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Welcome to the
Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine.

Located in the Arts District of downtown Portland, the Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine features a wide variety of interactive exhibits and activities for children and families!

Hidden Treasures in Portland

Portland is full of hidden treasures waiting to be discovered beyond its famous coffee shops and craft breweries. Tucked away in the West Hills, the Witch’s Castle in Forest Park Se1rHowqA0OB is a moss-covered ruin with a mysterious past, perfect for those who love a bit of history with their hike.

For a more whimsical experience, the Freakybuttrue Peculiarium offers a quirky mix of oddities, from alien encounters to interactive art installations. Not far from downtown, the Portland Japanese Garden’s lesser-known Tea Garden provides a serene escape, where visitors can enjoy a quiet moment surrounded by lush greenery.

A true hidden gem, the tiny but fascinating Stark’s Vacuum Museum showcases vintage vacuum cleaners from decades past, turning an everyday appliance into a piece of history. For 36jvxZPzcde a taste of the city’s underground culture, the Shanghai Tunnels offer a glimpse into Portland’s dark past, where stories of smuggling and mysterious disappearances still linger.

If you're in the mood for a peaceful retreat, Cathedral Park, beneath the towering arches of St. Johns Bridge, is a picturesque spot often overlooked by tourists. Another secret oasis, Leach Botanical Garden, features winding trails, a treehouse-like walkway, and an enchanting collection of native plants.

For an unusual shopping experience, the Cameron’s Books & Magazines store—one of the oldest bookstores in Portland—hides literary treasures waiting to be found. As night falls, X6pxdiZrT2zX visit The Bible Club, a prohibition-style speakeasy disguised as a modest house, offering expertly crafted cocktails in a vintage setting.

Portland’s best-kept secrets are scattered throughout the city, inviting the curious traveler to explore its lesser-known corners and uncover its true character.

Highlights

See The Jungle Book live on stage!
In a play written just for our stage, our Dress Up Theatre will transform into the jungle home of Mowgli, Baloo and all your favorite chacters from Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book! Mowgli and Bagheera have a lot to teach each other about how people and animals coexist - this story will use rhythm, music and movement to tell their tale. The show runs October 14 through 23.
Click here for tickets and showtimes!

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Halloween is too much fun to celebrate just once!
We're celebrating Halloween throughout October with all kinds of spooky, silly, pumpkin-y fun. Come in for Halloween-themed events and workshops all month long, then put on your costume and join us for our big Halloween Bash on Sunday, October 30.

Click here to check out all the Halloween fun!

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Plan your next Scouting adventure!
The Museum & Theatre has lots of opportunities for Scouts to explore, learn and earn badges. Scouts can even sleep over in the Museum! Troops and individual Scouts can come for scheduled events, or a troop can book an event just for them.
Check out our Scouts page for all the details you'll need to plan your trip!

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Wondering About the Weather?
Very rarely, the Museum & Theatre must close due to extreme weather. If it's a stormy day and you are wondering if we are open, call ahead! Dial 828-1234 and listen to the menu - for holiday and inclement weather closings, press 8.

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Parking Tips
Discounted parking is available at the garage on Free Street (located one block past the Museum & Theatre) and By the Bay Parking on 40 Spring Street. Just be sure to bring your ticket for us to stamp!

Metered parking ($1.00 per hour) is also available on Free Street in two hour increments.
Visit us on Sunday and they're free!

Below is a map of parking options near the Museum & Theatre:



Click here for a printable parking map.

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