The original Children's Museum opened its first facility in 1983 in La Jolla, and relocated to a downtown warehouse at 200 West Island Avenue in 1993. At that time, the Museum became Children's Museum/Museo de los Ninos San Diego. After nearly ten years in the warehouse space, the doors were closed in 2002 to break ground for a new building at the same site. Thanks to generous philanthropic support from the San Diego community, the new facility, renamed The New Children's Museum, opened in April 2008 to welcome visitors and celebrate its 25th anniversary.

The New Children's Museum focuses on the theme ''Think. Play. Create." and broadens a fun learning environment throughout its space with interactive exhibits, participatory environments and creative ways to integrate childs' play into the learning process. Parents also should be pleased to find an organic cafe on site, as well as an original store called the Gizmo Garage, which features educational and engaging new toys and gifts.