Please Touch Museum is developing a major new permanent exhibit designed to help children build confidence, resilience, collaboration skills, and emotional awareness through hands-on physical play.

Opening in late 2026 as part of the Museum’s 50th birthday celebration, Character Quest: Building Character Skills Through Play is being made possible through a transformative $2.5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.

The exhibit, designed for children ages 3–8 and their caregivers, will combine large-scale climbing experiences with interactive activities that encourage children to practice key social-emotional skills through play.

About the Exhibit

Located in the Southwest corner of Memorial Hall, Character Quest will transform an existing Museum space into an immersive environment where children and families can explore at their own pace and on their own path.

Designed in partnership with Art Guild, Metcalfe Architecture & Design, and Studio Ludo, the exhibit will foster the key character skills of social intelligence, emotional intelligence, growth mindset, and perseverance through physical challenges and collaborative experiences.

At the center of the exhibit will be a 20-foot-tall climbing structure featuring rope swings, slides, climbing nets, elevated pathways, and viewing platforms overlooking West Fairmount Park through the soaring windows of Memorial Hall.

As children navigate the climber, they will be encouraged to challenge themselves, communicate with others, step outside their comfort zones, and build confidence as they test their strengths of heart, mind, and will.

In addition to the climbing experience, the exhibit will feature interactive wall elements and facilitated activities that encourage children to recognize emotions in themselves and others, strengthen social intelligence through collaborative challenges, and engage in playful problem-solving experiences. Educational content throughout the gallery will help families connect physical play with social-emotional growth and development.

Museum educators will also engage children and caregivers through facilitated programming and conversations designed to help families continue fostering these skills beyond their visit. Adults will be able to explore the exhibit alongside children, with opportunities for shared play woven throughout the experience.

Fostering Character Through Children’s Museums

Character Quest is being funded through Fostering Character Through Children’s Museums, a Lilly Endowment initiative designed to help children’s museums develop new or expand existing efforts that explore and encourage the development of positive character traits among children and youth. 

Please Touch Museum is one of 23 children’s museums around the nation being funded through this initiative.

“For nearly 50 years, Please Touch Museum has fostered a safe space for children to learn, explore, and build skills through play,” said Melissa Weiler Gerber, President and CEO of Please Touch Museum. While the Museum has always provided programs and experiences that foster character development in children and families, we now have the opportunity to place these goals front and center in a dedicated exhibit.”

“We are thrilled to introduce this new exhibit as a lasting legacy of our 50th birthday year — one that we hope will give children and caregivers alike tools and experiences to understand their emotions, learn more about themselves, and connect with others. We are grateful to Lilly Endowment for its investment, and we are especially honored to be included in this initiative alongside respected peers from across the country.”

As Please Touch Museum approaches its 50th birthday, Character Quest represents a long-term investment in the power of learning through play and the role museums can serve in supporting children and families as they grow, connect, and learn together.