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| Established | 1998 |
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| Location | 902 North 8th Street Sheboygan, Wisconsin 53081 United States |
| Coordinates | 43°45′15″N87°42′47″W / 43.75417°N 87.71306°W |
| Public transit access |  Shoreline Metro |
| Website | www |
The Above & Beyond Children's Museum is a nonprofit children's museum in downtown Sheboygan, Wisconsin. It offers interactive, play-based learning experiences for children and families, combining exhibits, programs, and community engagement.
Location: 902 North 8th Street, Sheboygan, Wisconsin 53081
Facility: The museum occupies a three-story historic building, with approximately 10,000 square feet of exhibit space plus a mezzanine.
Outdoor facility: The “Purple Octopus Playground,” an accessible outdoor playground, is part of the museum’s offerings.
The museum is a member of the Association of Children's Museums. [1]
The museum started as a travelling “road show” featuring interactive children’s exhibits, serving the community before it acquired a permanent space. Above and Beyond has operated from its current three-story historic building at 902 N. 8th Street since 1999.
Over its years of operation, the museum has grown in its exhibits, programs, and community reach, instituting improvements like the outdoor Purple Octopus Playground.
Floor-by-floor themes:
First Floor / Nature & STEAM: STEAM-in-Nature theme with a treehouse, wind tunnel, peg board, pin screen, etc.
Second Floor / Arts & Culture: Includes art studio (“Wonder Workshop”), a toddler barnyard, culture exchange, story tree, music exhibits.
Third Floor / Community & Imaginative Play: Fire truck and station, a construction zone, farmer’s market, a ship (U.S.S. Efroymson), etc.
Mezzanine: “Music Mezzanine,” Sky Crawl-style tunnels connecting exhibits.
Outdoor Purple Octopus Playground: ADA-accessible playground with climbing elements, slides, swings, etc.
Educational Programs: Includes drop-in programming, classes, camps, field trips.
Special Events & Partnerships: E.g., “Make Music with Me” for ages 0-3, in partnership with local music educators.
Memberships: Various membership tiers for families; membership includes free admission.
Accessibility: The museum promotes accessible play with sensory kits available daily along with sensory-friendly hours or accommodations.
Serves over 50,000 visitors per year and collaborates with an additional ~20,000 community members through outreach or programs.
Recognized as a “community treasure” in Sheboygan County for its role in enriching children and families. The museum is featured in Wisconsin tourism listings as a notable children’s museum offering positive learning environments.
The addition of extended hours midweek (Wednesdays to 7 PM) shows responsiveness to community need and demand.
New exhibits in 2025 include the Rhythm and Rainbows music exhibit, Mexican-American Culture Exchange, and the Share and Care Vet Clinic.
Operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Board of Directors, staff educators, and volunteers support the museum’s programs and operations.
Above & Beyond Children’s Museum. “About Us.” abkids.org. https://www.abkids.org
Above & Beyond Children’s Museum. “Visit Us.” abkids.org. https://www.abkids.org/visit-us
Above & Beyond Children’s Museum. “Programs.” abkids.org. https://www.abkids.org/programs
Stateline Kids. “Above & Beyond Children’s Museum in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.” September 6, 2022. https://statelinekids.com/2022/09/06/above-and-beyond-childrens-museum-in-sheboygan-wisconsin
Go Valley Kids. “Above & Beyond Children’s Museum in Sheboygan.” https://govalleykids.com/above-beyond-childrens-museum-in-sheboygan
Travel Wisconsin. “Above & Beyond Children’s Museum.” https://www.travelwisconsin.com/museums-history/above-beyond-childrens-museum-203602
Volunteer Sheboygan County. “Above & Beyond Children’s Museum.” Galaxy Digital Agency Profile. https://volunteersheboygan.galaxydigital.com/agency/detail/?agency_id=5183