The Building for Kids Children's Museum was established in downtown Appleton, Wisconsin in 1991 and opened in November 1992.  In 2006, the museum was expanded and completely renovated with new exhibits designed by kids for kids. The mission of the museum is "to build children's imagination, creativity and confidence".

The Building for Kids Children's Museum is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization supported by donations, memberships, and admissions. The museum does not receive local, state, or federal funding.  Click here to learn how to donate today.

Nearly 110,000 visitors enjoy the museum each year.

 

Keeping The Building for Kids Healthy for You...

Thousands of families visit the Building for Kids, and we want your visit to be safe and healthy.  We strive to keep our museum clean and comfortable for you and your children.  We regularly wash the water area raincoats, doll hospital scrubs and baby clothes, grandma's attic clothing, happy baby garden costumes, firefighter coats and hats, and overalls.  Every evening a commercial cleaning service comes in to clean the floors and bathrooms.  We steam clean our carpets and buff our floors as needed.  Our staff and volunteers use disinfecting wipes throughout the day on surfaces you and your children touch - including our paint brushes, glue sticks and other art supplies.  Hand sanitizer is available for your use in several areas of the museum. We hope the only unexpected thing you'll take home is some extra glitter - we use lots of it and it sparkles everywhere!

 

Keeping The Building for Kids Safe for You...

Once a year, we hire a nationally-certified safety consultant to inspect the entire museum, and we make the recommended changes to ensure your safety.   Additionally, the museum's doors are locked and alarmed.  The only entrance and exit is through our main door.  This door slides open and closed to enable strollers to pass safely.  However, it also has an electronic eye which will not allow a small child to exit the building unaccompanied.

Museum staff conduct daily inspections of all major exhibits and immediately correct any safety concerns.  If you see anything that needs attention - please let our staff know.  We appreciate your help in keeping all our children safe.

Flu Guidelines

 

Current Employment Opportunities at The Building For Kids:  

 

 

Museum Administration

Dana Thorpe Executive Director Jennifer Krikava Visitor & Community Engagement Manager Christine Maxwell Visitor Experiences Assistant Manager Beth Servais Visitor Experiences Assistant Manager Marshal Watry Finance Manager Justin "J" Severson Administrative & Membership Assistant, Assistant Bookkeeper, Assistant Educator

Kristen Trimberger Education & Family Learning Manager Kristi Helmkamp Art Programs & Social Media Manager Mary Gay Hornseth Educator Gwen Schmitt Educator Rosie Hoeffner Lead Educator Julie Runnfeldt Operations Manager Jacob Severson Facility & Exhibits Coordinator

Visitor Experience Staff

Paris Brown Eric Christensen Kamini Doraivelu Susan Duven Robyn Erickson Haley Fens Shannon Goodreau Jana Greenslit Kayla Greunke Rebecca Haynes

Elliot Johnson Cassi Krueger Calvin Manuel Mariah Mateo Tabitha Meyer Kathryn Monfils Kassidy Rinehart Sheila Stojak Mariah Tralonga Claire Zhuang

 

Board of Directors

Sandra Began - Sandra Began Marketing	Chair
Dean Hunt - SVA Certified Public Accountants, SC	Vice Chair
Deborah Wetter - Valley Transit	Vice Chair
Joe Toonen - Grant Thornton	Treasurer
Jim Wurm	Secretary
Tom Mangold - U.S. Bank	Past Chair
Dr. John Mielke - Retired Cardiologist	Board Member
Nan Bunnow - Appleton Area School District	Board Member
Amy Henselin - Grant Thornton	Board Member
Patrick Began - Morgan Stanley	Board Member

 

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Ways to Save With free memberships, free admission days and coupons, you can visit the museum as often as you would like! Learn more