Located in the heart of downtown Raleigh, Marbles serves a diverse population of families, school groups and community organizations with dozens of themed exhibits, summer camps, IMAX documentary and feature films and special events year-round.
See what play at Marbles is all about, below.
Mission video produced by our friends at Chair 8 Media
Mission Statement
Marbles sparks imagination, discovery and learning through play.
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Ready Set Learn. Play builds intellectual, social and emotional skill for success in learning and in life.
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Be Healthy Be Active. Play promotes physical development and good health.
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Create Innovate. Play encourages imagination, creativity and self-expression.
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Explore Experiment. Play leads to discovery and kindles curiosity.
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Connect. Play teaches cooperation and collaboration, strengthens families and unites our community.
Our Play-losophy
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We believe play contributes to intellectual growth, social and emotional well-being and physical development.
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We believe play helps develop 21st century workers who are able to solve problems, apply ideas, create, innovate, communicate and connect with others.
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We believe play unites communities around the critical importance of the childhood experience.
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We believe play strengthens families.
Our History
Marbles Kids Museum opened our doors on September 29, 2007. The crowd was wowed when we unveiled our new name and new exhibits after a suspenseful 24-day transformation that followed the merger of Exploris and Playspace. Why Marbles? A wall that wraps around the museum is filled with more than one million marbles that light up at night. And Marbles is a nickname for brains. At Marbles Kids Museum, kids are encouraged to use their marbles - learning new things through imagination, discovery and play.
Marbles will be closed Thursday November 22 on Thanksgiving Day. The museum is open regular hours, 9am-5pm, Wednesday November 21 and Friday November 23.