At The Iowa Children’s Museum, we believe every child should have the chance to play, learn, and explore. That belief is what inspired us to join the Museums for All program back in 2022, and since then, we’ve welcomed more than 55,000 free admissions through this initiative.

Offering free admission for 3.5 years is something we are incredibly proud to have accomplished, but with the number of families participating, it’s become clear we need to make a change to keep this important program alive.

What’s Changing

This program isn’t going away, but starting January 1, 2026, admission through Museums for All will no longer be free. Families who use SNAP, WIC, Child Medicaid, or Hawki will instead receive a discounted rate of $5 per person for those in the eligible household.

We know this is an important program for many families, and we didn’t make this decision lightly. As a nonprofit organization, The Iowa Children’s Museum relies on both donations and revenue from admissions, memberships, and programs to keep our doors open.

Participation in Museums for All is voluntary and does not come with outside funding. All free admissions we have offered since joining the program were fully supported by the museum and generous donors. We’re proud of how many families have been able to experience the power of play through this program, but it has grown so much that we can no longer sustain it without making a change.

By asking for a small admission fee, we can continue to welcome families who rely on this program while still keeping our organization strong.

Staying True to Our Nonprofit Mission

We continue to offer free admission through our many nonprofit partners and monthly events, such as STEM Family Free Night and Sensory Friendly Night. We also offer many free outreach events throughout the year to bring play outside of our walls, including ICM2Go, Jack Splat, and Move it! Dig it! Do it!

We’re grateful for the families who have joined us through Museums for All over the years. Your visits remind us why access and play matter so deeply. This update will help us keep that mission going strong for today’s kids and for the next generation of playful learners.

Learn more about all of our access programs at theicm.org/icm4everyone. For those interested in joining our mission and protecting the future of play, visit theicm.org/give