Our exhibits are always growing and changing—just like the kids who play in them! One of our biggest transformations is happening behind the scenes right now, and we have a sneak peek just for you.

Our former City Music exhibit is officially closed as we begin building something new in its place: The Neighborhood. While the exhibit is closed for now, there’s a lot happening that we’re excited to share.

Music Is Everywhere

Music isn’t staying in one room anymore! The musical elements formerly housed in City Music are being reimagined as part of Music Is Everywhere, a new museum-wide experience sponsored by West Music and the West Family Foundation.

Instead of being contained in a single exhibit, instruments and activities will now appear throughout the museum, helping kids discover how music surrounds us and connects to many aspects of daily life. 

“We want kids to experience music through more than just the exploration of sound on a select few instruments. Going forward, we hope to foster a love of music through a widened scope that includes exploration of sound, but also includes movement, communication, healing, composition, community, and connection,”  said our Exhibits/Special Projects Manager, Will. 

This means musical opportunities will start popping up in new places around the museum. You may have noticed the musical flowers in ImaginAcres or the piano next to the stage for impromptu performances. More additions throughout the museum are in the works, including rhythm games in Coral Cove, musical drain pipes, and percussive grocery goods.

At the heart of Music Is Everywhere is our new stage, installed in the center of CityWorks in January 2026, thanks to the help of our friends at Modern Roots. Our team is already using it as a fun way to invite kids to jump into the spotlight or watch a puppet performance!

Soon, it will be dressed up with decorations, props, instruments, and ways for kids to perform, experiment, and collaborate. This space also opens the door for more musical programming, including sing-alongs, live performances, and interactive events that bring families together through sound. 

Get involved: We’re working on a large-scale display of instruments above the stage. If you have an old or broken instrument at home, we’d love for it to become part of this creative installation! Contact us to learn more.

Welcome to The Neighborhood

As music weaves its way through the museum, The Neighborhood is starting to come together.

This exhibit is designed as a place where kids can “play house” in a fantastical home. It will have elements for all ages, but is designed with children in mind who love role-play but have outgrown the small home in ImaginAcres. It also reflects something just as important: the idea that homes and families come in many forms.

The play space within The Neighborhood is designed to be immersive (and a little bit weird). Families will walk into a living room in shades of black and white that gives way to a colorful kitchen. A monster fireplace, a refrigerator portal, and other curiosity-inspiring elements draw inspiration from immersive art spaces like Meow Wolf. We can’t wait for children to find unexpected details tucked into cabinets, imaginative elements that blur the line between functional and fantastical, and kitchen tools that reflect the many ways families around the world cook, gather, and share food.  

Thanks to many generous dollhouse donations from our community, you’ll also spot layers of homes just beyond the window. These detailed dollhouses feature bold colors, imaginative interiors, and a few nods to kids’ favorite pop culture references. These aren’t just displays—they’re designed for discovery, with interactive elements and I-spy details that invite families to look closer and explore together.

“This project has given us a rare chance to fully rethink what the space can be,” said Kelly, Director of Exhibits. “It’s been exciting to think about how to create something that pulls kids in, with unexpected and playful elements that spark their imagination in new ways.”

All of it comes together to give kids a place to explore what it means to feel at home, connect with others, and build their own stories through play.

Why These Changes Matter

These updates aren’t just being made to refresh the space. They were guided by what families have been asking for and what research tells us kids need:

• A role-play space for kids of all ages
• More opportunities for imaginative storytelling
• Environments that reflect real-world diversity in homes, families, and communities
• Immersive experiences based on self-guided exploration

By integrating music throughout the museum and creating The Neighborhood as a place to call home in CityWorks, we’re supporting social-emotional learning, creativity, and a sense of belonging through play.

Stay Tuned for More Updates

We can’t wait for you to explore these updates as they come to life! Whether your child is stepping onto the stage, discovering music in unexpected places, or cooking up a story in The Neighborhood, these new experiences are designed with them in mind.

Keep an eye out for sneak peeks, program announcements, and opportunities to play along with us as these changes roll out. Be sure to join our newsletter (scroll down to sign up) and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to stay up-to-date as these updates unfold!