Notice the seven play zones and three studios that make Explore & More a hands-on celebration of Buffalo and Western New York. This museum is for and about Buffalo: seven play zones and three educational studios are arranged to tell the unique story of this region. Designed for children from toddlers to third grade, the exhibits encourage kids to dive in, experiment, and follow their curiosity through the power of play.
The institution began in 1994 in East Aurora, and many of its former exhibits were later donated to the Children's Activity Corner of Jamestown as it evolved. A pivotal moment came when, on February 14, 2018, the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation awarded a $6 million grant and the then-under-construction Canalside museum was re-named in his honor. In 2019 the museum moved into this Canalside location, bringing that spirit of discovery to downtown Buffalo.
Picture the laughter and learning still spreading from these galleries into the Canalside district and Main Street.