Museum FAQs

What is the afterschool special and how does it work?

Half price admission is offered from 3 pm - 5 pm on any day the Olympia School District is in session.

What if we can’t afford to pay?

If your family is unable to afford a Museum membership, you may qualify for a Free or Reduced Visit or Membership if you are:

• Eligible for Free or Reduced Lunch Program
• Receiving any other form of public assistance
• Having difficult financial circumstances

Sponsored memberships are made possible by the generosity of our Member Families and Museum Donors. Memberships are good for up to six months and may be renewed. Simply ask for a Sponsored Membership form at the front desk. Please call the Museum at 360-956-0818 x0 for any questions.

Can anyone just come in?

Anyone is welcome in the Museum as long as they are accompanied by a child. We have a strict “no adults alone” policy in the Museum. Anyone who wishes to experience the Museum must check in at the front desk.

How do you get to the Museum and where can we park.

Please click here for directions & parking options.

What is your Financial Structure?

The museum is a 501(3)(c) non-profit organization.

Can I drop my children off at the Museum?

At the Museum all children must be accompanied by an adult (16 or older) unless attending a special Museum program such as preschool, camps, etc. For these instances an adult must be present to sign in and sign out the child.

Can I bring in food or beverages?

Outside food and beverage are allowed in the museum however, they must be enjoyed in our Museum lobby or in our designated snack area, the vestibule.
 

What forms of payment do you accept?

The museum accepts cash, check, Visa, or Master Card.

Why do you charge for adults?

There are two main reasons why the Museum charges adult admission. One is that the museum encourages interactive play between children and their adults. The second reason is that the Museum is a 501(3)(c) non-profit organization and charging for adults and children covers about 50% of our annual operating budget and we raise the other 50% through grants, sponsorships, and donations.

How can I volunteer?

The Museum is always in need of responsible teen and adult volunteers to help with camps, programs, museum projects, and Sand in the City. The Museum uses an average of 1,000 volunteers each year. For more information please click here or stop by the Museum and pick up a volunteer application.

Will you donate to other auctions?

The Museum will support other 501(3)(c) non-profit organization’s auctions and events with a gift certificate for a Museum membership. The Museum requests that a formal request be faxed or mailed to the Museum on the organization’s letterhead. Please include the organization’s Tax ID number and either the date of the event or the deadline for the donation. Each request will be reviewed, and if qualified, a letter and a gift certificate will be sent to the organization. Please allow ample time for your request to be reviewed. 

What are the dates of Sand in the City?

Sand in the City is always the 4th weekend in August. For a complete schedule please click here.

Does it cost money to attend Sand in the City?

Sand in the City is free for all during the day on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; however a $5 donation per family is suggested. Donations support the Museum’s Free & Reduced Admissions Program.  The Museum holds an evening SandBlast Gala on Friday evening of Sand in the City. The Gala is for adults 21 years and older and tickets are required. Tickets can be purchased during July and August.

Where does the sand for Sand in the City come from?

The Hands On Children’s Museum has been using the same type of sand from the same rock quarry since the first Sand in the City in 2001. Over the past three years, the Museum has continued to reuse the same 270 tons of sand each summer. Our wonderful Sand Sponsor, Olympia Sand & Gravel, stores the sand for us each year in an undisclosed location for safe and dry storage. The location is so secretive, even the Museum staff does not know the location of the sand. Each year, prior to the event, Olympia Sand & Gravel retrieves the Sand and dumps it at the port site for the start of the sand sculpting competition. Every year as the sand is dumped a few left over mementos from the year prior including buckets and shovels are found buried in the sand.