A Leading Museum Focused on Children’s Creativity. World-class cities are defined by their iconic civic, cultural and educational institutions—their leading schools and universities, symphonies, theater and dance companies, and museums. Many of these great cities have founded dedicated children’s museums, because of the profound and lasting impact they have on the physical, emotional and cognitive development of children. Among the nation’s top children’s museums, the Bay Area Discovery Museum is an acknowledged pioneer, leader and innovator. It is renowned for its mission of developing childhood creativity through the original and inventive use of child-directed, discovery-based play. Every great cultural institution has its niche—the development of childhood creativity is ours.  

Filling The Void: The Creative Imperative. Creativity—the capacity for original thought, new connections, adaptive reasoning, and novel solutions--if nurtured and supported during childhood, has positive and far-reaching implications for fulfilling adult potentiality. While all children are born with creative capacities, research indicates that by age 10 many children have lost up to 70% of their creative capacity, and as adults we utilize a mere fraction of our original creative potential. In a global society where change is radical, constant and accelerating, creativity is an imperative for success. Yet, precious few institutions focus successfully on the many facets of creative development—especially childhood creative development.

A Place Where Children Discover Their Own Way. From its inception twenty years ago, our mission has been to develop the many facets of childhood creativity and play. Our trademark approach emphasizes open-ended, child-directed, discovery-based activities, in which there are infinite ways to play, discover, and create—not a single, ‘correct’ way as determined by adults. These are the types of early experiences that researchers have linked positively to the cultivation of lifelong creativity, and it is the type of play that happens for thousands of children each week at the Bay Area Discovery Museum.  

An Extraordinary Setting for Extraordinary Childhood Experiences. With its panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay and one-of-a-kind location at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge—deep in the heart of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the museum’s setting is unique among the world’s children’s museums. To this extraordinary backdrop, we bring a systematic program of best-practices and unrivaled resources:

1. A 7.5 acre, indoor-outdoor environment that harmonizes nature and nurture;
2. A safe, child-centric campus that promotes self-direction, creativity, and discovery through hands-on exhibitions;
3. Expert-guided workshops in the arts and sciences;
4. Multi-cultural programs that celebrate the Bay Area’s rich and varied cultures and communities;
5. Aggressive outreach to children and families in under-served communities, where the need for open-ended play and creative development is most acute; and
6. A platform for advocacy and thought leadership on childhood play and creativity and its lifelong benefits.

A Foundation for Future Innovators and Creative Thinkers. The future of the Bay Area resides in its children and youth. The Bay Area Discovery Museum is committed to that future, and to nurturing future generations of creative thinkers and innovators. Play, Discover, Create!