Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine
Portland's premier destination for young children, featuring three floors of hands-on exhibits, live performances, and imaginative play spaces.
The Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine (CMTM) occupies a renovated building in Portland’s Arts District, filling three floors with hands-on exhibits designed for children from infancy through age 10. This isn’t a museum of looking—it’s a museum of doing, where kids can build, climb, splash, pretend, and explore in spaces designed specifically for their scale and curiosity.
The addition of a dedicated theater brings live performance into the mix, with shows tailored for young audiences throughout the year. For families visiting Portland with children, the museum offers a reliable, engaging destination regardless of weather or season.
The Exhibits
Ground Floor
Our Town: A kid-sized Portland with a fire station, veterinary clinic, diner, and more. Children role-play adult activities with realistic props and costumes. The lobster boat is particularly popular.
Meadow: For the youngest visitors (0-3 years). Soft play structures, sensory activities, and a protected space for crawlers and new walkers.
Second Floor
Explore Floor: A highlight of the museum, featuring climbing structures that extend across the full height of the building. Kids can ascend through a multi-story tree house, with challenges appropriate for different ages.
Water exhibit: Hands-on water play with pumps, channels, and flow experiments. Smocks provided; expect some wetness anyway.
Third Floor
Camera Obscura: A working camera obscura offering real-time views of Congress Street. One of only a handful in the United States. Fascinating for older children and adults.
Art Studio: Rotating art projects and materials for creative exploration.
The Theatre
The Wex Theatre hosts family-friendly performances throughout the year—puppetry, music, storytelling, and age-appropriate drama. Shows typically run 30-45 minutes, perfect for young attention spans.
Ticket note: Theatre performances are often separately ticketed from museum admission.
Practical Information
Location
Address: 142 Free Street, Portland, ME 04101
Located in Portland’s Arts District, near the Portland Museum of Art. Street parking available; nearby garages for longer visits.
Hours
Open daily; check current hours and holiday closures on their website. First Friday of each month often features extended hours.
Admission
- Admission fees for children and adults
- Children under 1 free
- Members enjoy unlimited visits
- Check for reciprocal museum agreements
Best Ages
The museum is designed for children 0-10, with sweet spots at different areas:
- Infants/toddlers (0-3): The Meadow, water play
- Preschool (3-5): Our Town, climbing structures
- Early elementary (5-8): Explore Floor, Camera Obscura
- Upper elementary (8-10): Theatre, special programs
Children over 10 may find the exhibits too young, though the Camera Obscura remains interesting.
Time Needed
Most families spend 1.5-3 hours at the museum. This allows time to explore multiple floors, return to favorites, and possibly catch a show.
Tips for Visiting
Beat the Crowds
- Weekday mornings: Lightest crowds
- Weekend mornings: Can be very busy
- Early afternoon: Post-lunch crowds thin somewhat
- Summer: Busier overall; weekdays still best
With Toddlers
- Start in the Meadow where the space is protected
- Avoid peak hours when older kids are running through
- Bring a change of clothes (water play)
- Use the nursing room as needed
With Preschoolers
- Allow time in Our Town for extended pretend play
- The climbing structures will be a major draw
- Prepare for reluctance to leave
With Elementary Kids
- Head to the upper floors for age-appropriate challenges
- The Camera Obscura offers learning opportunities
- Check the show schedule for theater options
General Tips
- Socks are required on climbing structures (bring extras)
- Lockers available for coats and bags
- Cafe on-site for snacks
- Restrooms on each floor
- Stroller parking available
Combining with Other Portland Activities
Portland Museum of Art
Directly nearby. Parents can take turns visiting with older children while younger ones continue playing at CMTM.
Lunch Options
- Congress Street restaurants: Many family-friendly options within walking distance
- Portland Public Market: Indoor food hall with variety
- Slab: Pizza across the street
Old Port
A 10-minute walk to Portland’s historic waterfront district, with shops, restaurants, and harbor views.
Deering Oaks Park
A short drive or walk to Portland’s largest park, with playground, pond, and open space.
Special Programs
Classes and Camps
The museum offers:
- Toddler classes
- Art workshops
- School vacation camps
- Birthday party packages
Memberships
For local families, membership pays for itself quickly:
- Unlimited visits
- Guest passes
- Discounts on programs and parties
- Reciprocal admission at participating museums
The Experience
The museum hums with the sound of children at play—the clatter of the pretend diner, the splash of water tables, the thump of climbing feet on wooden structures. Parents hover, help, or sit on benches designed for adult-sized waiting.
In Our Town, a four-year-old in a firefighter helmet climbs the toy truck with complete seriousness. At the veterinary clinic, stuffed animals await examination by young doctors. The lobster boat draws children who learned about fishing in picture books and now get to pretend they’re at sea.
Upstairs, the climbing structure challenges kids to find their own routes up, around, and through. The Camera Obscura reveals Congress Street upside-down on a viewing table, a trick of optics that still feels like magic.
The museum accomplishes what the best children’s museums do: it takes play seriously. Every exhibit invites exploration, every space fits small bodies, every challenge is designed to be achievable. Children leave tired, happy, and not quite ready to go.
The Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine offers Portland’s best rainy-day destination for young families and a worthy attraction on any day. The combination of active play, imaginative exploration, and live performance serves children across the early childhood spectrum. Expect to stay longer than you planned—that’s the sign of a museum doing its job.