Explore & More - The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Children's Museum

06/01/2026

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves!

Leave your review:
Google: exploreandmore.org/googlereviews
Trip Advisor: exploreandmore.org/tripadvisorreviews
Yelp: exploreandmore.org/yelpreviews

05/30/2026

Our flowers in the Art Studio are in full bloom!

05/30/2026

Voting for the Best of 716 is underway and we’d love it if you helped us get to the next round! The nomination period runs through June 16.

Go to exploreandmore.org/bestof716 and register an account. You can cast one nomination ballot per email address.

Click “In The Community” and nominate Explore & More in the following categories:
• Customer Service
• Destination for a Child’s Birthday
• Indoor Attraction
• Museum
• Summer Camp

Then click “Retail & Shopping”
• Nominate us for Best Gift Shop

The 5 businesses with the most nominations in each category will advance to the voting round that runs July 14-July 28.

Thanks to your support, we won Best Destination for a Child’s Birthday in 2025 and were named a “favorite” Museum and Indoor Attraction!

05/29/2026

Volunteers needed next weekend! Details ↓

Attention, Buffalo! The Marine Drive and Commercial Street installation will be taking place on Friday, June 5th from 9am-5pm, and Saturday, June 6th from 9am-12pm.

Buffalo Urban Development Corporation - BUDC is looking for volunteers! You can sign up at the link below⬇️
https://tinyurl.com/Volunteer-BUDC-Site1

05/29/2026

Happy Fifth Friday!

Thanks to M&T Bank volunteers and our friends from Spectrum Health & Human Services and Help Me Grow WNY for making today extra special.

M&T Bank presents Fifth Fridays at Explore & More provides free museum admission for local children and their parents, guardians, adult family members, or childcare providers.

Future Fifth Fridays will occur on July 31 and October 30.

05/28/2026

Due to ongoing construction at Heritage Point, Marine Drive between Hanover and Lloyd will be closed to vehicle traffic between 7am and 4pm on Friday, May 29.

Please observe posted traffic patterns around the museum. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Use code FRIDAY to unlock free admission tickets on May 29 thanks to M&T Bank. The Fifth Fridays program provides free museum admission for local children and their parents, guardians, adult family members, or childcare providers.

Reserve tickets here: https://exploreandmore.org/event/fifth-friday-may-2026/

Explore & More will be open 10am-4pm on Friday. Members can start playing at 9:30am.

Please note: If the museum is at or near capacity, walk-in admission is not guaranteed. Adults seeking admission must be accompanied by a child.

05/27/2026

The museum is celebrating its 7th birthday at Canalside and we’re hosting a special after-hours event for grown-ups 21+ on Saturday, June 27 from 5pm-7pm! Come play in the museum without the kids!

Featuring a cash bar by Resurgence Brewing Company (including a free drink with your admission ticket), face painting, a performance by WOW party & more!

Tickets are $35 each or $60 for a pair so bring a friend! Purchase your tickets at exploreandmore.org/grownup

05/27/2026

The next edition of M&T Bank presents Fifth Fridays at Explore & More will be held on Friday, May 29. The program provides free museum admission for local children and their parents, guardians, adult family members, or childcare providers.

Register here using code FRIDAY: https://ecom.roller.app/exploreandmore/onlinecheckout/en-us/product/955930?date=2026-05-29

Families are invited to participate in special, fun financial literacy programming that includes:
• Art Studio 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
► Money Melody Song Fun and Coin Identifying Puzzles

• Tinkering Tank 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
► “Roll & Find” number recognition activity, tangram puzzles and pom-pom pattern graphing

• M&T Bank Celebration Room 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
► Family math games and block building

• Additional Activities
► Activity + Story Time by Spectrum Health & Human Services Buffalo Hope
► Tabling/Screening Services by Help Me Grow WNY

Explore & More will be open 10am-4pm. Members can start playing at 9:30am.

M&T Bank Fifth Fridays at Explore & More are held during each month with five Fridays. Future Fifth Fridays will occur on July 31 and October 30.

Please note: If the museum is at or near capacity, walk-in admission is not guaranteed. Adults seeking admission must be accompanied by a child.

TRAFFIC UPDATE (5/28): Due to ongoing construction at Heritage Point, Marine Drive between Hanover and Lloyd will be closed to vehicle traffic between 7am and 4pm on Friday, May 29. Please observe posted traffic patterns around the museum. We apologize for any inconvenience.

05/22/2026

Fun times ahead at Explore & More! Stop by this weekend to celebrate Memorial Day with activities and crafts in our studios as well as play time in our world-class exhibits!

To celebrate America250, our Mobile Fun Unit will showcase the upcoming Living Document Project and kick off our summer of “Being Good Citizens” programming here at Explore & More.

Milk For Health will also be on-site Saturday serving free Patriotic Parfaits in the Cooking Galley from 12pm-2pm (or while supplies last).

Museum Hours are Saturday, May 23: 10am-4pm (Members at 9:30am) and Sunday, May 24: 11am-3pm (Hours for all guests due to the Buffalo Marathon). Please note, the museum will be closed on Monday, May 25 and Tuesday, May 26.

We are also proud to announce our participation in Blue Star Museums, a national appreciation program to thank our military families for their service and share with them America’s cultural treasures. Through September 6, 2026, we are offering free admission to the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve.

05/20/2026

Explore & More's hours will be 11am-3pm for all guests on Sunday, May 24 due to the Buffalo Marathon. Please be aware that some roads around the museum may be inaccessible in the morning.

Good luck to all of the runners!