The founding board of directors and volunteers built traveling exhibits that were displayed at neighborhood centers, parks and playgrounds.

They also operated a pilot museum in the basement of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters.

[2] The success of the pilot program prompted the museum to relocate to a warehouse at Bedford and West Washington in 1985.

[3] After a successful capital campaign, Madison Children's Museum opened its doors in another rented location on 100 State Street in 1991.

[5] The museum undertook a $10 million capital campaign to renovate the building, create an accessible green roof, and install new exhibits.