--- title: Families date: 2023-10-12T10:00:00-04:00 author: Caroline Herr canonical_url: "https://www.pem.org/visit/families" section: General Pages --- ![A young boy climbs through a portal of a yellow wall with black vines painted on it](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/pem-org/general/Visit_Families_3600_01.jpg) Visit # Families ## At PEM, we want to make it easy for you and your family to connect with art and culture. Our [Learning & Community Engagement](https://www.pem.org/learning-and-community-engagement) programs offer a wide variety of fun and engaging activities for children and families. The [Dotty Brown Art & Nature Center](https://www.pem.org/the-dotty-brown-art-nature-center) has a number of hands-on activities, discovery drawers, games and computer stations. Whatever you choose to do while you’re here — listen to a story during PEM Pals, make a drawing or check out [The Pod](https://www.pem.org/exhibitions/the-pod) — we want your visit to be relaxing and enjoyable. **Family Amenities** - Youths 16 and under are free. - [The Dotty Brown Art & Nature Center](https://www.pem.org/the-dotty-brown-art-nature-center) and [The Pod](https://www.pem.org/exhibitions/the-pod), located on the ground level, are easily accessible for strollers. - The [Atrium Café](https://www.pem.org/visit) offers several delicious child-friendly food options. - Baby-changing stations are located in most restrooms. There are two non-gendered family restrooms on the ground level. - A room for nursing parents is located in the Art & Nature Center. **Visitor Resource Center** Check out the Visitor Resource Center, opposite the Admissions desk and just inside the museum entrance, for other helpful amenities: - Cubbies and lockers for storing bags, food and children's artwork - EnChroma glasses for color blindness - Handheld translation devices - KultureCity sensory kits - Rollators and wheelchairs in multiple sizes - A limited number of strollers available for use ![Two children looking at a computer screen and a wall full of Art objects in the Art & Nature Center](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/pem-org/general/VisitFamilies_1600_002.jpg) ##### PEM is Certified Sensory Inclusive™ The Peabody Essex Museum partners with [KultureCity](https://www.kulturecity.org/) to promote an [accessible](https://www.pem.org/visit/accessibility) and positive experience for visitors with diverse sensory needs. Sensory sensitivities or challenges with sensory regulation are experienced by 1 in 6 individuals, including people with autism, dementia, PTSD and other conditions. The annual KultureCity certification process ensures that PEM staff members are trained on how to recognize and best serve visitors with sensory needs, including how to appropriately and safely handle a sensory overload situation. A limited number of sensory bags, equipped with noise canceling headphones, fidget tools and verbal cue cards, are available at the Visitor Resource Center for people of any age who may feel overwhelmed by the museum environment. Prior to your visit, adults and children can download the free [KultureCity app](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/kulturecity/id1359922217) to view the available sensory features and how to access them. Learning & Community Engagement [Learn more](https://www.pem.org/learning-and-community-engagement) ## Family-friendly events [View all events](/events) ![Holiday Food Drive for the Salem Pantry](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/pem-org/general/_width1334/Events_HolidayFoodDrive_1800px_Share.jpg) EVENT ##### Holiday Food Drive for the Salem Pantry November 13 at 10:00 am available 18 more dates/times until December 7 at 10:00 am [Learn more](https://www.pem.org/events/holiday-food-drive-for-the-salem-pantry) ![PEM Pals: Thanksgiving Stories](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/pem-org/general/_width1334/Ev_PEMPalsThanksgivingStories_1800_Share.jpg) EVENT ##### PEM Pals: Thanksgiving Stories November 13 at 10:30 am [Learn more](https://www.pem.org/events/pem-pals-native-american-heritage-month-2) ![Noguchi-Inspired Playground Collages](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/pem-org/general/_width1334/Ev_NoguchiPlayground_1800_Share.jpg) EVENT ##### Noguchi-Inspired Playground Collages November 14 at 1:00 pm available 5 more dates/times until November 29 at 1:00 pm [Learn more](https://www.pem.org/events/drop-in-art-making-noguchi-inspired-playground-collages) ![Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/pem-org/general/_width1334/Ev_TDOR1800_Share.jpg) EVENT ##### Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil November 20 at 7:00 pm [Learn more](https://www.pem.org/events/transgender-day-of-remembrance-vigil) ![Music in the Atrium: The Fo'c'sle Four](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/pem-org/general/_width1334/Ev_MusicintheAtriumFocsleFour1800_Share.jpg) EVENT ##### Music in the Atrium: The Fo'c'sle Four November 29 at 11:30 am [Learn more](https://www.pem.org/events/music-in-the-atrium-the-focsle-four) ![PEM Pals: A Boy Named Isamu](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/pem-org/general/_width1334/Ev_PEMPalsABoyNamedIsamu_1800_Share.jpg) EVENT ##### PEM Pals: A Boy Named Isamu December 4 at 10:30 am [Learn more](https://www.pem.org/events/pem-pals-a-boy-named-isamu) ![Salem as Muse: Salem Stories](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/pem-org/general/_width1334/Ev_SalemAsMuseSalemStories_1800_Share.jpg) EVENT ##### Salem as Muse: Salem Stories December 4 at 3:00 pm [Learn more](https://www.pem.org/events/salem-as-muse-salem-stories) ![Drop-In Art: Polar Origami Animals](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/pem-org/general/_width1334/Ev_PolarOrigamiAnimals_1800_Share.jpg) EVENT ##### Drop-In Art: Polar Origami Animals December 4 at 3:00 pm available 2 more dates/times until December 18 at 3:00 pm [Learn more](https://www.pem.org/events/drop-in-art-polar-origami-animals) ![Origami Unfolded Opening Celebration](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/pem-org/general/_width1334/Ev_OrigamiOpeningCelebrations_1800_Share.jpg) EVENT ##### Origami Unfolded Opening Celebration December 5 at 10:30 am [Learn more](https://www.pem.org/events/origami-unfolded-opening-celebration) ![Drop-In Art Making: Paper Ornaments](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/pem-org/general/_width1334/Ev_PaperOrnaments_1800_Share.jpg) EVENT ##### Drop-In Art Making: Paper Ornaments December 5 at 1:00 pm available 7 more dates/times until December 27 at 1:00 pm [Learn more](https://www.pem.org/events/drop-in-art-making-paper-ornaments) ![Winter Solstice Celebration](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/pem-org/general/_width1334/Ev_WinterSolsticeCelebration_1800_Share.jpg) EVENT ##### Winter Solstice Celebration December 19 at 11:00 am [Learn more](https://www.pem.org/events/winter-solstice-celebration-2) ![Drop-In Art: Noguchi & Origami](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/pem-org/general/_width1334/Ev_NoguchiOrigami_1800_Share.jpg) EVENT ##### Drop-In Art: Noguchi & Origami January 2 at 11:00 am available 7 more dates/times [Learn more](https://www.pem.org/events/drop-in-art-noguchi-origami) ![Drop-In Art: Pinecone Snowy Owls](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/pem-org/general/_width1334/Ev_PineconeSnowyOwls_1800_Share.jpg) EVENT ##### Drop-In Art: Pinecone Snowy Owls January 8 at 1:00 pm available 6 more dates/times until January 29 at 1:00 pm [Learn more](https://www.pem.org/events/drop-in-art-pinecone-snowy-owls) ![Drop-In Art Making: Foldable Winter Animal Scenes](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/pem-org/general/_width1334/Ev_FoldableWinterAnimalScenes_1800_Share_2026-10-20-142658_rczp.jpg) EVENT ##### Drop-In Art Making: Foldable Winter Animal Scenes January 8 at 3:00 pm available 4 more dates/times until January 29 at 3:00 pm [Learn more](https://www.pem.org/events/drop-in-art-making-foldable-winter-animal-scenes) ![Studio Saturdays: New Year's Dreamscapes](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/pem-org/general/_width1334/Ev_SSNYDreamscapes_1800_Share.jpg) EVENT ##### Studio Saturdays: New Year's Dreamscapes January 9 at 10:30 am [Learn more](https://www.pem.org/events/studio-saturdays-new-years-dreamscapes) ![Drop-In Art: Origami Unfolded Origami Pop-Up Demo](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/pem-org/general/_width1334/Ev_OrigamiPopUpDemo_1800_Share.jpg) EVENT ##### Drop-In Art: Origami Unfolded Origami Pop-Up Demo January 9 at 2:00 pm available 1 more date/time [Learn more](https://www.pem.org/events/drop-in-art-origami-unfolded-origami-pop-up-demo) ![Free Admission: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/pem-org/general/_width1334/Ev_MLKJrDayCelebration_1800_Share.jpg) EVENT ##### Free Admission: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration January 18 at 10:00 am [Learn more](https://www.pem.org/events/free-admission-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-day-celebration) ![Creative Kids: Ages 8–10](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/pem-org/general/_width1334/Ev_CreativeKids810_Share_1800.jpg) EVENT ##### Creative Kids: Ages 8–10 July 12 at 9:00 am [Learn more](https://www.pem.org/events/creative-kids-ages-8-10) ![Creative Kids: Ages 11–13](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/pem-org/general/_width1334/Ev_Creativekids1113_1800_Share.jpg) EVENT ##### Creative Kids: Ages 11–13 July 26 at 9:00 am [Learn more](https://www.pem.org/events/creative-kids-ages-11-13) Stay up to date. Enter your email to sign up for our newsletter.