The Gale Museum — Attraction in South Jordan

This is a fantastic, perfect-sized museum. It's small but more extensive than you would think when you walk in. It's about the history of South Jordan and it has lots of pioneer-related things, and exhibits about the Kennecott copper mine, pioneer homes, an old fashioned store, school, mining tunnel, post office, and a "fishing" stream, and the history of medicine in Utah with a large exhibit about the human body, blood, and heart. There were only a couple of exhibits closed due to covid I'm assuming, but everything else was open and mostly hands-on. Everything is in very good condition and nothing looks yucky or broken. There are 2 buildings outside to look at and explore so don't forget those either! One is a dug out house and one is a granary. I was nervous to take my kids here because several reviews state how uptight the workers are about what kids cannot touch or play with. The volunteers were definitely monitoring what could be touched and what couldn't, and the workers also were monitoring if things were being taken out of exhibits into other rooms, which was hard because several of the rooms are all connected and related, like the market and the kitchen. There are lots of things that kids can touch and play with, but tons of things that they cannot touch or play with, but are also not fenced or gated off so it makes it hard to keep kids off of them so that was a bit stressful! I will definitely come back because this place is an absolute gem, but only when my husband can come with me and can help monitor the kids! There's a button that kids can push in the human body area that makes heart beat sounds, and my toddler loved pushing it, but after a while a volunteer told her to stop pushing it, so that was kind of annoying that she couldn't play with something that was meant to be played with. A really fantastic place to take the kids for a few hours. Open Tuesday-Thursday 10-6, Fridays 10-4. No appointment needed. Nice bathrooms....

Five stars simply aren't enough to capture the incredible experience we had at the Gale Center of History and Culture! From the moment we walked through the doors, it was evident that this wasn't your average museum visit – it was a journey through time filled with excitement and discovery.

What truly sets the Gale Center apart is its dedication to providing hands-on activities and interactive learning experiences. As a family, we were able to immerse ourselves in history like never before, engaging with exhibits in a way that made learning both fun and memorable. Whether it was exploring themed areas or participating in educational games, there was never a dull moment.

The attention to detail in each exhibit was remarkable, with every area thoughtfully themed to transport visitors to a different time and place. It was clear that a lot of thought and care went into crafting these immersive environments, and it truly paid off in the way it brought history to life before our eyes.

The staff were very friendly and fun, welcoming us in and showing all the exciting things to do!

One of the experiences was an old general store where the kids could pick out fake groceries and play pretend shopping. This was one of the highlights of our visit and a creative touch that added to the overall charm...

This place is absolutely darling, and my kids LOVE it so much. It’s free, and it’s never crowded.

HOWEVER, the docents are belittling and hovering micromanagers.

You walk in to a printed version of the rules, then they tell you the rules, then they follow you around making sure you’re following the rules, and they add extra rules like “keep the noise level down,” (uh.....kids are playing?!), and “don’t stand by that huge horse because it might fall on you,” (WHAT?!!! If you are worried about children’s safety, shouldn’t that giant horse be BEHIND A ROPE?!).

When a parent tells you they understand the rules, when a kid tells you they understand the rules, LEAVE THEM ALONE, and let them play...and supervise their own children.

Also, the dumb rule about not taking stuff from room to room is lame.

Also, the rule about keeping the drum beating and bell ringing to a minimum is lame. Take them out if you don’t want to hear...