Kids lead the way at Children’s Discovery Museum San Jose, where they can explore and discover through open-ended, play-based learning experiences. Now celebrating its 35th year, Children’s Discovery Museum San Jose (CDM or the Museum) has grown alongside the city and the larger Silicon Valley region it serves. Nestled between the Guadalupe River and a light rail stop—with nearby parking and easy major highway access—the Museum is conveniently located for Silicon Valley families and is an iconic landmark in the San Jose skyline. Designed by renowned Mexico City-based architect Ricardo Legorreta, the 52,000-square-foot building’s striking purple façade reflects its purpose: to spark creativity, curiosity, and lifelong learning, so that today’s children become tomorrow’s visionaries.

 

The Museum fosters a sense of wonder by encouraging children to find joy in play and discovery, creating opportunities for self-expression and achievement among youth, supporting the adults who care for and teach children, and reflecting the local community. From its earliest days, CDM has prioritized serving all children in one of the most diverse regions in the country. San Jose, northern California’s largest city and the 12th-largest in the US, has been a majority-minority city since the 1950s and is home to both some of the wealthiest and most economically challenged neighborhoods in the US. The Museum is nationally recognized for welcoming audiences that reflect this diversity, earning awards for its leadership in equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Since opening, the Museum has welcomed approximately 10.3 million visitors. In 2024, over 208,000 families, 22,532 group visitors, and 4,318 program participants experienced CDM’s hands-on exhibits and programs that engage the senses and challenge the mind.

 

As the premier children’s museum in Silicon Valley, CDM blends science, art, and the humanities, understanding that each is equally vital to learning. Focused on children under 10 years of age and their caregivers, the Museum’s interactive exhibits address children’s need to learn through concrete actions and harness the power of curiosity, play, and exploration. CDM offers 28,000 square feet of indoor exhibition space and a half-acre outdoor nature area, creating engaging learning experiences through more than 150 hands-on exhibits and programs in dedicated arts spaces, as well as indoor and outdoor science and nature galleries. Programs strive for authenticity, offering a spirit of discovery in events that bring families together for shared multidisciplinary STEAM experiences, including theater from professional, youth, and community artists; hands-on visual arts experiences honoring Silicon Valley’s artists and artistic traditions; and nine community celebrations of holidays throughout the year that share cultural experiences between residents. Developed in partnership with the local community, the Museum’s cultural celebration program honors our differences and fosters understanding. It builds connections while creating a sense of belonging for the children whose cultures are represented. Annual celebrations include El Día de los Tres Reyes Magos, Lunar New Year, Nowruz, Pride Month’s Proud of My Family, Juneteenth, the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, Diwali, Día de los Muertos, and Menorahs and Miracles.

 

CDM’s interactive exhibits, which encourage visitors to touch, experiment, and get creative, and its cultural programming, which highlights the community’s rich ethnic diversity, provide experiences that inspire imagination and inquiry, earning the Museum accolades. Recognition includes the 2001 National Award for Museum and Library Service, presented by First Lady Laura Bush, making it the first museum in California to receive this honor. Other distinctions include the American Alliance of Museums’ Award for Diversity, Equity, Accessibility & Inclusion and multiple Promising Practices Awards from the Association of Children’s Museums, as well as ranking in the top 10% of attractions worldwide in the 2020 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice.