The Chandler Museum offers a wide array of engaging and educational public programs for early childhood, youth and adults. The programs include lectures, activities, demonstrations, outreach events and more. Programs are free to attend.
First Tuesday of each month | 12-12:30 p.m. | Saguaro Room
Get a taste of Chandler history during 30-minute talks led by museum curators and local experts. Bring some take-out or a brown bag lunch.
The History of BMX in Chandler
Tuesday, Dec. 6 | 12-12:30 p.m.
Learn about the history and thrills of the BMX in Chandler, Arizona from Chief Strategy Officer, John David at USA BMX. Chandler BMX has a hub for this cycle sport, spending 45 years at the intersection of McQueen Rd. and Frye Rd. It was the first BMX track that was opened by the American Bicycle Association (ABA) to hold sanctioned BMX events. Come enjoy the experiences and community that have been growing here since 1977 and the hear about the future of BMX in Chandler.
Guarantee your seat by registering.
Learning to Live Together: Martin Luther King Jr. and His Philosophy of the Beloved Community
Tuesday, Jan. 3 | 12-12:30 p.m.
One of the most important concepts in Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s teachings is the idea of “the beloved community,” the possibility of a society in which people from diverse backgrounds and economic circumstances learn to live together. English professor Jim McWilliams will explore King’s ideas through the works of Charles Johnson, the National Book Award-winning novelist, who has written extensively about King and his philosophy.
Together we will consider Johnson’s novel Dreamer (1998), which presents a fictionalized account of King’s summer in Chicago in 1966, and his short story “Dr. King’s Refrigerator” (2005), which imagines a midnight snack in 1954 for the man who was about to lead a Civil Rights revolution.
This program is made possible by Arizona Humanities. (Image Credit: Leffler, Warren K, photographer. Martin Luther King with leaders at the March on Washington. Washington D.C, 1963. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2013649720/.)
Guarantee your seat by registering.
Working Chandler: Insights into the Work of Local Government
Tuesday, Feb. 7 | 12-12:30 p.m.
Get an insider’s look at three different departments in the City of Chandler through a panel discussion with employees from Water Conservation, Fleet Services, and Economic Development. Listen as Deina Burns, Larry Yonker, and Micah Miranda share history and experiences from their department and time working for the City of Chandler.
After the discussion, check out Working America, the traveling exhibition acknowledging the lives and contributions of working men and women in small, skilled trades across the country.
Guarantee your seat by registering.
Mary Coin by Marisa Silver
Nov. 15 | 12-1 p.m.
Do you love reading? Introducing the Chandler Museum Book Club!
Staff at Chandler Museum and Chandler Public Library have come together to choose a mix of fiction and non-fiction that expand on topics from the exhibition, Picturing Home: Dust Bowl Migrants in Chandler.
Read one—or all—of the books we’ve selected to help you imagine living in the Dust Bowl era, learn more about Dorothea Lange’s personal life, and more! Connect with other readers during in-person discussions led by Museum Staff Kristine Clark and Librarian Anbolyn Potter.
Future books include: Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, Nomadland by Jessica Bruder, and The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan
Want to know more? Email our Community Engagement Specialist Kristine Clark.
A monthly series featuring unique Arizona and local history topics and conversations presented by the Chandler Museum and the Chandler Public Library, with support from the Friends of the Chandler Public Library and the Chandler Historical Society.
If you have questions or would like more information on Our Stories, call 480-782-2751.
Join a docent-guided campus tour of Chandler Museum
Free 45-minute tours led by our volunteer docents will give you insights into the architectural and artistic components of the museum campus as well as details about Chandler’s history. Pre-register to guarantee your spot.
Have a group of eight or more? Call 480-782-2879 to schedule a group tour.
Want to make art with your little one but don’t want to clean the mess? Come for a 45-minute program led by our friendly educators that is an age-appropriate introduction to different art styles and concepts. With new themes each month, program participants will begin together with a central topic and then break off into family groups to engage in several art-centered activity stations. Join us and get messy with your little one!
Geared towards ages 3-5. | FREE
Upcycled Art
Wednesday, Nov. 9 & 23 | 10:30 – 11:15 a.m.
We rounded up a bunch of recycled materials for your little one to create one-of-a-kind upcycled art that shines. Get their imaginations in gear by cutting, painting, and gluing various household materials to use on a cardboard canvas. Engage in activities designed to promote reusing and repurposing everyday materials.
Please register both adults and children attending as space is limited.
Winter Art
Wednesday, Dec. 14 | 10:30 – 11:15 a.m.
We have put our art supplies on ice for this winter themed program, featuring ice painting. Our fingers may be cold, but our hearts are warm. Come bundle up with us.
Please register both adults and children attending as space is limited.
Pack your bags and travel back in time where everyday objects look completely different. These 45-minute programs are led by our friendly educators who compare everyday items, then and now. With new themes each month, program participants will begin together with a central topic and then break off into family groups to engage in several activity stations.
Geared towards ages 3-5. | FREE
Keys
Wednesday, Nov. 2 & 16 | 10:30 – 11:15 a.m.
Unlock fun as we dive deeper into these tiny metal tools with bunches of key themed activities. Compare different types of keys and solve the clues to search for the missing keys.
Please register both adults and children attending as space is limited.
Museum Helpers
Wednesday, Nov. 30 | 10:30 – 11:15 a.m.
Become a museum helper, peek into the world of exhibit planning and install. Uncover what is in the curator’s toolbox and create your own framed masterpiece.
Please register both adults and children attending as space is limited.
Tinkers
Wednesday, Dec. 7 | 10:30 – 11:15 a.m.
Discover what kids did for fun before battery operated toys and games. Tinker with a variety of toys including Lincoln Logs, wooden tops, and more. Create a holiday themed craft to kick off the season.
Please register both adults and children attending as space is limited.
RegisterBring your family and toy with classic games and toys. Brush up on the classics or explore something new! Each month features a different set of games and toys. Outdoor games and activities will be available in the courtyard weather permitting.
Whirly Toys
Saturday, Nov. 19 | 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Roll up as we celebrate all toys that twist, loop, and swirl. From the petite top to the large-scale hula hoop, we will circle them all. Then create an optical illusion that will make your head spin.
Register and drop in anytime between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Think kids and museums don’t mesh? Think again! In the Exhibits immerses kids in interactive activities throughout the museum’s exhibits. Kids will participate in activities throughout the exhibit and gain deeper insights into the display. Expect the museum to be bustling with energy and fun.
Dive into culture, history, and art at home with a themed activity box. Each Chandler Museum in a Box includes instructions and supplies for three-five activities.
Museum in a Box is available for sale in the Museum Store.
Family Editions
Build It! Frank Lloyd Wright in Chandler
Explore architecture with a Frank Lloyd Wright themed activity box. Design a city, test your building skills with edible construction supplies, and review shapes hidden within authentic Wright drawings. This Chandler Museum in a Box contains all needed supplies for three activities, stories about Wright’s time in Chandler, and the book Who Was Frank Lloyd Wright from the popular Who Was? series.
$18, Great for ages 7-10, includes enough supplies for two users.
Treat your audience to a story from Chandler’s fascinating history. Chandler Museum offers insightful and engaging presentations to community organizations, libraries, schools, and other groups. Book your free presentation and we'll bring history to you.
- Broadacre City: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Chandler Project
- Death and Diamonds: A Holocaust Survivor’s Journey from Kraków to Chandler
- Dr. Chandler and the Land Fraud that Built the Valley
- Fight Night in Chandler: March 22, 1967
- Japanese Internment: When Some Americans Looked Like the Enemy
- Visual Stories: Dorothea Lange’s Depression Era Photography in Chandler, Arizona
What People Are Saying About Museum Programs
"I absolutely love bringing my three kids to C-Town (ages 5, 3, and 2) because the program staff is warm and competent; there are quality activities that engage multiple age levels; and it is consistent and fun! My kids will often sing the songs and discuss local history we learned well after our visits to the Chandler Museum." - Melanie, parent
"I love C-Town because we sing lots of songs and do lots of crafts and learn history every time we go." - Ava, age 5