1 / 3The Works Museum
đ East Bloomington, MN
The Works Museum in Bloomington is a hands-on engineering and design museum where children use real tools and everyday materials to build, design, and problem-solve.
Very thoughtful and engaging concept. In other words - great idea. However, it needs a face-lift and more maintenance. It's a hands on kid experience; so it gets rough and tumble use. But most things looked and worked like the originals since opening. My suggestion is to charge $3-$5 more per entry and use that money to upgrade and do maintenance. I saw only one person working there on a Monday and he was very pleasant. But they need at better care of place, fix the broken and worn stations to make it a real hit. Right now it's a hit and miss experience. Btw, review 8 months ago said pinball machine was broken. It's STILL broken 8 months later.
đ Family Action Verdict
Best for families with children ages 4-12 who gravitate toward building, tinkering, and problem-solving. The engineering focus is distinctive â kids who find traditional museums passive will thrive here. Robot Day on May 2 is a strong standalone event worth planning around.
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View all reviews â581 Google reviews
D R
âVery thoughtful and engaging concept. In other words - great idea. However, it needs a face-lift and more maintenance. It's a hands on kid experience; so it gets rough and tumble use. But most things looked and worked like the originals since opening. My suggestion is to charge $3-$5 more per entry and use that money to upgrade and do maintenance. I saw only one person working there on a Monday and he was very pleasant. But they need at better care of place, fix the broken and worn stations to make it a real hit. Right now it's a hit and miss experience. Btw, review 8 months ago said pinball machine was broken. It's STILL broken 8 months later.â
Reviews from Google
Overview
The Works Museum positions kids as engineers from the moment they walk in. Exhibits are built around hands-on construction and design challenges using real tools and raw materials â no observation-only displays. The annual Robot Day brings engineers, scientists, and student demonstrators into the space for a full day of live robotics and STEM exploration. Summer camps extend the engineering focus across multiple weeks. A renovation initiative is actively updating exhibits.
