Three floors of hands-on play in downtown Everett, with Sensory Time on the third Sunday of each month (register ahead), earmuffs, sunglasses and sensory balls to borrow at the front desk, and a museum social story.
Sensory supports. Sensory Time, earmuffs to borrow, social story.
Hours
Tuesday to Sunday, 9 am to 4 pm; closed Mondays. Sundays from 9 to 10 am are a members-only hour. Holiday hours are posted on the museum's website as needed.
1502 Wall St., Everett, WA 98201 (main entrance on Hoyt Ave.)
“Sensory Time is for families with children on the autism spectrum, children with sensory processing differences, and children with other support needs.”
“Families have exclusive access to the north side of the Museum for two hours, creating a calmer, less crowded space to explore and play together.”
“Sensory supports are available during regular Museum visits, too. Families can ask our team for sensory items at any time during their visit.”
“A limited number of sound-reducing earmuffs and sunglasses are available to borrow from the front desk to help reduce noise and light stimulation.”
“If I feel overwhelmed or frustrated, I can take a break in P.J.'s Place or tell my grown-up I'm ready to go home. It's OK to do that.” Imagine Children's Museum social story
Sensory Time runs 9 to 11 am on the third Sunday of each month. Advance registration is required, on the museum's online form; questions go to Reservations@ImagineCM.org. Each date is on its own card.
The sensory items to borrow are sound-reducing earmuffs, sunglasses and sensory balls; ask the front desk. Supplies of earmuffs and sunglasses are limited.
The museum's social story (English PDF) walks through the entrance, tickets, staff, restrooms and every exhibit, with symbols for exhibits that may be loud, bright or dark, or crowded, and ends with a printable visual checklist. The museum says the story is also translated into Chinese, Dari, Hindi, Spanish, Tamil, Ukrainian and Vietnamese. Staff wear purple vests or colorful shirts.
The toddler areas, the Seashore on the first floor and the Salmon Ladder on the second floor (shoes off), are for children 3 and under.
A quieter, private lactation room is on the third floor past Divy's Café, with lower lighting; it is for one family at a time, and staff can help you get in.
Sensory Time, 9 to 11 am on the third Sunday of each month, gives registered families the north side of the museum to themselves (dates are on the cards).
Earmuffs, sunglasses and sensory balls to borrow at the front desk on any visit, while supplies last.
A grown-up 18 or older must stay with children in the same area, on the same floor, at all times; no drop-off.
Imagine-Air (the airplane) (some buttons inside the plane make loud noises)not stated
Tinker Shop (it can get very noisy in this room)not stated
Engineer It! and the crane (some buttons in the crane make loud noises)not stated
Water Works (may be loud and crowded; the water might have a funny smell)not stated
Air-Mazing, Sand Table, Imagine Theatre, Monte Cristo Railroad, Puget Sound Ecosystems Gallery, and Import, Export, Our Port (each marked as possibly loud)not stated
Third-floor eating area by Divy's Food Truck (sometimes lots of people, and it can get noisy)not stated
Gender-neutral restrooms (hand dryers and automatic flushing can be noisy; stall lights turn on when you wave your arms)not stated
Quieter, in the museum's words
P.J.'s Place, up the stairs (benches and books, a quiet place to sit)quiet zone
The restrooms next to Water Works (smaller, may be less crowded, lights always on)quiet zone
The camping tent in the Seashore toddler area, for children 3 and under and their adultsquiet zone
Admission: $22.50; children under 2 free; military (ID required) and seniors 65 and over $19.50. General admission is half price every Tuesday and Wednesday. Admission is free on Community Access Night, the third Thursday of each month, 3 to 7 pm.
Museums for All: $5 per person for up to four family members with an Apple Health, CHIP, EBT, Foster Parent, Provider One, SNAP, Sun Bucks or WIC card and a valid photo ID. P-EBT is not accepted. Pay by cash or credit/debit card; EBT cards cannot be used for payment.
Parking: the museum's pre-pay lot is behind the museum on Colby Ave. ($5 for 0 to 3 hours, $15 for 3 to 10 hours or all day, $3 after 6 pm), and other pre-pay lots nearby are signed. Free 90-minute parking is on the streets around the museum. Accessible parking is in the pre-pay lots and on surrounding streets. The museum is a quick bus ride from the Everett Transit Center (Everett Transit and Community Transit).
Food: Divy's Food Truck on the third floor sells meals and snacks (Tuesday to Friday 9 am to 3 pm, weekends 9 am to 3:30 pm), and you can bring your own snack or lunch to eat there. Outside party food such as cakes, cupcakes or ice cream is not allowed. Water fountains are on every floor.
Strollers aren't allowed on the museum floor; leave yours in the car or the lobby stroller parking. Access is decided case by case at the front desk.
Elevators, ramps and many wheelchair-accessible exhibits. Adults ride the elevators with their children.
