The Children's Museum — Attraction in West Hartford

I visited the children's museum on August 9, 2013, with my daughter in law, ten month old grandson, and two and a half year old grandson. Our main reason for our visit was to see the butterfly exhibit, as my grandson is a huge fan of them. We went on a rainy day, not realizing that their butterfly exhibit is outside and that butterflies would not be flying around. We found this out when buying our tickets, but decided to see the museum anyway. The exhibits include LOTS of snakes, lizards, reptiles, and bugs, so if you're looking to view these kinds of creatures, you will see a lot. There are also some furry friends: chinchilla, desert foxes, possum, bunnies, etc. My grandson had a lot of fun rolling balls down a chute in one room, and playing on the yogi bo in another room. It was difficult for my daughter in law to get around the museum, since there are a lot of stairs and she had the ten month old in a stroller. If she had used the ergo instead, the visit would have been easier for her. The one bad experience I had was when I went back to the front desk to ask for a partial refund, since the purpose of our visit was butterflies, they could not be seen, and I had not seen any warning about this on the web site. A very professional young woman whose name was something like Nisha greeted me. I asked to speak with a manager and she immediately called him. She told him a guest wanted to speak with him. He asked her what the guest wanted to speak to him about. She told him "about the butterfly exhibit". He then said "what about the exhibit". I told her I would speak to him over the phone, then took the phone. He asked how he could help me. I told him I would like a partial refund. He put me on hold, then came back and said he would take off my two and a half year old's admission fee. The young woman at the desk was apologetic, took of the fee, and then offered to try to make up for the lack of butterflies by taking out an animal that my grandson might like to see up close. I thanked her, and she showed him the desert fox. This 'manager' was too busy to come down to speak with me, did not apologize, and did not express understanding for my frustration, or offer anything to make up for the fact that the exhibit we came for was, in effect, closed. We came for my grandson, and I paid 30 dollars in order for my daughter in law and myself to be admitted with him. This seems like a lot of money to me. I have to say again, though, Nisha was exceptionally professional. Staff were running around like crazy on this rainy museum day, no manager in sight, and she kept her cool and impressed me greatly. The 'manager' was unfortunately rude. If I was going to return: I would go on a sunny day, and would go alone with my grandson, therefore not having to pay two adult admission fees. I would then pay only one adult and one child fee, 28.50. Still a lot, but I think it would...

This review is for public but for those who run the Children's Museum. What happened!? It just feels like its run by people who lost interest or dont care about the place anymore. I used to go as a child, I worked there as a teenager and into college, and now im older and sometimes bring my own kids...not as much anymore, I used to be able to give it 5 stars, I'm giving 2 but that's generous!!

I loved this place and its sad watching it go downhill over the years. I'm not sure how they can call it a museum anymore, no funds going to "exbihits." They used to have electronic moving life-size dinosaurs with fun interactive exhibits that had facts and things to learn from, that time money and effort was put into creating and maintaining, but NOW it seems like they aren't putting any time effort or money into the place... Their dinosaur exhibit today is a small room with a few plastic kid sized dino toys and a couple plaques with info on dinosaurs movies and pictures. The other exhibits aren't much better unfortunately.

I understand they're relocating and are temporarily in a synogue basement (temp really meaning for years as they have no plans on an actual place yet) but they just don't put anything into their museum anymore, it's turned into a low budget Playspace for very young children. I recently visited the Science museum in Hartford and there's no comparison as the one in Hartford is a REAL museum with real quality exhibits... the "exhibits" that the Childrens Museum used to have in the past that made it a museum (that for some reason they got rid of) I now see such exhibits at the Hartford Science museum. The children's museum has been downsizing over the years, but too much to still charge as do and call a museum, just very few props left that only take the kids attention for a couple minutes, nothing relevant or entertaining or even very educational anymore. Its just so unfortunate!

It just feels like its run by people who lost interest or dont care about the place anymore. It's like then Children museum is no more and now theyre overcharging peoole to see some low quality remnents of what it used to be!! Sad to say but its the...

So so sad. They moved from their old location. Supposedly this new location is temporary but I heard there are no plans as to where they are going. This was in the basement of a synagogue. I had to drive around the building to make sure I was in the right place. After paying $15! each, it was one basement hallway with very small rooms off of each side. The old museum was MUCH bigger with many more play/ exploration areas and a rotating large rotating exhibit space. A perfect place for field trips. It was a special place. The beloved children’s museum of many years and generations is gone. This new space is very sad. Can be interesting for very little kids, 1-5. Not older than that. The old museum was engaging for older kids as well. We got to see someone feed a few of the animals as well as a large snake that was taken out to pet and learn about. This was the best part. Also they charge $15 a person. Spending $45 for 3 of us for this lackluster experience was very disappointing. We visit a place in CT that is now similar in experience, since this children’s museum has changed so drastically. They charge $6 a person. That’s a much more appropriate price for this new west Hartford children’s museum. Very, very disappointed. And so very sad that such a special...