The Gilbert House Children’s Museum has opened the doors to its newest permanent exhibit, a hands-on Science Lab designed to transform how children explore and understand science. The launch underscores the museum’s growing focus on STEM education through creative play — an approach educators say is increasingly critical for developing problem-solving skills in early learners.
The Science Lab, which took about eight months to bring from concept to reality, offers young visitors a chance to “Wonder. Question. Discover.” — a mantra stitched into nearly every element of the new space. Interactive stations combine tactile learning with core scientific principles, giving children a chance to behave like real scientists in an environment that celebrates both curiosity and mistakes as essential to discovery.
“What started as a dream eight months ago is now what you see here today,” said museum educator Zach St. Lawrence during the exhibit’s unveiling. “Our goal here is to inspire children through creative play. We truly think this is a wonderful way for kids to learn, have experiences with science, and discover new things they may not have encountered before.”
A hands-on approach to learning
At the heart of the Science Lab are five distinct stations, each encouraging exploration of a different branch of science. The Microscope Station lets children peer at bug wings and leaf cells preserved in resin, bringing the invisible world of biology into sharp focus. Nearby, the Snatoms Station uses magnetic molecular models to help explain chemistry’s building blocks — atoms and bonds — through tangible play.
A Spectrophotometer Station invites young physicists to manipulate light through various materials, testing transparency and reflection. At the Impact Testing Lab, kids can design and crash-test foam block structures with a miniature wrecking ball, learning firsthand how force and resilience work together. Finally, an Anaerobic Chamber challenges participants to complete fine-motor tasks using gloved arm inserts inside a sealed box — simulating the dexterity required in professional labs or space exploration.
Together, these exhibits form what Executive Director Alicia Bay calls a “powerful investment in our children’s future as problem-solvers and innovators.” She said the new lab moves the museum beyond observation-based exhibits into a realm where experimentation becomes the lesson itself.
“By giving children a hands-on, engaging space like the Science Lab, we are not just teaching them facts; we are equipping them with the confidence to ask ‘why’ and the skills to find the answers,” Bay said.
Building Salem’s next generation of innovators
The project reflects a national trend toward experience-driven education, in which museums and nonprofits serve as bridges between classroom learning and real-world application. According to the National Science Teaching Association, children who engage with open-ended STEM exhibits are more likely to retain scientific vocabulary and develop critical-thinking skills earlier than peers exposed only to textbook learning 111.
The Gilbert House team is doubling down on that approach with a daily educator-led program called Science Time, scheduled from 1 to 2 p.m., giving children additional guidance as they experiment. Staff say the sessions are already drawing interest from local schools planning field trips for the winter season.
The museum, housed in historic Salem riverfront buildings named after A. C. Gilbert — the Salem-born inventor of the Erector Set — has long emphasized interactive learning rooted in play. The new exhibit deepens that legacy, positioning the institution as a regional leader in early STEM education.