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Children's Hands-On Museum: A World of Discovery in Tuscaloosa

Explore, create, and discover at Tuscaloosa's interactive children's museum, offering hands-on exhibits for kids of all ages!

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The Children's Hands-On Museum of Tuscaloosa (CHOM) is a vibrant and interactive space designed to spark curiosity and inspire a lifelong love of learning in children of all ages. With three floors of engaging exhibits, CHOM offers a dynamic learning environment where kids can explore a wide range of subjects through hands-on play.

A brief summary to Children's Hands-On Museum

  • Monday 9:30 am-5 pm
  • Tuesday 9:30 am-5 pm
  • Wednesday 9:30 am-5 pm
  • Thursday 9:30 am-5 pm
  • Friday 9:30 am-5 pm
  • Saturday 9:30 am-5 pm

Local tips

  • Arrive early, especially on weekends or during school holidays, to avoid crowds and make the most of your visit.
  • Check the museum's schedule for special events, workshops, or themed days to enhance your experience.
  • Be aware that food and drinks are not allowed inside the museum, but bottled water is available for purchase.
  • Take advantage of the free parking deck located a block away on 23rd Avenue and 7th Street.
  • Plan for at least 2-3 hours to fully explore all the exhibits and activities the museum has to offer.
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Getting There

  • Walking

    If you're in downtown Tuscaloosa, near the Bama Theatre, head north on Greensboro Avenue until you reach University Boulevard. Turn right onto University Boulevard and walk east for about half a mile. The Children's Hands-On Museum will be on your right, next to City Hall. This is a straightforward walk along a main thoroughfare.

  • Public Transport

    If you are near the University of Alabama, walk to the nearest bus stop on The Strip at University Blvd and 15th Street. Take the Tuscaloosa Transit bus route 1 towards the Northport area. Stay on the bus for a few stops until you reach the stop at University Blvd and 22nd Avenue. Exit the bus and walk one block east along University Blvd, and you will find Children's Hands-On Museum at 2213 University Blvd. A single ride fare is $1.25.

  • Taxi/Ride-Share

    From the University of Alabama campus, a taxi or ride-share to the Children's Hands-On Museum will be a short trip. Expect to pay around $5-$10, depending on the service and demand. The museum is located at 2213 University Blvd, next to City Hall.

  • Driving

    If approaching from I-359, continue onto University Boulevard heading east. The museum will be on your right. Be aware that street parking is limited to two hours on weekdays, with $18 tickets issued for exceeding the time limit. Free parking is available at the City's Intermodal Parking Deck on 7th Street and 23rd Avenue, a short walk from the museum. Parking at the deck costs $1 for the first hour and $2 for each additional hour.

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Discover more about Children's Hands-On Museum

The Children's Hands-On Museum of Tuscaloosa, affectionately known as CHOM, is a dynamic learning environment designed to stimulate curiosity, creativity, and shared discovery in visitors of all ages. Located in downtown Tuscaloosa, next to City Hall, CHOM offers three floors of interactive exhibits that encourage children to explore, create, and discover. CHOM's exhibits are designed to be hands-on and engaging, with a focus on learning through play. Popular exhibits include the Choctaw Indian Village, where children can explore a replica of a Choctaw village from the 1700s, make shell necklaces, mold clay pottery, and learn about the history of the Choctaw people. The Once Upon a Farm exhibit is a soft play area designed for newborns through age 3, featuring a nursing nook for mothers, animal sounds, shape sorting, and a silo slide. The Arts Studio allows children to explore visual and performing arts, compose songs on a floor piano, play organs, and create art on a computer Kaleidodraw. Other exhibits include a replica of the wheelhouse of a towboat, a developmental center for preschoolers called Beavers' Bend, the Japan House, Central Drug, Lil' Sprouts Farmer's Market, the Creation Station, and Beyond the Garden Gate. CHOM also hosts a variety of educational programs and special events throughout the year, including workshops, summer camps, and holiday events. The museum's exhibits are designed to stimulate children's curiosity about their community and their place in it, and to involve children, parents, teachers, and others in participatory education. The museum began in 1984 with a group of children in the Tuscaloosa County Schools' TARGET program. It opened in 1986 on the University of Alabama campus and relocated to downtown Tuscaloosa in 1988.

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