Terre Haute Children's Museum, Indiana
Museum with a major rail exhibitOpen Tuesday to Sunday; closed Mondays
The Terre Haute Children's Museum is a nonprofit, three-floor museum of hands-on science and play on Wabash Avenue, built so kids can explore science, technology, engineering and math at any age and stage.
- Three floors of hands-on play
- Admission $9, under 2 free
- Closed Mondays
- Ropes Challenge Course
- Toddler Tuesday programs
Terre Haute Children's Museum at a glance
- Hours
- Tuesday to Friday 10 am to 4 pm, Saturday 10 am to 5 pm, Sunday 12 pm to 5 pm, closed Monday
- Admission
- $9 for ages 2 and up, under 2 free, members free; Ropes Challenge Course extra
- Plan for
- About 2 hours
- Best for
- Families with toddlers and elementary-age kids
- Best ages
- Toddlers to about age 12
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
- Address727 Wabash Avenue, Terre Haute, IN 47807(opens in a new tab)
- Phone(812) 235-5548
- Websitethchildrensmuseum.com(opens in a new tab)
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Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Terre Haute Children's Museum? Bring Rally along.
In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Terre Haute.
Rally Takes the Train
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Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $13.99 on Amazon.
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A downtown science museum built around play
The Terre Haute Children's Museum is a nonprofit dedicated to enriching children's lives through play and exploration of science, technology, engineering and math. From its home at 727 Wabash Avenue it serves families across West Central Indiana, filling three floors with exhibits meant for every age, from preschoolers at the water table to big kids on the ropes course.
It is listed among Indiana's rail-related stops because of railway exhibits, but the museum's website does not currently describe a train exhibit among its galleries. Families coming specifically for trains should call (812) 235-5548 to ask what is on the floor right now. For a full dose of local railroad history, the Wabash Valley Railroaders Museum on Plum Street, a tribute to the region's railroad workers, is in the same city.
Water tables, a tree house and a ropes course
The museum lists Wonders of the Wabash, a water table where preschoolers can splash and learn, along with Water Works, the Tree House, Bees, Butterflies and Blooms, and a Ropes Challenge Course for older kids. A math room and other programs round out the three floors. Check the museum's All Exhibits page for anything new or under construction.
Don’t miss
- Ropes Challenge CourseA test of courage for bigger kids, open on set hours most days with a small extra fee for non-members.
- Wonders of the WabashA water table named for the local river where the youngest visitors can splash and experiment.
Built for kids from toddlers to big kids
Everything here is made for children. Toddlers have their own Toddler Tuesday program and the water play exhibits, while older kids can try the Ropes Challenge Course, which runs on shorter hours than the museum itself. Homeschool Days, before and after school care and field trips for Pre-K through 2nd grade (with labs for older students) give local families more ways to visit.
If your child is all about trains, confirm with the museum whether any train exhibit is on display before you go, then pair the visit with a stop at the Wabash Valley Railroaders Museum in the same city.
Plan your visit: tips for Terre Haute Children's Museum
- The museum is closed on Mondays, and special closures can happen, so check its closures page.
- Ropes Challenge Course hours are shorter than museum hours: Tuesday to Friday 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, Saturday 11:30 am to 3:30 pm, Sunday 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm.
- Bring a change of clothes for little ones who head to the water exhibits.
- Call (812) 235-5548 to ask whether a train exhibit is on display before a train-themed trip.
A nonprofit supported by families and volunteers
The Terre Haute Children's Museum is a nonprofit institution. Families can support it with a family or grandparents membership, donations, volunteering, sponsoring a brick or attending its Top Chefs fundraiser, and the museum also takes part in the Access Pass Program and a network of partner science centers.
Trains to see around Terre Haute
The Wabash Valley Railroaders Museum is right in Terre Haute and is the natural pairing for a train-loving kid. The Linden Depot Museum is about 57 miles away and the Indiana Railway Museum in French Lick about 76 miles. Find more in our list of Indiana train museums.
- Wabash Valley Railroaders MuseumTerre Haute, IN · same town
- Linden Depot MuseumLinden, IN · about 57 mi
- Monticello Railway MuseumMonticello, IL · about 74 mi
- Indiana Railway MuseumFrench Lick, IN · about 76 mi
- Indiana Transportation Museumformer Noblesville museum, IN · about 84 mi
- Nickel Plate ExpressNoblesville, IN · about 84 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
A children's museum is built for pretend play, and I think a lot of little ones would happily take a turn as Mr. Conductor. In our book he wears a blue uniform and holds out a hand to help Rally aboard, the kind of small kindness a corgi with short legs appreciates. My kids are learning to read, and that page is one they come back to. Our coloring pages include him if your child wants to try the uniform in crayon.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.
Get the free coloring pages
A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)More for train families
- Train museums in Indiana: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Indiana
- Halloween train rides in Indiana
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Terre Haute Children's Museum?
We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.
Sources
- Terre Haute Children's Museum official website(opens in a new tab)
- Terre Haute Children's Museum on Facebook(opens in a new tab)
- Terre Haute Children's Museum on Instagram(opens in a new tab)
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Terre Haute Children's Museum: 20 questions parents ask
What are the Terre Haute Children's Museum hours?
As of October 2026, the museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 am to 4 pm, Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 12 pm to 5 pm. It is closed on Mondays. Special hours and closures can happen, so check the museum's website before you head out.
How much does the Terre Haute Children's Museum cost?
As of October 2026, museum entry is $9 for everyone age 2 and older, and children under 2 get in free. Members are admitted free. The Ropes Challenge Course costs extra: $7 for non-members, $3 for members, and free for members with the ropes add-on. Tickets can be bought on the museum's website.
Where is the Terre Haute Children's Museum?
The museum is at 727 Wabash Avenue, Terre Haute, Indiana 47807, in the city's downtown. It serves families from across West Central Indiana. The museum does not post parking details online, so call (812) 235-5548 if you want advice on where to park.
Does the Terre Haute Children's Museum have a train exhibit?
The museum's website does not currently describe a train or railway exhibit among its galleries, which include water play, a tree house, a butterfly and garden area and a ropes course. Call (812) 235-5548 before a train-focused visit to ask what is on display. The Wabash Valley Railroaders Museum in Terre Haute is a good rail stop.
What exhibits are at the Terre Haute Children's Museum?
Across three floors, the museum lists Wonders of the Wabash, Water Works, the Tree House, Bees, Butterflies and Blooms, a math room and the Ropes Challenge Course, with some areas marked as under construction. The All Exhibits page on the museum's website shows what is open now.
What are the Terre Haute Children's Museum ropes course hours?
As of October 2026, the Ropes Challenge Course runs Tuesday through Friday from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, Saturday from 11:30 am to 3:30 pm and Sunday from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm, and it is closed Mondays. Those windows are shorter than regular museum hours, so plan your arrival around them.
Is the Terre Haute Children's Museum good for toddlers?
Yes. The museum is designed for any age and stage, and preschoolers love splashing at the Wonders of the Wabash water table. It also runs a Toddler Tuesday program for the youngest visitors. Children under 2 get in free, which makes a short toddler visit easy on the budget.
What is Toddler Tuesday at the Terre Haute Children's Museum?
Toddler Tuesday is one of the museum's learning programs for its youngest guests, held on Tuesdays. The museum lists it under its programs but does not post the full schedule on the main pages. Check the Toddler Tuesday page on its website or call (812) 235-5548 for times and details.
How long should I plan at the Terre Haute Children's Museum?
About two hours is a good plan for most families. The museum's own self-guided field trips are built around two hours of exploring three floors. Add time if older kids want the Ropes Challenge Course, which has its own time window each day.
Is the Terre Haute Children's Museum open on Mondays?
No. The museum is closed to visitors on Mondays. The museum office is staffed Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4 pm, so you can still call (812) 235-5548 on a Monday with questions about tickets, parties or field trips.
Can you have a birthday party at the Terre Haute Children's Museum?
Yes. The museum offers parties and rentals and lists them on its website under Parties and Rentals. Package details are not on the main visitor pages, so check that page or call the museum office at (812) 235-5548, Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4 pm, to ask about dates and pricing.
Does the Terre Haute Children's Museum offer field trips?
Yes. As of October 2026, self-exploration field trips cost $7 per student and $4 per chaperone, with teachers free, for groups of 15 or more students in Pre-K through 2nd grade. Older students take the Field Trip Lab option. Trips run Wednesday through Friday starting at 9 am. Book with the online Field Trip Request Form.
Does the Terre Haute Children's Museum have memberships?
Yes. It offers a Family Membership and a Grandparents Membership, and members get free museum entry plus discounted or free use of the Ropes Challenge Course. It also takes part in the Access Pass Program and a partner science centers network. Details are on the Join section of the museum's website.
Does the Terre Haute Children's Museum have homeschool programs?
Yes. The museum runs Homeschool Days as part of its learning programs, alongside Math Happens, the math room and school outreach. Dates are not listed on the main visitor pages, so check the program overview on the museum's website or call (812) 235-5548 for the current schedule.
Is the Terre Haute Children's Museum wheelchair and stroller friendly?
The museum does not post accessibility or stroller details on its main visitor pages. Because exhibits are spread over three floors, call (812) 235-5548 before your visit to ask about elevators, stroller parking and any accessibility needs so staff can help you plan.
Is there a gift shop at the Terre Haute Children's Museum?
The museum lists a Science Store on its website. It does not post details of what is stocked, so ask at the front desk when you visit or call (812) 235-5548. Purchases and donations help support the nonprofit museum's programs.
How can I support or volunteer at the Terre Haute Children's Museum?
The museum is a nonprofit, and it welcomes donations, volunteers, brick sponsorships and in memory gifts. It also holds a Top Chefs fundraiser. Use the Support section of its website or call (812) 235-5548 to learn about volunteer roles and current needs.
How do I contact the Terre Haute Children's Museum?
Call (812) 235-5548 for immediate help, or use the contact form on the museum's website, which asks for a name, email and comment. The museum says to allow two to three business days for a reply to online messages. The office is open weekdays from 8:30 am to 4 pm.
What can older kids do at the Terre Haute Children's Museum?
Big kids usually head for the Ropes Challenge Course, which the museum describes as a test of courage. Students in 3rd grade and up are also offered Field Trip Lab programs, and the math room and science exhibits give older children more to explore than toy play alone.
What train museums are near the Terre Haute Children's Museum?
The Wabash Valley Railroaders Museum is in Terre Haute itself and tells the story of the region's railroad workers. The Linden Depot Museum is about 57 miles away, the Monticello Railway Museum in Illinois about 74 miles, and the Indiana Railway Museum in French Lick about 76 miles.
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