About the Museum

The Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum (MHDM) is a children's museum in the Hudson River Valley between the larger New York City and Albany markets. It was formerly known as the Mid-Hudson Children's Museum, until the range of children it serves was extended to age 12 in 2022. The Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum is an independent 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational organization that is supported by admission and membership sales, program fees, donations, and grants. MHDM is a member of the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the Association of Children's Museums (ACM), the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC), and the Museum Association of New York (MANY). It receives nearly 80,000 visitors a year. The board of directors of MHDM is composed of volunteers. Founded in 1989 by a group of individuals in Poughkeepsie, the Mid-Hudson Children's Museum operated in donated spaces in the City of Poughkeepsie and then in the South Hills Mall for many years. In 2002, it moved to its current home at 75 North Water Street. The building is a mid-19th century industrial brick building that formerly housed Innis Dye Works. This location, on the banks of the Hudson River, is only a short walk to a 21-story elevator that goes up to the Walkway over the Hudson, a linear state park that was once a railroad bridge. Major upgrades to the MHDM facility were made in 2015 and 2016, which included the creation of a new Science Center and an outdoor Children's Garden. Visitors to the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum pay a $14.50 general admission (as of 2024), with children under one being free. The museum offers discounts for American military personnel with identification, and EBT or SNAP cardholders. MHDM also offers annual memberships for frequent visitors.