The fall season is in full swing, and while your calendar might be packed with festivals, apple picking and pumpkin carving, we promise you'll want to make time to take in a one-of-a-kind exhibit across the country. With national debuting exhibits (Harry Potter is finally here!), interactive experiences (a Trolls adventure is opening in NYC), and even the chance to see some familiar faces (like Mr. Potato Head, Winnie-the-Pooh and Thomas the Tank Engine), museums and pop-ups are where it's at this fall—trust us. Read on for 15 cool exhibits that are worth visiting this season with your kids!
1. Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg at Skirball Cultural Center, LA
Skirball Cultural Center
2701 North Sepulveda Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA
When: October 19–March 10, 2019
Why we're excited: Explore the life and career of Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the first-ever exhibit dedicated to the notorious Justice's life. The exhibit will take visitors through her personal life and career through home videos, personal items, listening stations, and even 3D replicas of her childhood home, the desk in her chambers and the Supreme Court bench. Plus, you can even see a robe and jabot from her own wardrobe! The exhibit will also highlight her crucial role in social justice issues and historic Supreme Court cases.
2. Hamilton Was Here at the Museum of The American Revolution, Philadelphia, PA
The Museum of The American Revolution
101 S 3rd St
Philadelphia, PA
When: October 27-March 17, 2019
Why we're excited: If you haven't made your way to Broadway yet, make your way to the Museum of the American Revolution instead! This educational exhibit dedicated to all things Hamilton will highlight the relationship he had with Philadelphia, along with his crucial contributions to America's founding. Through interactive elements, games and scenic environments (and dress up stations!), the interactive playscape will transport little visitors to the late 1700s so they can see firsthand just how crucial his role in American history was.
3. Mickey: The True Original Exhibition, NYC
When: November 8-February 10, 2019
Why we’re excited: 2018 is the 90th anniversary of Mickey Mouse, and what is Disney if not ready for a celebration. To honor Mickey the lovable Mouse, Mickey: The True Original Exhibition will pay homage to the impact Mickey Mouse has had on global culture and art over the last near century. The 16,000-square-foot immersive experience in New York City's Meatpacking District will feature larger-than-life art installations, exclusive artwork from contemporary artists, plenty of photo-ops, and, of course, a few surprises.
4. Dreamworks Trolls The Experience, NYC
When: November 15-January 6, 2019; preview days start in October
Why we’re excited: Big news for Poppy and Branch fans—a brand-new, 12,000-square-foot interactive Trolls experience is coming to New York's west side this fall. The visually stunning adventure will bring kids and parents face-to-face with the Trolls they fell in love with on screen. During the 60- to 90-minute adventure, visitors will be treated to a 3D dance party hosted by resident DJ Suki, a sing along with Poppy and her friends, Dreamworks Trolls collectibles, temporary tattoos, 3D glasses, and family memories that will last a lifetime.
5. Yayoi Kusama High Museum of Art, Atlanta, GA
High Museum of Art
1280 Peachtree St NE
Atlanta, GA
When: November 18-February 17, 2019
Why we’re excited: Explore the iconic work of legendary Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama at the famous Infinity Mirrors exhibit. The installation will not only wow your little museum-goers, but also add some serious color to your Instagram feed. Explore six captivating rooms that are designed to test the senses—think polka-dotted pumpkins, a room covered in stickers and a space filled with lights.
6. My Sky at Bay Area Discovery Museum, Sausalito, CA
Bay Area Discovery Museum
557 McReynolds Road
Sausalito, CA
When: Through January 6, 2019
Why we’re excited: The sky’s the limit at the Bay Area Discovery Museum this fall! The beloved children's museum is welcoming My Sky—an interactive, space-themed exhibit that teaches kids about the sun, moon and stars, and their impact on our everyday lives. The traveling exhibit (created in collaboration with Boston Children’s Museum and Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, and funded by NASA) will feature interactive stations and educational elements, and will leave your family with a newfound wonder of the world above us. Learn about solar events (like eclipses and solar tornadoes), create a constellation of your own and explore a topographically accurate scale model of the moon—it was created using the most up-to-date data from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.
7. Ripley’s Believe It or Not at Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
3000 North Meridian Street
Indianapolis, IN
When: Through January 6, 2019
Why we're excited: Explore the specimens, wonders and whatchamacallits of Ripley's Believe It or Not at Indianapolis Children's Museum's exhibit this fall. Step inside a life-sized model of a 50-foot prehistoric snake, examine how a two-headed calf came to be, trick your senses with a series of optical illusions and get an up-close look at Willard Wigan’s teensy-tiny sculptures—these are just a few of the odd yet fascinating experiences your kids will ooh and ahh at.
8. Winnie the Pooh at Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
Museum of Fine Arts
465 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA
When: Through January 6, 2019
Why we’re excited: Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring a Classic, brings one of the most beloved childhood characters to Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts all the way from the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. The exhibit curators designed an experience that captures the imaginations of both kids and adults, who have likely both grown up with Winnie-the-Pooh in their lives. You can also get a look at early editions of A.A. Milne’s (the creator) works, including manuscripts and letters, not to mention cartoons, ceramics and even fashion that helped to maintain Winnie-the-Pooh's popularity since its first publication in 1926.
9. Thomas & Friends: Explore the Rails at Please Touch Museum, Philadelphia, PA
Please Touch Museum
4231 Avenue of the Republic
Philadelphia, PA
When: Through January 6, 2019
Why we're excited: Your favorite train is rolling his way to the Please Touch Museum, and he's bringing the rest of the Thomas and Friends gang with him! At this Thomas-themed experience, little visitors will be transported to the Island of Sodor where they'll enjoy a series of STEM and multi-sensory stations inspired by the beloved television series. Here, you can build train routes, fix Percy's wobbly wheels and adjust the train schedule using basic math skills.
10. The Lion Guard Exhibit at the Discovery Cube OC, Santa Ana, CA
Discovery Cube Orange County
2500 North Main Street
Santa Ana, CA
When: Through January 13, 2019
Why we’re excited: Little ones (or their The Lion King-obsessed parents) won’t want to miss The Lion Guard, an exhibit based on the Disney Junior spin-off series, which features Mufasa's grandson, Kion. Visitors can train in the Lion Guard's secret lair, learn about the African savanna and go on missions to protect the Pride Lands using the characters' unique traits.
11. Planet Pioneers at Space Center Houston, Houston, TX
Space Center Houston
1601 NASA Parkway
Houston, TX
When: Through January 20, 2019
Why we're excited: You'll be tasked to source your own food, shelter and solve problems in an unknown world in Space Center Houston's newest experience. Do you have what it takes to adapt to a new planet? Virtual reality and 4-D technology will help you find out! Work with your family to try and find the right combinations of ingredients to grow your own potatoes, launch your own bottle rocket, build a scale model of your own habitat and tons more.
12. The Adventures of Mr. Potato Head at Port Discovery Children's Museum, Baltimore, MD
Port Discovery Children's Museum
35 Market Place
Baltimore, MD
When: Through January 21, 2019
Why we're excited: Something spud-tacular is calling the Port Discovery Children's Museum home this season. Embark on a series of adventures with Mr. Potato Head himself at this exhibit—go scuba diving to meet new underwater friends, join the "spud quest" to search for treasure, explore the galaxy in the S.P.U.D. space station and even go on a spud-themed safari! Plus, there's a cool collection of Mr. Potato Head parts and accessories.
13. Harry Potter: A History of Magic at New-York Historical Society, NYC
DiMenna Children's History Museum at NY Historical Society
170 Central Park West
New York, NY
When: Through January 27, 2019
Why we’re excited: Harry Potter is now beloved across generations, so both you and your kids will get a kick out of this literary exhibit. Journey through the world of Harry Potter by exploring the treasures that made it what it is today, including centuries-old manuscripts, original drawings of the covers, costumes from the play and first-draft manuscripts from J.K. Rowling herself. There are also plenty of engaging and interactive activities for all ages, including trivia, art workshops and creative writing.
14. Creatures of Light: Nature's Bioluminescence at the Frost Museum of Science, Miami, FL
Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science
1101 Biscayne Blvd
Miami, FL
When: Through April 21, 2019
Why we’re excited: You can get inside the recreated landscapes of bioluminescent creatures at this exhibit, visiting Florida from the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. If critters like fireflies and glow worms tickle your fancy, you'll be rapt by this exhibit that explores their unique biology, including plenty of "glow in the dark" experiences.
15. The World of Hilarious Invention at Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Children's Museum of Pittsburgh
10 Children's Way
Pittsburgh, PA
When: Through May 5, 2019
Why we're excited: Make your very own chain-reaction contraption like Rube Goldberg himself! The Children's Museum of Pittsburgh's new exhibit showcases the Pulitzer Prize-winning inventor, and encourages little visitors to invent, create and laugh along the way. Like Rube, you can activate and build contraptions that turn everyday, simple tasks into overcomplicated and hilarious experiences—sharpen a pencil, create musical chain-reactions, try on a goofy self-operated napkin machine and more.