Erie Canal Museum

318 Erie Blvd East Rte 5
Syracuse, NY 13202

(315) 471-0593

http://www.eriecanalmuseum.org/

The Erie Canal Museum is located inside an authentic weigh lock building along the canal that used to be used to determine ship fares through the canal.  It has interactive exhibits detailing the planning and construction of the canal.

Museum of Science & Technology

500 S Franklin St
Syracuse, NY

(315) 425-0747

www.most.org

The Museum of Science and Technology houses a ton of interactive science exhibits in its three stories and has an IMAX theater next door.  Climbing walls, a giant kaleidoscope and mazes, and more should keep you entertained and educated for hours.

Onondaga Historical Association Museum

321 Montgomery St
Syracuse, NY 13202

(315) 428-1864

www.cnyhistory.org

300 years of central New York’s natural, cultural, and artistic history are presented in a variety of exhibits at the Historical Museum. There is a giant exhibit dedicated to the Underground Railroad.  It’s not necessarily for young children, but there’s plenty to learn about the area here.

Salt Museum

Onondaga Lake Park
Liverpool, NY

(315) 453-6712

In the 1800s, Syracuse was one of the nation’s leaders in salt production, created by boiling the sea water, earning it the nickname “Salt City.”  This museum, built from old salt house wood, lets visitors study the whole culture and process of that industry in that time period.

International Mask and Puppet Museum

518 Prospect Avenue,
Syracuse, New York 13208

(315)-476-0466

http://www.openhandtheater.org/Museum.html

The museum has masks and puppets from the cultures spanning the globe and offers entertaining and educational performances for children.