{{Short description|Museum in Mankato, Minnesota, US}} {{Infobox museum | name = Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota | native_name = | native_name_lang = | logo = Cmsm logo.png | logo_upright = | logo_alt = Logo of the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota | logo_caption = | image = | image_upright = | alt = | caption = | map_type = | map_relief = | map_size = | map_caption = | coordinates = {{coord|44.1619|-94.0134|type:landmark_region:US-MN|display=inline,title}} | former_name = | established = {{Start date|2015|05|01|df=y}} | dissolved = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}} --> | location = Mankato, MN | type = Children's Museum | accreditation = | key_holdings = | collections = | collection_size = | visitors = | founder = | executive_director = | leader_type = | leader = | director = | president = | ceo = | chairperson = Kim Kleven | curator = | architect = | historian = | owner = | public_transit = | parking = On-Site | network = | website = https://www.cmsouthernmn.org/ | embedded = }}'''Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota''' (CMSM) is a children's museum located in Mankato, Minnesota. It features regularly scheduled art and science activities.<ref>{{cite web |title=Indoor Enthusiast |url=https://www.visitgreatermankato.com/mankato/explore/recreation/indoor-enthusiast/ |website=Visit Greater Mankato |accessdate=27 March 2020 |ref=1}}</ref> Indoor exhibits include an interactive quarry, a tree made of tree forts, and a vertical wind-tunnel. The museum offers seasonal farm exhibits outdoors during the warmer months.<ref>{{cite web |title=Your Kids Will Love These Epic Minnesota Playgrounds |url=https://www.exploreminnesota.com/article/your-kids-will-love-these-epic-minnesota-playgrounds |website=Explore Minnesota |accessdate=27 March 2020 |ref=2}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Exhibits |url=https://www.cmsouthernmn.org/exhibits/ |website=Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota |accessdate=27 March 2020 |ref=3}}</ref>
==History== A group of educators began efforts to open a children's museum in 2009. In the summer of 2014, flood waters damaged the museum's planned exhibits.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Wahlstrom|first1=Karen|url=https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2015/08/09/finding-minnesota-childrens-museum-of-southern-minnesota/|title=Finding Minnesota: Children's Museum Of Southern Minnesota|date=August 9, 2015|work=WCCO-TV|access-date=March 31, 2020|last2=Binkley|first2=Mike}}</ref> After rebuilding the exhibits, CMSM opened on the 1st of May, 2015.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Gotlieb|first=Nate|url=https://www.mankatofreepress.com/news/local_news/children-s-museum-of-southern-minnesota-officially-opens/article_71d1a9be-f023-11e4-a135-b7ef9bc2662e.html|title=Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota officially opens|date=May 1, 2015|work=Mankato Free Press|access-date=March 26, 2020}}</ref>
==Location== The chosen site of the museum required extensive cleanup in partnership with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. With funding from a grant, over 2,500 tons of polluted soil and waste were removed. The existing building was made safe for renovation and use.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pca.state.mn.us/waste/cleanup-stories/children%E2%80%99s-museum-southern-minnesota|title=Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota|last=|first=|date=|website=Minnesota Pollution Control Agency|series=Cleanup Success Stories|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526092530/https://www.pca.state.mn.us/waste/cleanup-stories/children%E2%80%99s-museum-southern-minnesota |archive-date=2021-05-26 |access-date=March 31, 2020}}</ref>
== References == <!-- Inline citations added to your article will automatically display here. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WP:REFB for instructions on how to add citations. --> {{reflist}}
== External links == * [https://www.cmsouthernmn.org/ Official site]
Category:Children's museums in Minnesota