General Information

The museum Papalote Museo del Niño is dedicated to children and focuses on learning, communication and cooperation through interactive expositions of science, technology and art. The museum has over 288 interactive exhibitions, which are divided into five areas where children can touch, play and learn, as the museum’s motto says.

Additional Information

The museum has one of the biggest digital screens in Mexico City. It’s an IMAX screen located in a venue that seats over 333 people, and screens educational and recreational films.

Architecture: Highlights

The building of the museum was created in 1993 by the architect Ricardo Legorreta. He designed it using geometric figures and traditional Mexican tiles. The building was meant for kids to interact and experiment with it and to touch it. What’s interesting, the ceiling and walls were made by children.

Collection: Highlights

The 288 interactive exhibitions of the museum were carefully selected to serve the young visitors. They concern such subjects as ecology, human body, science and music. Each area features exhibitions about an aspect of human development.

Collection: Explained

The first area, Soy (Spanish for “I am”), centres on human body and mind. The topics featured are identity, self-esteem and knowledge of one’s body and emotions. The second area, Comunico (“I communicate myself”) focuses on the different ways people can communicate with each other, from spoken and sign language to radio, television and newspaper, helping visitors understand how each one of them works. The third area, Pertenezco (“I belong”) helps the children understand themselves in terms of the spaces to which they belong, going from what is closest to them – their family, to the most complex issues – the universe, and the necessity to protect the environment. Comprendo (“I understand”), the fourth area, is connected with science, comprising physics, mathematics, chemistry and geology. It explains what science means to the world. The last area, Expreso (“I express myself”) focuses on developing abilities in creativity and imagination to express ideas, feelings and thoughts throughout art, creation, discovery and appreciation.

Cooperation: Highlights

Besides its own educational role, Papalote has helped launch similarly themed museums in other parts of the country. These include Papalote de Cuernavaca, focused on the children’s aesthetic experience through art.