Wonder Works Children’s Museum is a hidden gem in Oak Park, located just off North Avenue near River Forest, Forest Park, and Elmwood Park. This one-level children’s museum is perfect for families with young kids—especially infants and toddlers. The open layout gives it a playroom feel and makes it easy to keep an eye on little ones while they explore.
Wonder Works invited us to come check out the museum with complimentary tickets; all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Wonder Works Children’s Museum Exhibits
The first thing you will notice upon entering Wonder Works is the beautiful color scheme throughout the museum. The new color refresh about a year ago gave everything a “softer” feel, making it calm, yet fun. Some even have gorgeous murals that relate to the exhibit.
Wonder Works features 11 hands-on exhibits designed for imaginative and educational play.
Standouts include:
- Wonder Town – A mini town with a daycare, fire station, library, and vet clinic for pretend play
- Build It – Wooden blocks + LEGO tables for open-ended STEM play
- Art Works – Painting and ceramics in a quieter, more focused space
- Lights, Camera, Action – Costumes, instruments, and stage play (can get busy!)
- Prewalker Wonderland – Soft, calm space for babies learning to move
- Light Lab – Light board, magna-tiles, and interactive projections
Other areas include sensory tables, nature play, and outdoor-inspired climbing and building zones.
Tip: Look for QR codes around the museum. They explain what kids are learning through each exhibit.
Wall of Wonder
The Wall of Wonder is a large wall made of foam covered in blocks of different colors, shapes, and sizes. This exhibit is good for exploring colors and shapes, but also helps to lay the foundations for geometry and physics.
The Great Outdoors
The Great Outdoors Exhibit features a large tree house to climb (staircase) with a padded play area. “Willow” branches drape below as you explore the outdoors. Large soft blocks are left to build a large bee hive. You can knock the entire hive down and rebuild again. When all the pieces are together, you can use the little opening as a door and play inside the bee hive.
Wonder Town
Previously Farm to Market, Wonder Works expanded and transformed the concept into Wonder Town. The “Farm to Market” conveyor belt, fruit stand, and sorting baskets still remain throughout the “town.”
Children can walk down the miniature town and explore the Daycare Center, Fire Station, Library, or Vet Clinic.
The Daycare Center has plenty of baby dolls to care for, as well as a fridge, cribs, dining table and rocking chair. Entering the Fire Station, you can grab a firefighter hat or a construction hat, grab a tool box and run wild with imagination. The Library, as you can imagine, is a cozy space to grab a book and snuggle up to read. Children can put on a lab coat and get to work in the Vet Clinic. There are soft and hard animals ready to be cared for.
Build It
Build It is a great STEM spot for children of all ages. There is an open space for wooden block building and a few different Lego tables to create by yourself or together. This exhibit encourages both communal and imaginative play.
Art Works
Art Works is where the art magic happens. In this room, children can paint and enjoy creative play. Art Works also has a ceramic class where children (and adults!) can purchase ceramics to paint in the museum or at home. This area is separate from the flow of the museum. This allows children to be a bit more focused on their creation.
Lights Camera Action
Lights Camera Action is a multifaceted exhibit. Not only are the children working through the various elements of “stage life” and behind-the-scenes work, but this exhibit does a fantastic job of showcasing the importance of all jobs and of opening children’s minds to new careers. In this exhibit, children work together to showcase their acting or musical talents.
Toys include costumes, musical instruments, a camera, lights, sound effects, a production board, and more. Because this exhibit is so hands-on and there is so much to choose from, it can has the potential to be more chaotic. This is the great place to discuss the importance of sharing, taking turns, and working together to achieve common goals.
PreWalker Wonderland
Located by Build It, you will find PreWalker Wonderland. Nestled in the corner of the museum by a very large window, I found it to be very calming and low stimulating for little minds. The entire space is matted with a soft-block wall for the pre-walkers to climb and take steps without worry.
Sensory Zone
Sensory Zone offers rotating item sensory tables. Children can choose to indulge in as much as they choose. We visited the museum during Dino Works, which meant the sensory table was filled with dinosaur teeth and fossils.
Light Lab
Light Lab is a newer addition to Wonder Works. As you make your way though, you will notice the bright “Litezilla” near the stage. Litezilla is a large light peg board for children to create their best masterpieces. Adjacent to Litezilla, you will find a light-up table with colorful magna-tiles.
The last light exploration activity, is a large white screen with color projectors. As you step (or dance) in front of the white screen, you will witness colorful prisms on your body, as well as the colors projected on the screen.
Children’s Garden
The Children’s Garden is where children can learn about the life cycle and the circle of life. They can learn how to plant vegetables and flowers, as well as the various native pollinators. Children can also learn about the relationship between humans and food, and learn explore more about their own relationship(s) with food.
Becky Boyce Nature Play Space
Becky Boyce Nature Play Space is a really cool space. Here children can enjoy a snack, water play, or play with an assortment of toys. As if being outside is not exciting enough, children can also learn about composting in the play space. For a city kid, learning to compost was a cool touch.
Parking at Wonder Works
Although located on North Avenue, the entrance to the museum is in the back of the building. This allows families to enter without worrying about the hustle and bustle of traffic along North Avenue.
Wonder Works does has a very small parking lot, and street parking is available. The museum is on a side street (Elmwood) that has a cul-de-sac, and patrons of the museum are free to park there.
More parking is available on the surrounding streets. Be sure to check meter and time limits if you are utilizing street parking.
Food at Wonder Works
Wonder Works is a nut-free environment and does not allow food inside of the museum. They do, however, sell snacks such as applesauce, crackers, water, and juice boxes on-site. There is a designated area for eating; snacks cannot be eaten throughout.
Looking to grab a meal out after your trip? Melrose Park is about 15 minutes west on North Avenue (IL-64) and has a plethora of fast food options. I’d recommend eating before arriving at the museum and, depending on how far you have to drive, pack snacks for the ride home.
Museum Hours
Wonder Works is open 9:30am – 4:00pm Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. They are closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and open 10:00am – 4:00pm on Sundays. If you are a museum member, you are welcome to visit the museum starting at 9:00am on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. These hours are updated as of March 2026 and are subject to change. Check the website for closures, events, private parties, and holiday hours.
Wonder Works Prices
All guests ages 1 and up will pay $15 for general admission. Veterans /Active Military, First Responders, Teachers/Educators, and Seniors are $13. Families (up to 4 guests) in possession of an EBT card or WIC are admitted for $5 under the Museums for All program. Pricing was updated in March 2026 and is subject to change.
Recommended Ages
I believe Wonder Works is best for infants through 5 years old. Most exhibits are built for smaller children who are conquering various gross motor skills. The exhibits are low enough for infants and toddlers to reach, but simple enough for 3 and 4-year-olds to understand.
My four year old loves all of the exhibits and is able to spend two hours here without losing interest. My toddler is able to do mostly everything and can explore without getting overwhelmed.
Best Days/Times To Go to Wonder Works
Wonder Works has a few days closed for field trips and school events. Our recent visit was on a Saturday morning and by 10:30 the museum was getting to be more crowded. We have visited on a weekday morning in the past and it was calmer. Weekends tend to be busier, as do rainy days.
Accessibility
Wonder Works is wheelchair accessible. There is one bathroom in the museum so during crowded times there can be a wait. The bathroom is handicap-accessible and has a changing table. Aside from the party room, there are no quiet areas at the museum. At any point during your visit, the front desk offers noise canceling headphones for any child (or adult) who may be feeling a bit overwhelmed. Wonder Works for Everyone are monthly play events for children seeking a sensory-friendly experience.
Upcoming Special Events
Dino Works began March 27 and goes through April 13, 2026. This event is offered free with guest admission. This will also mean it is free for members as well.
We were lucky enough to explore the museum during Dino Works. The entire museum was fully decked out with a dinosaur theme. Dinosaur books and action figures were located in a few of the exhibits. There were various building opportunities to build your own dinosaur, including large foam bones and smaller block manipulatives. Art Works had different prehistoric crafts set up and we took home a few different pieces of art. One of the biggest hits for my girls were the Dino costumes, puppets and props at Lights Camera Action.
Wonder Works teamed up with the Field Museum and borrowed one of their Dinosaur Skulls. This is displayed in the hallway; guests can get a close look, but it will be roped off.
Throughout Dino Works, there will be a variety of shows, parades and stories to entertain all your dino-loving kids. Your child will even have a chance to be a paleontologist with the fossil digging kits offered!
In addition to themed weeks throughout the year, they also offer daily programing. During our visit, there was an option to participate in infant and toddler yoga. Be sure to check their page to plan ahead for these special offerings. Other upcoming themes include Earth Week, Superheroes and Bugapoolza.
Tips for Your Trip to Wonder Works Children’s Museum
- Wonder Works is a shoe-free zone. Remember to pack socks for the entire family. You can also purchase socks onsite.
- The are no lockers. The museum has cubbies and cubicles for personal belongings. Because there is nothing to lock and store belongings it is not ideal to bring more than what you need.
- There are very few places for parents to sit. This encourages you to sit on the floor and engage with your child(ren). If you suffer from bone injuries or arthritis, or you’re simply not flexible, try to bring an older child or someone else with you who can move easily and keep up with the children. Most things are low to the ground, so the kids tend to move quickly.
- There is no partition between the entrance/exit door and the rest of the museum. Be mindful of this when your littles are around The Wall of Wonder and Great Outdoors Exhibits.
- I wouldn’t recommend a stroller; I have previously worn a baby carrier for my non-walking baby.
Is Wonder Works Worth it?
The short answer for me- YES! I was able to spend a few hours with two children under four years old and that alone is worth the visit. The museum itself is on the smaller side when it comes to the term “museum” but it feels like the perfect size. I was able to confidently watch my two children without worry or feeling overwhelmed. And there are plenty of things to do to keep them engaged.
I think visiting Wonder Works during a theme or daily program is worth the hype (especially when the program is included in admission). I felt that my girls were able to get much more out of the visit because of the extras involved and gave an extra learning layer to the visit.
When you purchase daily admission, you are able to leave and come back later that day which is a huge perk (especially with those nappers!) If you have children under five, I think Wonder Works makes for a great play-date location, a fun-filled morning and totally worth it.
Wonder Works Children’s Museum
6445 W North Avenue
Oak Park, IL 60302
(708) 383-4815
Want to keep the fun going? Check out all the amazing children’s museums near Chicagoland!
