Family Festival on May 3: Free outdoor performances and fun! LEARN MORE
Summer Camps: New ways to play and learn each week! LEARN MORE
Birthday Parties: There's no better place to celebrate! LEARN MORE

Coral Cove

Discover hidden treasures and daring adventures in this swashbuckling exhibit

Welcome to Coral Cove, where children can let their imaginations run wild and engage in imaginative play.

Explore a pirate ship or navigate a fort filled with secret passages. The whimsical scenery, costumes, and hidden treasures will inspire children of all ages to embark on exciting adventures.

In Coral Cove, kids can walk the plank, search for hidden treasures, and put together fanciful costumes. Can you find the pirate, parrots, and maps that lead to secret spots? Play out your favorite stories, scenes, or songs, and let your imagination take you on a wild journey.

This exhibit encourages imaginative play and creative expression. When children play in this space with other children, they also gain valuable problem-solving and social skills by working together to create stories and scenarios.

Ways to Play

  1. Put together the fanciest costume.
  2. Now can you put together the silliest outfit?
  3. Where are you going when you wear these clothes?
  4. Can you find the pirate, parrots, and hidden treasure maps?
  5. Are there any secret spots you can discover?
  6. Can you reenact your favorite story, scene, or song?

This exhibit initiates

Other exhibits

Block Party

Build a bright future brick by brick as you design, create, and play with Lego
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Notion of Motion

Skateboarding and science come together in this gnarly exhibit focused on the fundamentals of physics
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Lights Out!

Light up your imagination in this playful exhibit for all ages
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Shape the Future of Play!

Please take a moment to share your thoughts in our 5-minute survey. Your feedback will help us keep the museum’s exhibits and programs fun, accessible, and meaningful for every child.

Give the gift of play!

Fuel their curiosity and create lasting memories—memberships, gift certificates, and unique toys from our gift shop will spark joy, learning, and endless play!

Closed August 26th-30th

The Iowa Children’s Museum will be closed Monday, August 26th, through Friday, August 30th, for routine cleaning and maintenance. Thank you for your patience while we work to make our exhibits even better for your next visit!

Due to Winter Weather

We will be closing at 5:00 pm on 2/12

Thank you for your understanding!