Children’s Museum of Atlanta Encourages Cultural Discovery in Acknowledgement of National Hispanic Heritage Month

In honor of Atlanta’s Latine communities and Hispanic Heritage Month, which starts on Sept. 15, Children’s Museum of Atlanta invites children and caretakers to explore a range of engaging and educational activities inspired by Latin American trailblazers. September’s playful learning activities highlight Mexican-American Astronaut Ellen Ochoa, Mexican Olympic rowing athlete Kenia Vanessa Lechuga Alanís, Puerto Rican healthcare pioneer Dr. José Celso Barbosa, and Latina dentist Dr. Martha J. Mutis! Interactive experiences include designing surgical tools in Jane’s Innovation Station and crafting beautiful art skylines in the Art Studio. Building Blocks is back just in time for the school year! Building Blocks: Preschool Playtime facilitates imaginative play on Artsy Mondays, Tinkerin’ Tuesdays, Messy Thursdays and Jam Session Fridays. On Sept. 21, the whimsical world of Wallace and Gromit invites kids to blast off in Wallace’s rocket to the moon, fix the Autochef and more at the Museum’s newest featured exhibit, Wallace and Gromit: Get Cracking!

September Programming
​Through Monday, Sept. 30
​This month, Jane’s Innovation Station encourages young minds to design their own surgical tools and discover ways to contribute to the medical field like Dr. José Celso Barbosa. Kids will go on a rowing adventure like Olympic Athlete Kenia Vanessa Lechuga Alanís. During Space Math, kids will explore planetary gravity and also learn about Ellen Ochoa – a NASA astronaut who became the first Latina in space when she flew aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery in 1993! At the Science Bar, discover oral hygiene lessons from dentist Dr. Martha J. Mutis. The Art Studio encourages little ones to design and build a papercraft reminiscent of the colorful skyline of Guanajuato! On the weekends, the family will be delighted by a whimsical storytime inspired by Latin American folklore.

CMA On Stage
​11 a.m. “Martina Has Too Many Tías” (weekends only)
​1 p.m. Rowing Expedition
​3 p.m. Space Math

Art Studio
​Children will create, cut and assemble their own masterpiece, crafting a timeless work that resembles the vibrant skyline of Guanajuato, Mexico beautifully merging architecture, culture and art.

Jane’s Innovation Station
​At Jane’s Innovation Station, young creators will dive into an exciting collaborative activity, designing and creating their own surgical tool! Throughout the design process, they can explore ways to help others through the medical field while learning about Dr. José Celso Barbosa, one of the first persons of African descent to earn a medical degree in the United States.

Building Blocks

Artsy Mondays
​Sept. 9, 16, 23 and 30
​10 a.m. – Noon

Explore the vivid world of color in the Artsy Monday space, where toddlers mix colors and experiment with color combinations while developing fine motor skills. Drawing inspiration from the bright and colorful style of artist Jamie Domiguez, this immersive activity encourages creative expression through painting. Play time will close with a toddler storytime!

Tinkerin’ Tuesdays
​Sept. 10, 17 and 24
​10 a.m. – Noon

Build and experiment with the Marble Run, where children work together to construct pathways and watch balls roll through their creations. This activity promotes persistence and resilience by encouraging the exploration of different combinations and connections. It also fosters cognitive development by engaging problem-solving skills as young kids aim to complete the run and ensure the balls travel smoothly through the course. Play time will close with a toddler storytime!

Messy Thursdays
​Sept. 12, 19 and 26
​10 a.m. – Noon

Toddlers will refine motor skills by practicing scrubbing with a toothbrush, moving it in various directions and patterns. This activity focuses on fine motor control and grip strength to promote healthy habits, all while recognizing the contributions of Dr. José Celso Barbosa. Play time will close with a toddler storytime!

Jammin” Fridays
​Sept. 6, 13, 20 and 27
​10 a.m. – Noon

Engage in a lively Friday Jam by mimicking the moves of the national birds of various Latin American countries, all set to music. This activity blends imaginative play with puppets, cooperative interaction between children and caregivers and the development of gross motor skills. Little ones can celebrate the theme by dancing and playing like their feathered friends! Play time will close with a toddler storytime!

Coming in September:
​Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024 – Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025

Wallace and Gromit: Get Cracking!
​The Children’s Museum of Atlanta’s newest exhibit, Wallace & Gromit: Get Cracking!, transports visitors to the cozy North England home of the cheese-loving inventor Wallace and his loyal dog, Gromit. Visitors can step into their whimsical world, where they can blast off in Wallace’s rocket to the moon, fix the broken Autochef and design their own cracking contraptions. This interactive exhibit is designed to spark creativity and build problem-solving skills by encouraging children to tackle STEM-based challenges in fun and engaging ways. Ideal for ages 3 to 9, the exhibit also includes a “tot spot” for children under three. The exhibit is proudly sponsored by Georgia Natural Gas, with additional support from the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs and Fulton County Arts & Culture.

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About Children’s Museum of Atlanta: ​
​Children’s Museum of Atlanta is the only educational venue of its kind in Atlanta, presenting educational programs and exhibits designed for young children ages 0-8. The mission of Children's Museum of Atlanta is to change the world by sparking every child's imagination, sense of discovery and learning through the power of play. With learning zones consisting of bright, creative and hands-on exhibits, the Museum supports inventive play-based exploration and experiential learning focused on the whole child. Core competencies for literacy, math and science are promoted throughout all exhibits and programming in alignment with the state and national Core Performance Standards. Funding has been provided by Georgia Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. For more information, please visit GeorgiaHumanities.org. Major support is provided by the Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs and major funding is provided by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners. Children’s Museum of Atlanta also offers memberships. For more information or to support Children's Museum of Atlanta, visit childrensmuseumatlanta.org or call 404.659.KIDS [5437].

Museum Admission: ​
​Online ticketing and walk ups are available at this time. Phone booking is available with ample notice and will be booked via online reservation. Members must pre-book for guaranteed admission and will be able to redeem their $5 voucher with this ticket type. Babies 11 months and younger and members are admitted for free and must reserve their free ticket online prior to arriving at the Museum. All daily programs are included in price of admission. For more information regarding ticket and membership options, visit childrensmuseumatlanta.org

Museum Hours: ​
​The Museum will operate in a timed entry model where guests can visit between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The Museum is closed on Wednesdays. Please check the Museum website to confirm hours of operation.