Children's Museums

Lutz Children's Museum

Name: Lutz Children's Museum
Address: 247 S Main St, Manchester, CT 06040, Manchester, CT, US
Telephone: (860) 643-0949
Rating: 4.3

★★★★☆ 4.3 (484 reviews)

📍 247 S Main St, Manchester, CT 06040

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🕐 Hours

Quick Facts

⭐The museum features a live animal ambassador program in its Animal Room, where staff selectively bring out animals (such as rabbits, ferrets, chickens, and turtles) during scheduled sessions rather than keeping them on continuous display
⭐The museum operates on an unusual schedule with a mid-day closure from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Tuesday through Friday, which is uncommon among children's museums
⭐Same-day admission fees ($13 per person) can be credited toward membership purchases, incentivizing visitors to convert to memberships on their first visit

🕐Visit on Tuesday-Friday mornings right when the museum opens to avoid the mid-day closure (12-1 PM) and experience the museum with fewer crowds. This timing works especially well for toddlers and young children.
💬Plan for a 1.5-2 hour visit maximum. Visitors report children become bored after this timeframe due to the museum's compact size. This is ideal for ages 2-7; older children (8+) may find it underwhelming.
💬Apply your same-day admission fee toward a membership purchase. If you plan to return, this makes financial sense and can offset the $13 per person cost quickly through repeat visits.
💡Check the events page before visiting to see which animal ambassadors will be brought out that day. The museum rotates which animals are presented during morning and afternoon sessions, so knowing the schedule enhances the experience.
💡The Animal Room is the highlight and a pleasant surprise for most visitors. Start there to capture your child's interest early, then work through the pretend play areas (bank, food stand, farm, market) and shadow puppet room.