Right in the middle of downtown Raleigh, Marbles is where families, school groups, and all sorts of community organizations come together to play, learn, and explore. The place is packed with themed exhibits, summer camps, IMAX movies, and special events all year long. Marbles Kids Museum opened its doors back on September 29, 2007, after a whirlwind 24-day makeover. People were in for a surprise when we revealed the new name and fresh exhibits. The museum itself came from merging two community favorites—Exploris and Playspace.

So, why “Marbles”? For one, the building is wrapped in a wall of more than a million real marbles that light up at night. And honestly, “marbles” has always been a fun nickname for brains. The idea is simple: bring your marbles, use your marbles—learn by playing, imagining, and discovering. Don’t forget to check out this place in Raleigh too.

At Marbles, kids dive into five main themes. “Ready Set Learn” is all about building up the intellectual, social, and emotional skills that really matter for school and life. “Be Healthy, Be Active” gets kids moving and helps them build healthy habits. “Create, Innovate” encourages imagination and self-expression. “Explore, Experiment” sparks curiosity and discovery. And finally, “Connect” is about learning cooperation, strengthening families, and bringing the community closer together.

We believe in play. It builds minds, bodies, friendships, and families. Play teaches kids how to solve problems, think up new ideas, communicate, and work together. It’s how communities grow stronger, and how childhood becomes something magical.

Step inside the museum and it’s easy to see why kids love it. Want to go on a jungle safari? Pretend to be a reporter? Dress up as a forest animal or climb aboard a pirate ship? It’s all here. Kids can try out real-world jobs, grow a garden, make art, build things, run a pet store, or even shoot a hockey puck on center ice. Every activity is designed to spark mental, emotional, physical, and social growth.

The main building stretches across two floors and has more than a dozen hands-on exhibits. There’s imagiFAB, a new STEAM zone with four areas for exploring science, technology, engineering, art, and math. Splash lets kids dive into ocean adventures. Moneypalooza turns learning about money into a lively, colorful game. Around Town shrinks the adult world down to kid-size, so children can see how people live and work together. Stepnotes is another favorite—every step up or down the stairs lights up and plays music, like your own personal concert.

Marbles also has North Carolina’s only 3D IMAX theater, with a massive 70-foot screen that pulls you right into the action. Whether you’re watching a mind-blowing documentary or a Hollywood blockbuster, it’s unforgettable. And don’t miss the museum shop, stuffed with games and toys picked to match the museum experience and help keep the spirit of play alive at home. You don’t even need a ticket to check out the shop. If you are in need of a roofing contractor, click here.