Frequently Asked Questions and Code of Conduct
What are your hours and admission prices?
To find our hours and admission prices, please visit our homepage! If you need more detailed information, please visit our dedicated page.
What Is Kaleideum? What happened to SciWorks and the Children's Museum?
Kaleideum is an experiential learning museum created from the July 2016 merger of the Children’s Museum of Winston-Salem (now Kaleideum Downtown) and SciWorks (now Kaleideum North). The Kaleideum name, inspired by the free choice learning experience of playing with a kaleidoscope, was announced in February 2017.
The two museums merged in 2016 with the overarching plan to move into a single location and new building in the heart of downtown Winston-Salem. Forsyth County owned the old Sheriff’s Building on Third Street and proposed that the site become the new location for families and lifelong learners in the heart of downtown.
The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners is funding $30.5 million of the project, the State of North Carolina provided $3.8 million through a budget appropriation, and Kaleideum is raising approximately $16 million through its “All In” Capital Campaign, which will fund the exciting new exhibits throughout the museum. The City of Winston-Salem provided $2 million for the development of Liberty Plaza, which is adjacent to the museum.
What Kaleideum location is open right now?
Kaleideum at 120 W Third Street will open on February 17, 2024. This location is the only location.
Does Kaleideum have animals?
Kaleideum has a range of animals in the Our Nature exhibit, including Huey, a Blue and Gold Macaw that acts as Kaleideum’s unofficial mascot.
What is your address?
The new Kaleideum building is located on the corner of Third Street and Town Run Lane in downtown Winston-Salem. The address is 120 W Third Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101.
What exhibits will the new Kaleideum have?
Our nine new exhibition areas including: By Design, In Motion, Digital Dome, Our Nature, Storytelling, Wonders of Water, Try It! Studio, Little Learners, and Rooftop Adventure. Please keep an eye on our exhibits page for more updates on information about these exhibits!
Where do I park?
Kaleideum’s preferred parking is at Liberty Plaza Public Parking, located at 235 Town Run Lane. Visitors to Kaleideum may purchase an All-Day Parking Validation for $4 at the Kaleideum Welcome Desk. When you exit the parking deck, you will scan your parking ticket and then scan your $4 parking pass purchaed at Kaleideum in order to leave the deck at no charge.
How do I sign up for a membership?
You can visit us online at https://kaleideum.org/support/memberships/ or sign up in person on your next visit!
When are your busiest times?
Our busiest times vary from week to week, but in general, from 2-5 pm tend to be our least busy times during weekdays.
What happened to Kaleideum North when you closed?
The Kaleideum North building and property are owned by Forsyth County. The Forsyth County Commissioners will determine the future of 400 W Hanes Mill Road.
Do we need a reservation if we are an individual or a family? What about if we're a large group?
We are strongly encouraging members and non-members to reserve their tickets online ahead of visiting the museum. We will sell our Museums for All tickets at the Welcome Desk to visitors who present an EBT, WIC, or Link2Feed card.
We prefer that groups make a reservation with our museum scheduler to ensure they receive the discounted group rate and help with navigation and numbers in the museum. Groups should reach out to Tracey Fulp at scheduling@kaleideum.org. A reservation is not complete until you receive a written confirmation from the museum scheduler.
How do we register for a field trip?
Please visit the linked page for Field Trip information: Field Trips – Kaleideum
Visitor Code of Conduct
Be Kind to Others
We provide a harassment-free experience for everyone. Courteous, respectful behavior is expected of all staff and guests. Take turns. Be patient with each other. Stay home if you are feeling unwell.
Take Care of the Museum
Be gentle with the exhibits and facilities and leave them ready for the next visitor. Be careful with food and drink. Follow all official posted signs and the instructions of staff.
Supervision of Children
Children ages 13 and older who comply with the Code of Conduct may use the Museum without supervision. Visitors must be 16 or older to supervise children under the age of 13.
Photography and Video
Be aware that Kaleideum regularly takes photos and videos of our exhibits and programs. By entering the Museum, you give consent for your likeness to be used in marketing materials and for educational purposes. Any video, photographs or recordings that you collect on Museum property shall be for private, noncommercial use only.
Visiting Animals
Service animals, as defined by the ADA, are welcome at all times on our campus. Service animals may be asked to avoid particular areas when short programs featuring display animals that are distressed by dogs are in progress. We kindly ask that all other animals be kept off museum premises.
Prohibited Behaviors Include:
- Any criminal activity including possession of illegal drugs and indecent exposure
- Bringing weapons of any kind onto museum property
- Offensive, abusive, or threatening language or behavior including profane or injurious text or graphics on clothing or elsewhere on a person
- Running, screaming, or generally disruptive behavior
- Tampering with, defacing, damaging, destroying and/or removing exhibits or any other museum property
- Loitering, gambling, selling, soliciting, picketing, or campaigning including the unauthorized distribution of pamphlets or any other literature
- Possessing alcoholic beverages not sold on our premises
- Smoking and/or vaping
- Use of bicycles, scooters, skateboards, skates, or roller shoes
Any other behavior determined by staff to threaten the safety of guests, staff and/or museum property
Engaging in these behaviors may result in your removal from the museum with no refund. Violations perceived as criminal will be reported to local authorities. Visitors witnessing such behavior should report the activity immediately to the Welcome Desk Staff. Any Museum staff witnessing or receiving a report about such behavior from a visitor should report the activity immediately to the Manager on Duty.
Waiver of Liability
By entering the Museum, you agree, on behalf of yourself and any minor children accompanying you, to voluntarily assume all risk, including the risk of personal injury (including death) or illness, the risk of exposure to communicable diseases, or the risk of lost, stolen, or damaged property, arising from or related to your entry into the Museum and participation in any activities on Museum property. In addition, you agree that the Museum will not be responsible for any such injury or illnesses, property damage or other loss and the Museum is fully released and discharged from such liability of the law.
Additional Policies
The Museum reserves the right to add, withdraw or otherwise modify these terms and other policies as it deems in its best interests to do so. The Museum reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to deny admission to or to remove any persons engaging in prohibited behavior.