The Clay Center in Charleston, West Virginia, is a unique place. It’s part children’s Discovery Museum, part Art Museum, part planetarium and theater, part performance hall, and part event venue. If that sounds like a lot to fit into one place, well, that’s because it is. The Clay Center is a must-visit destination in Charleston for both tourists and locals alike. We had the chance to visit while on a press trip, and although we received free entry to the Clay Center, our opinions remain our own.
When we arrived at the Clay Center, it was being set up for an event. This meant part of the Center was inaccessible for us, but the rest of the Clay Center was both impressive and expansive enough to make up for it. The Clay Center hosts everything from benefits to proms. You can even have your child’s birthday party at the Clay Center– packages start at $120 for members and $150 for non-members.
When we visited The Clay Center, our first stop was the Juliet Art Museum. The art museum features both permanent and temporary exhibits. While we were in town, we were able to experience the whimsical Haneul exhibit by Christybomb. This exhibit is meant to evoke fleeting emotions such as that of Christmas morning or a first kiss. The children and adults in our group were all taken by the exhibit– it was possibly my favorite part of the whole museum, and is a must-see in itself. If you’re looking for something a little more hands-on, you can purchase art classes in the art museum on specified days. The museum also hosts free art and culture exhibits, including meet and greets with featured artists.
Although I was quite taken with the art museum, my daughter and her friend found their way to the Avampato Discovery Museum and refused to be pulled away. Unfortunately, they were too small for the giant climbing structure that sits in the middle of the museum and stretches from the floor to the ceiling, but it will give them something to look forward to when we make it back! Even without the climbing structure, there were plenty of exhibits to keep them busy. The Waterworks exhibit features a water table replica of the Kanawha River for kids to explore, including working dams that kids can lower and raise. There is also an Inventor’s lab, an interactive art space, a music studio, a healthy me area with a focus on learning about the human body, and our kids’ favorite: My Town.
My Town is a child-sized, indoor town perfect for pretend play. Featuring everything from a theatre, a diner, a vet’s office, and an auto repair shop, kids can become anything they want to be. Whether they’re fighting fires at the fire station or putting the wheels back on a car, the world is literally at your child’s fingers. My daughter had a blast in the vet office, pretending she was taking care of all sorts of lost pets. If the sheer abundance of imaginary play opportunities isn’t enough to stimulate your kid, don’t worry, there’s more. There’s an indoor rock climbing wall, and a banking system for children to set up a “debit card.” They earn “money” on the card by doing jobs around the town! Critter is no stranger to children’s museums and loves them all, but has never been as enthralled as during her visit to The Clay Center.
Of course, the Juliet Art Museum and Avampato Art Museum aren’t the end of the fun. The planetarium and theatre are also worth a visit. The theatre shows both 2D and 3D movies, which is great for people like myself who get a little dizzy with 3D movies! They host events relating to their movies, like a meet and greet with real-life K9s after a showing of their movie on working dogs, “Superpower Dogs.” Beyond the movies there are, of course, programs about space. (I’ve heard their Cosmic Adventure, narrated by Lisa Cartwright of The Simpsons, is out of this world.)
The Clay Center offers an immersive experience for all age groups and interests. Whether you’re hitting up a ZZ Top show, exploring the climbing structure, or visiting the art museum, you’re sure to leave The Clay Center more cultured than you arrived. Tickets for the museum are a reasonable $9 for adults and $7.50 for children. You can add a show at the planetarium for only $4. Tickets to performances and paid classes are sold separately.
What part of the Clay Center would you like to visit first?
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I always recommend places like this to parents. I think it’s important that they expose their kids to the different occupations we have while they’re still young. Plus it’s a whole lot of fun for them too! This is worth the visit!
This place looks like so much fun for the kiddos! I especially love the fact that everything is so interactive and they can learn so much from playing.
The Clay Center looks like a really fun experience. I would love to take my kiddos there for a trip.
My niece would love this! She is all about craft and any creative things she could see.
This looks like such a great place to bring the whole family. So much to do and learn it’s incredible.
I love to explore places like this that offer immersive experiences! Thanks so much for putting the Clay Center Charleston on my radar!
My great grandma grew up not too far from Charleston, WV so I’m no stranger to the region. It really is a beautiful part of the country. I will definitely have to schedule a visit to the Clay Center during my next visit
That is some center and a great place in Charleston which I have never been to. I love planateriums so that would be a must if I am in the area.
This looks like such an amazing place to go and explore! It seems like they have a huge amount going on for kids and when things are interactive it always keeps the attention more.
Definitely looks like a great time – I know my kiddos would love it!!!
That looks like loads of fun for not only kids but adults too. I love museums.
What a cool place! My kids always love when they can touch things. They’d like the climbing structure as well!