Member Month: Four FREE museum passes with purchase! LEARN MORE
Summer Camp: Five days of play in our exhibits! LEARN MORE
After Dark: A grown-ups-only night at the museum! LEARN MORE

City Orchard

Sorting, selling, and counting fun is always in season in this apple orchard

Pick some apples with us at the City Orchard!

Our apple trees are filled with red, green, and yellow apples just waiting to be harvested. After you’ve gathered your apples, you can sell them at the apple cart or use them to practice sorting by color or shape. But that’s not all you’ll find at the orchard—our beehive is buzzing with activity as the bees help to pollinate the fruit trees. Watch them fly overhead and see what all the buzz is about!

Did you know that fruit trees and bees depend on each other? Bees pollinate the flowers on the fruit trees, helping them to produce fruit. And when the fruit trees produce fruit, they provide food for the bees. It’s just one example of how plants and animals in our ecosystem work together to support each other. Come explore the City Orchard and learn about the amazing interdependence of nature!

Ways to Play

  1. Sort apples by color or by the shape imprinted on each apple.
  2. Sell your fresh-picked apples down at the Farmers Market.
  3. Count how many bees you can spot in the hive.

This exhibit initiates

Other exhibits

City Money

Build financial literacy skills as you play with earning, spending, saving and giving
Read exhibit details

City Music

Explore the world of sound and discover the joy of music
Read exhibit details

Courtyard of Curiosity

From alligator to zucchini, the alphabet comes to life in the Courtyard of Curiosity
Read exhibit details

Member Month

It’s the best time to become a member! Join or renew in March, and you’ll receive four FREE guest passes to share with friends and family. 

Give the gift of play

This holiday season, give them moments that matter. Memberships and gift cards create warm memories and give curiosity a place to grow!

Closed August 25th-29th

The Iowa Children’s Museum will be closed Monday, August 25th, through Friday, August 29th, for routine cleaning and maintenance. This includes STEM Family Free Night. Thank you for your patience while we work to make our exhibits even better for your next visit!

Due to Winter Weather

We will close early at 4pm today (11/29)

Thank you for your understanding!