Despite the name, there is much more to The Newark Museum of Art than art—with creative interactive exhibits, a family-friendly planetarium, and programming engaging kids and their parents, the state’s largest Museum offers a chance to immerse your family into a day of wonder and curiosity. Read on for the surprising and fun things to do while you’re there, and take a look at more of our favorite museums in New Jersey. (featured photo credit: NJ MOM)

The Newark Museum Of Art

Exploring the Museum

Before you get started, get the lay of the land—the Newark Museum of Art contains 80 galleries of collections that include Asian, American, African, and Classical art, in addition to lots of kid-friendly places to explore. Older kids will enjoy seeing the Ballantine House from 1885, which recently reopened after a multi-million dollar renovation inside and out. The mansion highlights the unseen stories of the skilled craftspeople who built the home, those who kept it running, and the Ballantine family who lived there through rotating exhibits of contemporary art, historical objects, and new interactive experiences. Younger families will want to focus on exhibits like the interactive Animal Kingdom on the third level and, in warmer months, The Garden, which includes a Fire Museum, Old Stone Schoolhouse, and Discovery Garden. The Museum is one big loop around, and plan to spend the bulk of your visit at Animal Kingdom, featuring animal and oceanic creature displays that beg “please touch me” to keep kids engaged. Kids will be mesmerized by the Audubon Immersive Experience, where they can travel through forests, coastal areas, and wetlands to see Audubon’s Birds of America come to life. They’ll also want to experience the Animal Match Game, where you can step into a cave of ancient rock drawings to learn about the animals pictured.

See an aquarium come to life 

At one of the newest exhibits, Sketch Aquarium: Connected World, visitors are invited to draw creatures on paper and scan them to “swim” in an underwater digital aquarium designed by the international art collective teamLab. Kids will be thrilled to see their drawing leap from the page and watch the sea creation enter the digital habitat. It’s truly interactive—tap on the wall to change the course of the sea life or follow your drawing. There’s also a bag of treasure that floats by every so often. Kids can touch it to reveal gems that “feed” the fish and their creations.

Engage in family activities

Each month, check out the First Family Saturdays, where the whole family can immerse themselves in art and even catch a live performance. From events like planetarium shows to creative play to acts of service and science drop-ins, parents and kids will find engaging in the activities a fun way to create and learn. Tip: check the activities beforehand since they are recommended for ages and locations can vary. Before you visit, you can also engage in virtual tours and games at home to get everyone excited about the upcoming visit. Try to find the culprit in a Murder Mystery Game or use your skills during Escape at The Ballantine House, where you work together to solve puzzles.

See the world at the Alice and Leonard Dreyfuss Planetarium 

For kids who want to learn more about space (and parents who need a relaxing break), a stop at the Alice and Leonard Dreyfuss Planetarium in the South Wing is a must. Look for unique presentations that change throughout the year—there are usually two shows, one for younger children and one for ages 12 and up. Though the planetarium is smaller than other museums, it still gives you an out-of-this-world experience that kids of all ages will love. Currently, The Little Star That Could Show offers a journey with Little Star and Navajo Skies, allowing you to watch and listen as a Navajo family teaches their children and grandchildren about the night skies. 

What to know before you go

Tickets to the Museum are $10 for adults and $8 for children, seniors 65+, and teachers and students with valid IDs. Free admission is granted to members 2 years and younger, Newark residents, active duty military, veterans and their families, and some other exceptions. The planetarium is first-come, first-served, and included in general admission. The Museum is open Thursday-Sunday and closed Monday-Wednesday. Due to current construction, there is no longer on-site parking, but the Museum has partnered with nearby garages, and parking on the street is available. There is a handicapped entrance with automated doors, elevators to the first and second floors, and stroller wheelchair-friendly restrooms on the second level. The main level bathroom is not stroller-friendly—you need to climb a small flight of stairs to get to it. The cafe offers breakfast and deli to-go lunch items, and there are small tables to eat at. Exhibits rotate throughout the year, so be sure to check often to see what’s new and what’s closing. 

Learn more about The Newark Museum of Art by visiting their website, Facebook, and Instagram.

The Newark Museum of Art 
49 Washington Street
Newark, NJ 07102

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