Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose

03/19/2025

On March 14, President Trump issued an Executive Order that would gut the only federal agency dedicated to supporting American museums. The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is a government agency that efficiently provides critical funding to museums and libraries in all 50 states.

We are asking you, our neighbors, our supporters, and members of our Purple family to email and call your representatives and ask them to speak up to the Administration about the importance of IMLS, and the importance of our Museum (and other museums and libraries!) to you, your family, and our community.

A link to templates and more information can be found in our bio.

03/19/2025

Look at all those smiling faces! So glad your group had a great time Genius Kids - Berryessa💜

03/16/2025

The NVIDIA GTC Conference is coming to the San Jose McEnery Convention Center March 16 - 21 and parking at nearby lots will be raised to $25. Museum visitors can use code CDM25 at the Woz/87 parking lot to avoid the increased fee and instead pay the normal amount of $7.

Please note this code is only valid for this parking lot and not for the parking lots on Almaden Boulevard or Auzerais Avenue.

03/06/2025

Would you bee-lieve that the Purple Museum has had its own beehives since opening in 1990?🐝 It’s true!

Honeybees in California are threatened due to pesticide use, climate change, habitat loss, competition with other hives, and other external factors. So we’re proud to do our part to be a welcoming home for our pollinator pals.🌸🍯

Next time you’re at the Museum, check out our bee boxes through the window near our Streets exhibit or at the Ranger Station in Bill’s Backyard. Bee sure to wave your little wings to say hi!👋🏼

02/28/2025

Have you stopped by the Wonder Cabinet lately?✨ Our 3,100 square foot space designed for children 0-4 inspires curiosity and imagination in the youngest of minds.🧠 Snuggle up with a puppet and a book, climb and crawl through a friendly dragon, step inside a child-sized kaleidoscope, and much, much more!

Plus, our new construction zone 🔨🚧activity encourages critical thinking, building skills, and creativity! And, you can now enjoy daily storytime📚 for toddlers Wednesday through Sunday at 11:30 a.m. See you there!

02/26/2025

Discover the beautiful customs and traditions of Nowruz at the Purple Museum!

Join us on March 29 to celebrate Persian New Year, welcome Spring🌷, and spend quality time with your loved ones!

Enjoy traditional music and dance, learn about the Haft-sin table arrangement, and make your very own Spring crown🌿👑 For more information, see the link in our bio!

02/19/2025

Update: This event is completely SOLD OUT. Standby wristbands will be available on the event day but do not guarantee a visit with Gabby. We can't wait to see you March 23!

🎉 Calling all Gabby’s Dollhouse fans! 🐾✨ Are you ready to meet Gabby? Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose is hosting a special MEOWseum Discovery Days event on Sunday, March 23, and we’re bringing the magic of Gabby’s Dollhouse to life with a purr-fect Meet & Greet!

Your little ones can step into Gabby’s magical world, snap pictures with loveable costumed characters, and share big smiles and hugs. 🌈💖 This will be a day they’ll never forget!

Reservations are required as capacity is limited. See the link in our bio to learn more, select your Meet & Greet time preference, and purchase tickets! Let’s make this a pawsitively amazing day together!

Fun and Learning for Bay Area Kids and Families

02/12/2025

Did you know that our Exploration Portal is more than just a great place to run, play, jump, and climb?🏃💨

It also is engineered to be kind to the environment!🌿🌧️

For example, Exploration Portal features stormwater management systems like xeriscape bioswales and overflow bioretention gardens to reduce runoff to the Guadalupe river and also remove debris and pollution. A rain catchment system on the roof of the Museum directs water to a 7,200 gallon cistern for irrigation. We love sustainability!🙌🏼

02/11/2025

Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science!🔬👩‍🔬 Here are some snapshots of our BioSITE program in action, which is led by a brilliant woman in science, Bhek Morton.

BioSITE is a field-based environmental science program in which students learn watershed ecology and environmental stewardship through inquiry investigations and cross-age mentorship.

Trained high school students serve as mentors for small teams of elementary students, creating a community of learners that works together performing water quality tests and engaging in fun educational activities along local creeks throughout the school year.

Click the link in our bio to learn more about the program and watch the full video!

02/04/2025

We are hiring a Party Host to work at the Purple Museum! Are you energetic, enthusiastic, and excited to work with kids? This could be the role for you!🥳

Party Host responsibilities will include event coordination, guest engagement, financial management, and safety and cleanliness, among other duties. Read the full job description and apply here: https://www.cdm.org/about/employment/

We can’t wait to work with you!

02/03/2025

Help us welcome our new artist-in-residence, Zachery Ramos!🎨

Zachery Ramos is a passionate Lego artist who has been playing with Lego bricks since the age of six. From a young age, he was captivated by the vibrant colors and the limitless possibilities they offered.

Over the past five years, Zachery has dedicated himself to using Lego bricks as his primary medium to create intricate and inspiring scenes. His work focuses on themes that educate and inspire youth about their community, the environment, and the importance of staying active.

Come by the Neiman Art Studio on a weekend to meet Zachery and create art with Legos!

02/03/2025

02/03/2025

01/17/2025

Honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Purple Museum! Join us on Monday for interactive performances and special art projects that emphasize the importance of the day and invite visitors to reflect on the message and mission of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Image 2: Oriki Arts’ visiting season artistic director Dr. Olabisi Aditya will perform “Echoes of a Dream” in the Brandenburg Theatre at 11am, 12pm, and 1:30pm. The interactive presentation uses the African storytelling style to invoke and pay tribute to the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King.

Image 3: Join us in the Nieman Art Studio to create your very own painted paper plate peace sign!

01/16/2025

Have you stopped by FoodShed yet to grab a Mexican mocha or a Mediterranean wrap to fuel your day of play? We’re so excited to offer food options for visitors again and would love to hear your thoughts! Is there anything you’d like to see at the cafe?

We love what owner Nadir Ali said: “We believe it’s easier to have good quality if you have fresh ingredients. We use all local vendors, local farms, to support the community, and now we get to be a part of the Museum community. We are proud to be here, and it’s an honor to be here.”

01/15/2025

🚨New exhibit alert!🚨 Opening Saturday, January 18

Our new traveling exhibit, Potential Space: A Serious Look at Child’s Play, showcases a collection of stunning, full-color photographs by award-winning photographer Nancy Richards Farese.

Captured over seven years across 14 countries, including Burkina Faso, Cuba, Haiti, Jordan, and the U.S., these images celebrate children engaged in spontaneous, unstructured play, free from adult supervision.

Farese’s evocative photos not only capture the joy and universality of play, but also provoke reflection: Where does play fit in our own lives, and how can we ensure that all children have the opportunity to play their way into a healthy adulthood and a more equitable world?

Nancy Farese Photography

01/08/2025

We are so excited to have iJAVA Café at the Purple Museum! Stop by the cafe, located at our FoodShed, to grab a hot chocolate, vanilla latte, cookie, or croissant to fuel your day of play.