The Mint Museums: Families & Kids

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Families & Kids

There are many fun and educational things for families and kids to see and do at The Mint Museums! Find out about upcoming family days, classes and workshops by going to our programs calendar. Family Guides and Scavenger Hunts are available for many of our special exhibitions and permanent collections. Education Resource Centers at each site provide reference materials, computers, videotapes, hands-on activities and touchables. At the Mint Museum of Art, Gallery Activity Totes with related hands-on activities for children of all ages are available in many of the permanent collection galleries. Just ask at the admissions desk to learn more about these offerings. Don’t miss the STAR Galleries at both sites, featuring artwork created by area students. From home, check out fabulous Educational Websites related to museum collections.

Family Guides & Scavenger Hunts

Fun Family Guides accompany many special exhibitions, and are designed for parents and children to use together during their museum visit. Scavenger Hunts of the permanent collections are also available at both sites.

Download your guides here or pick up a copy at the admissions desk.

Educational Resource Centers

Educational Resource Centers are open to the public during all regular hours of operation, and provide reference materials, computer software, videotapes, hands-on activities and comfortable seating.

Gallery Activity Totes

Kids can connect hands-on learning experiences with the artwork in many of the permanent collection galleries of the Mint Museum of Art by using the Gallery Activity Totes. The totes, hanging on pegs in the galleries, are appropriate for a variety of ages. Create a giant collage in the style of Charlotte native Romare Bearden, seek and find Ancient American artifacts, or create your own landscape postcard inspired by American artists.

STAR Galleries

The artwork of area students shines in the STAR Galleries, our Student Artist Galleries. These galleries feature exhibitions of artwork by area K-12 students and museum workshop participants.

Visiting the Museum as a Family
Download this handy reference.

This Week at The Mint
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Become a member!
Discover the many benefits of becoming a museum member.

Programs & Events
View upcoming museum programs and events.

Fun & Educational Websites

Learn more about the art and cultures represented at the Museums by exploring these educational websites. Suit up a Mesoamerican ballplayer in ritual dress, try your hand at throwing a virtual pot on the wheel, explore North Carolina’s natural resources and more!

The Sport of Life and Death:
The Mesoamerican Ballgame

Visitors of all ages will discover Mesoamerica’s cultural history, visit archaeological sites and learn more about the world’s first team sport. Winner of the Best of the Web Award (Museums and the Web 2002) and the Gold Muse Award (American Association of Museums.)

Dig It!

A multimedia introduction for fifth and sixth graders to archaeology and the Ancient American world of the Maya, Aztecs and Incas. Explore ancient tombs, reconstruct pottery fragments and learn about the past.

Crafting North Carolina

An exploration of North Carolina’s history and craft tradition. Fourth graders and other students can explore natural resources, geography, cultures and traditions through the collections of The Mint Museums.

Hands on Crafts

An on-line studio for kids to play around with pottery, weaving, quilting and basketry. Come play and celebrate the legacy of North Carolina’s rich pottery and fiber craft heritage. Supported through a grant from The Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County and The Mint Museums.