Gilbert House Children's Museum, Children's museum in Salem, United States

The Gilbert House Children's Museum occupies several historic Victorian buildings in Riverfront Park, including the Andrew T. Gilbert House, plus a 1998 replica of the Wilson-Durbin House. Its 16 hands-on S.T.E.A.M. exhibits and a 20,000-square-foot Outdoor Discovery Area with a 52-foot Erector Set tower, three giant slides and a maze fill the site.

The museum was founded in 1989 and incorporates the Andrew T. Gilbert House, a building registered in the National Register of Historic Places. This foundation in preserved architecture gives the institution a place with established cultural standing in the community.

The museum takes its name from Alfred Carlton Gilbert, the inventor of the Erector Set, and displays several of his inventions. Its 16 hands-on S.T.E.A.M. exhibits include Farm to Table, the Vet Clinic, Fortopia and Bill's Bubble Factory, alongside summer camps, birthday party packages and outreach programs. It housed the National Toy Hall of Fame until selling it to the Strong - National Museum of Play in 2002.

The museum sits inside Riverfront Park, with the Victorian houses holding the indoor exhibits and a 20,000-square-foot Outdoor Discovery Area holding the 52-foot Erector Set tower, three giant slides and a maze. Expect to move between buildings and open ground, so allow time for both parts of the visit.

The collection houses the world's tallest Erector Set tower, standing 52 feet (16 meters) high and demonstrating engineering fundamentals. This structure shows how children can understand complex mechanical concepts through building games.