Perfect pit stop for my toddler. They have a great toddler room if the play of full of bigger kids. Climbing toys puppets books and a slide. So much to do here our first time we only saw two building and a few room and still had a blast! Field trips are a little crazy at time but with good chaperones it can be good. Many activities for older kids so we will be able to keep coming as the toddler grows Be mindful the wonderful and dun purr door space has two challenges- 1. Water and sand area - it's a blast but for my little we needed a full change of clothes and water shoes would be helpful. 2. This space has two exits so there was a short time I lost my little for what felt like forever. Thanks to other parents we were reunited. The membership was worth it for us. read more

Nice place for little kiddos to learn and play. My 10 year old grandson just figured out he was a little too old for the museum this year and he's heartbroken. read more

Negative first: parking. Check for events on the waterfront prior to going. I drove from Portland, on the way out to McMinnville, and stopped here purposefully to check it out for my daughter. We had NO where to park after driving around for 45 minutes. We were really disappointed. The first time we tried to get there, it was partially my fault as I had no idea I needed to check waterfront events first; but I came on a Cultural Pass from WA County Libraries. Totally random aside, but they reissued the pass for me so we could go back and go INSIDE. The second time we went, it took over 2 hours, thanks to I5, to get there, so we didn't have long to play. I was shocked at the absolute coolness of the outdoor play area. My kids had a BLAST. That was ALL that they did for over 90 minutes. The last 45 minutes we had we sort of ran through two of the other buildings. There is SO much to offer here and a lot of fun for kids to have. They have absolutely SO much to do, and so much fun they can have if they like free play and using their imaginations. Buying a membership here, you can also get free passes through the museum affiliate program for other museums in the state. And they have a very very affordable annual pass. There is literally nothing NOT to love with this amazing place. SO fun and so much creativity to explore! read more

You need to provide a covered eating area if you are going to force toddlers and small children to eat outside...

Always a wonderful time at Gilbert house. Sad the playground was under construction and the bubble room was also down.

In May we visited the Gilbert house, one visit out of many because last year I purchased a membership. However on this day, I have never experienced such a disrespectful situation. Upon entering and providing my membership card, I was asked for my ID. I mentioned that I had never been asked before and the young receptionist stated " Well it's stated clearly on the card that you have to provide identification." So, I handed over my ID. She provided wrist bands for my 2 daughters and friends daughter that I had been babysitting. When it came time to get my wrist band, she threw it at me and said I could do it. I ignored her and picked it up, put it on and went on with our visit. Upon leaving the facility, the girls all wanted to buy a toy. They each chose something and the same young lady was there at the front desk training a young man on how to do purchases. She mentioned to him that he needs to ask for ID when people are paying with their CC's. I provided my ID again and she went on to speak to me "Again, you always need to provide ID when you come here." I told her she needed to stop speaking to me in that manner and I didn't need to hear something that was already told to me. She then accused me of "Throwing my ID at her" that morning. I told her that was a lie. She said everything was on video recording and I told her great because I will not be accused of anything I did not do and I wanted to see the video. I asked for her to get her manager. Upon the manager's arrival she told me "To calm down and they could revoke my membership at anytime." I demanded her manager and waited 20 minutes until the director came down. The director had not even allowed me to speak before she went on to tell me that she had "known the young lady for 2 years and that she was a good employee". I had never said she wasn't a good employee, I told her she accused me of throwing my ID at her and I wanted to see the video tape recording. Alicia, the director, brought me to her office and I had to sit there for 30 minutes, with 3 children, in order to show her that the employee was lying, as it clearly showed me handing her my ID. I told her that we would never buy another membership to the museum after being talked to like that by some snotty teenager and accused of something I didn't do, threatened with the revocation of our membership before getting to speak and the fact the director arrived intent on defending such a horrible employee's actions before even letting me speak as well. Alicia's attitude was that of not caring. She didn't care about I was treated and didn't care to apologize either. We won't be back. read more

Super cute place...my 8 and 10 year old loved it! We used our reciprocal membership and got in for free, as we stop through town for the eclipse. It's small, but has an elaborate play structure and a windy slide outside - but not recommended if you're prone to nausea! There are also areas inside the historic English style buildings. It offers play areas, crafts and activities that spark the imagination. The train tracks are located on the backside of I you enjoy those and hear them approaching. In case you have time after your visit, cross pedestrian bridge over the river nearby and, if the weather makes it tempting, take a dip! read more

See all

I took my grandsons here and they really enjoyed Cowboys's house. I ended up purchasing membership for their family and I am so happy I did they live in Oregon and I live in California and they can go to different museums, etc. in different states I always took my children to the discovery science center in Santa Ana, they loved it with the membership. You can do multiple places for one great price. read more

If I could give this establishment an 0 star review I would! I came to the Gilbert House the other day and had an issue with the parking lot and I was talking to the manager/ executive director, Alicia, and she was so rude and dismissive of all of my concerns. If this is the executive director of this place I won't be surprised if this place crashes because how bad of a manager she is! From just my experience. It's sad to see such a Salem staple fall so much!! read more

My son had a blast loved the campsite and the sandbox! He enjoyed walking around the best he can because he is learning. Only 9 months old great for all ages! read more

Gilbert House Children's Museum - Children's Museums Near Me - Salem, Oregon

Let me just say...I am so happy that I had a day to myself to explore Salem and discover this gem! I did not initially intend to visit the children's museum but happened across it while I was parking at a nearby riverfront park to take my baby for a stroll. I could not resist checking out this charming Victorian house made into a children's museum. For only $8 (infants under 1 are free), I was able to let my baby loose to crawl and explore the several rooms all while being able to relax. There was even a room for toddlers 2 and under, which I retreated to with my 9-mo-old so he could play without all the noise and avoid being overstimulated. He definitely enjoyed being around other children and playing with the exhibits. Although this museum is clearly intended for older children (there is a huge outdoor play area that is not very stroller friendly), we had a blast just spending some 1:1 time together. Had we actually seen all of the rooms, we could have easily spent more than the hour we were here. If you're visiting with little ones that do not walk, make sure to park your stroller once you pay admission; the museum has stairs on the inside; no ramps or elevators. The location cannot be beat. Situated right along the water, it's a great place to take a stroll outside after the museum. Down a bit, there's even a carousel. I would definitely like to return once my little guy is older and can appreciate and interact more with the exhibits! read more

For Salem, this is such a great place to bring fun kids. For a good price, the annual membership is a great value. We come in unlimited times for a whole year plus reciprocal "free" admission at OMSI and other places. Our 8 and 4 year olds love the place and the 12 year old is almost too old. Sure it isn't fancy like places in other cities but it has history behind it and is not manufactured as it is built out of old houses and the history regarding AC Gilbert is cool for both adults and kids. There are things to do indoors and outdoors. The three story tall erector set playground has to be the coolest playset in the area and the whole outdoor area is nice and clean and safe but still challenging for kids. I will often sit out in the sun in the main courtyard as the kids run around in the playset. The craft room is fun as the kids can glue, color, paint, cut, etc. and have a grand old time. Best part is the mess is not at home. The bubble room of course is always a favorite of ours. The people who work there do a nice job keeping the place well maintained, clean, and safe. I would recommend anyone with kids in the Salem area get an annual membership and go often, it is a great value and the kids have fun. read more

See all

This place is FANTASTIC! I don't live here but was in town for a visit, and didn't know what to expect at this children's museum but WOW--I was so impressed! I've taken my kids to a LOT of children's museums and this one by far surpasses them all. We spent 4 hours here and could have spent the entire day. My kids are 2 and 4 and they loved it. If we lived here there is no doubt we'd have annual passes. The best part for me was getting to just sit back and watch them while they had fun playing. Everything is so well thought-out so kids can play on their own and really immense themselves in free play. There was a field trip while we were there, but the place never felt crowded--the layout is so efficient. I can't wait to bring my kids back next summer! read more

Awesome place for toddlers!! This is such an interactive and creative place to bring children!! Multiple rooms indoor and outdoors. Staff is very friendly as well. Parking available right in front of the faculty and is right by waterfront to take walks as well. read more

See all

Our library offers a pass to the Gilbert House so I was able to take my 5 year old and infant for free. At first, everything looked great. There is some imaginative play rooms set up as you walk in, an art room and doors to the outdoor space on either side. But I noticed that this museum caters to able bodied people exclusively. If there was a way to get upstairs without using the stairs (where most of the exhibits are) I was not informed. So if you or someone you love requires accessibility, give this spot a pass. Theres a ramp to get to the big rocking chair, and a ramp to see two rooms and a bit of the outside area, but this is certainly not worth the entrance fee and feels rather exclusionary. Parents or grandparents who are not able to climb stairs, or if you use a stroller and cannot carry your child for long periods of time, this spot isnt ideal either. Access for all types of people is very important, and having so many inaccessible areas makes this museum a bust for me. read more

It was nice to look at and looked super cute but even though we came during business hours and called, we were unable to visit because all the gates were locked read more

My wife and I (same-sex couple) came here on Father's Day. They were offering a promotional deal where fathers get in for free. I explained that we are our son's two moms and only parents, but was told that we would not be able to take advantage of the promotion because neither of us are dads. This is not a good or fair way to conduct business. Families come in all varieties. We left instead of paying full admission. read more

A nice place to take kids to get away from the rain. We have a yearly membership and it's worth the money! My son is two, and loves all the rooms. I could see older children liking it a lot as well. His favorite is the farm to table room! The playground is awesome, sand pit that looks like a Dino adventure! read more

It's very sad to see that the Gilbert house has gone extremely down hill in the past 8 years. A sad sight no murals on the walls. The bubble room is gone. The exhibits are for ages 12 mo to age 6. Two of the slides were closed down. They also have no classes for kids anymore. The Arthur exhibit has been there for over 5 years. They need help with grant writing and educated employees that advocate for how this museum use to be. read more

We loved this place! Fun for the whole family ...adults and kids (8 and 10 yrs). Fun and educational, what more could a mom want?? read more

We have been to OMSI, the Zoo, the Portland Children's Museum, and countless other child centric curated locations trying to keep our toddler busy. So far AC Gilbert's is the first place where I would really, truly buy a membership. They have two houses full of exhibits, from trains, to a little grocery store, to aviation, veterinary and submarine themed play areas and the MASSIVE outdoor area. 2 hours in and we had to go because he was so exhausted he couldn't even walk straight. I was also sick of my husband saying "I want to play with that too" but hey, thats another story. My only complaint was that the grocery needs more little carts! Other than that, heaven for the littles and much more affordable for the parents. If your kids are up for it, you can even walk down the waterfront to the carousel when your done. All around a great place. read more

I'm always looking for some place to take the kids where they can blow off some steam, release some energy and learn something. I love Gilbert house. It is close to the carousel, so it allows for a great afternoon and tired kids afterwards! Lots of hands on rooms and things that allow for them to learn while playing, which studies have shown enable tactile kids to learn quicker and have it stick longer. They also try and mix it up and offer new things every so often. Outside of the Gilbert House is a play area, with a big chess board, plenty of areas to climb, a sand box, and some things to make noise with. Theres a room with trains and huge blocks to build towers with (or hit each other with if you're my kids). The kids love it. My daughters' favorite is the grocery store room, and my younger son loved the vet clinic room (when it was there but I am not sure it is). My 9 year old isn't crazy about it anymore, but the 7 year old still likes it, and the 4 year olds enjoy it too! I like the membership too, because its WAYYYY cheaper for a family with four kids than going even 2 times in a year, and you get entry into other museums as well! Definitely worth it! read more