STEAM @ Ten Broeck Mansion: History-Based STEAM Programs for Families

STEAM into history! Join us for free history-inspired STEAM programs exploring how science, technology & art shaped Albany.
Join us for free history-inspired STEAM programs with something for the entire family!
STEAM into history in our four acres of gardens and grounds with free hands-on activities, all supplies included. Programs held outdoors (under tent) rain or shine - please dress accordingly.
May 23: STEAM Garden and Planting Day/Horticulture & Agricultural Sciences. Did you know Ten Broeck Mansion was a five-acre estate with gardens? Explore the history of the Ten Broeck Mansion gardens, learn about some of the edible plants in the gardens, and make plant rubbings to explore nature through art. Plus, pick up a free take home seed kit (one per family while supplies last) and create an upcycled mosaic planter. Special Guest: Capital Roots
June 13: Music. Are you ready to rock? Learn about the history of music in Albany County and explore the science behind sound waves. Then, create and decorate your own up-cycled guitar to take home.
June 27: Ceramics: Let's work with clay! Learn how to make a coil pot and learn about the ceramics in the Ten Broeck Mansion, and the world-famous "Albany slip." Special Guest: Potter Linda Allen from the Arts Center of the Capital Region.
July 4: Waterways and Sailing, a special Revolutionary War themed STEAM program. Make a boat from everyday materials and learn about how important waterways were to the Revolutionary War. Plus, be a code breaker! Learn about codes used during the Revolution and beyond to keep messages secret during war. Special Guest: Tyler Warman of the New York State Museum.
July 18: Engineering. Get hands-on and build a brick wall, and learn about the historic bricks in the Ten Broeck Mansion. Plus, try to build a model of the Ten Broeck Mansion using a cereal box! Special Guest: Architect Sophia Lane from Thaler Reilly Wilson Architecture & Preservation.
August 8: Meteorology/Weather. Make your own barometer, and learn about how weather impacted Albany history. Special Guest: News10 ABC meteorologist Kevin Appleby.
September 19: STEAM: Community Tulip Planting/ Horticulture & Agricultural Sciences. Did you know tulips have been planted in our gardens since the 1800s? We will learn about the origins of tulips, how they came to Europe and North America, and how to grow tulips. Plus, free garden activity kits, art projects, and free take-home bulb planting kits. Special Guest: Mark Newbold, cheese monger, will join us to talk about cheese making.
See our other program listings for free family programs including historic foodways, bulb planting, and more through December 2026.
Join the Kids' Club in 2026! If you attend at least 2 of our summer programs, you will join the Ten Broeck Kids' Club and will get priority registration for our Halloween scavenger hunt and spring Easter Egg hunt. Just collect 2 stamps on your Kids' Club card to join! Contact us for more information.
To make your visit safe and enjoyable for all:
1) Getting Here
• Free off‑street parking: Please use our Livingston Avenue parking lot (GPS: 136 Livingston Avenue, Albany, NY).
• Walking: Our neighborhood has sidewalks for easy access.
• Public transportation: CDTA bus routes 100 and 106 stop about a four‑minute walk away.
• Visit our website for a map and additional travel information.
2) Making Your Visit Safe and Comfortable
• Please wear comfortable shoes suitable for historic, sometimes uneven surfaces. Spike heels are not permitted.
• Bags should be smaller than a standard backpack. Larger bags must be left in the reception area.
• Please do not touch historic collections.
• Water in closed containers is permitted; glass containers are not allowed.
3) Accessibility
• Visitors with accessibility needs are encouraged to contact us in advance with any questions.
• Visitors with service dogs are welcome.
• Emotional support and therapy dogs are not permitted in the museum.
• At this time, the ACHA does not have a fully ADA‑accessible restroom; a ground‑floor restroom is available.
• Museum spaces and gardens offer very limited seating.
4) Gardens & Grounds
• Our gardens and parking lot are reserved for registered museum program visitors during regular tour and program hours.
• Our site is pack‑in, pack‑out; please take all waste with you. Light lunches (brown-bag type) may be enjoyed on our grounds, but no parties, buffets, hammocks, additional chairs and tables, or tents may be brought in or used.
• Pets must be kept on a 6 foot or less leash at all times, and all pet waste must be removed. Please do not have pets relieve themselves in garden beds or near walks.
• No smoking, vaping, or alcohol consumption.
• Please follow posted signs and use caution throughout the site.
• Free educational kits and self‑guided tours are available at the garden kiosk.
• Hours may change; please check our website or call for current information.
• See our website for full garden regulations.
5) Registration & Program Timing
• Advance registration is required for all free programs.
• We cannot guarantee admission, seating, or program materials for unregistered or late‑arriving visitors.
• The ACHA often runs concurrent programs; please respect other programs’ spaces and access, as all visitors share the site.
• Late arrivals cannot remain past the scheduled program end time, and programs cannot be extended.
6) Groups of Six or More for Free Programs
• To ensure a positive experience for all visitors, free programs are not able to accommodate groups of six or more due to space limitations and program format needs.
• If your group of six or more would like to visit, please contact us to discuss arranging a special program or to receive suggestions for free programs which can accommodate larger groups.
• The ACHA reserves the right to cancel reservations for groups of six or more who register without prior approval.
7) Ensuring a Positive Experience
• The ACHA is committed to a welcoming, respectful environment. For everyone’s safety, visitors must follow all guidelines and the instructions of ACHA staff. Disrespectful, abusive, threatening, or otherwise inappropriate behavior is not permitted.
• Visitors who do not follow these expectations will be asked to leave.
These regulations are subject to being updated at any time. Please visit our website for current regulations.
Free educational programs made possible in part with funding by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and members of the ACHA like you: thank you.
Pictures: The Dudley Observatory at our STEAM: Astronomy program 2024, Musician Deb Cavanaugh at our STEAM: Music program 2025, Arts Center of the Capital Region at our STEAM: Ceramics Program, NBC 10 meteorologist Kevin Appleby with the Stormtracker at our STEAM: Meteorology program 2024, Exploring tin foil boats at STEAM: Waterways 2024, and Meteorologist Stephen DiRienzo from the National Weather Service at our STEAM: Meteorology program 2024.
STEAM into history! Join us for free history-inspired STEAM programs exploring how science, technology & art shaped Albany.
Join us for free history-inspired STEAM programs with something for the entire family!
STEAM into history in our four acres of gardens and grounds with free hands-on activities, all supplies included. Programs held outdoors (under tent) rain or shine - please dress accordingly.
May 23: STEAM Garden and Planting Day/Horticulture & Agricultural Sciences. Did you know Ten Broeck Mansion was a five-acre estate with gardens? Explore the history of the Ten Broeck Mansion gardens, learn about some of the edible plants in the gardens, and make plant rubbings to explore nature through art. Plus, pick up a free take home seed kit (one per family while supplies last) and create an upcycled mosaic planter. Special Guest: Capital Roots
June 13: Music. Are you ready to rock? Learn about the history of music in Albany County and explore the science behind sound waves. Then, create and decorate your own up-cycled guitar to take home.
June 27: Ceramics: Let's work with clay! Learn how to make a coil pot and learn about the ceramics in the Ten Broeck Mansion, and the world-famous "Albany slip." Special Guest: Potter Linda Allen from the Arts Center of the Capital Region.
July 4: Waterways and Sailing, a special Revolutionary War themed STEAM program. Make a boat from everyday materials and learn about how important waterways were to the Revolutionary War. Plus, be a code breaker! Learn about codes used during the Revolution and beyond to keep messages secret during war. Special Guest: Tyler Warman of the New York State Museum.
July 18: Engineering. Get hands-on and build a brick wall, and learn about the historic bricks in the Ten Broeck Mansion. Plus, try to build a model of the Ten Broeck Mansion using a cereal box! Special Guest: Architect Sophia Lane from Thaler Reilly Wilson Architecture & Preservation.
August 8: Meteorology/Weather. Make your own barometer, and learn about how weather impacted Albany history. Special Guest: News10 ABC meteorologist Kevin Appleby.
September 19: STEAM: Community Tulip Planting/ Horticulture & Agricultural Sciences. Did you know tulips have been planted in our gardens since the 1800s? We will learn about the origins of tulips, how they came to Europe and North America, and how to grow tulips. Plus, free garden activity kits, art projects, and free take-home bulb planting kits. Special Guest: Mark Newbold, cheese monger, will join us to talk about cheese making.
See our other program listings for free family programs including historic foodways, bulb planting, and more through December 2026.
Join the Kids' Club in 2026! If you attend at least 2 of our summer programs, you will join the Ten Broeck Kids' Club and will get priority registration for our Halloween scavenger hunt and spring Easter Egg hunt. Just collect 2 stamps on your Kids' Club card to join! Contact us for more information.
To make your visit safe and enjoyable for all:
1) Getting Here
• Free off‑street parking: Please use our Livingston Avenue parking lot (GPS: 136 Livingston Avenue, Albany, NY).
• Walking: Our neighborhood has sidewalks for easy access.
• Public transportation: CDTA bus routes 100 and 106 stop about a four‑minute walk away.
• Visit our website for a map and additional travel information.
2) Making Your Visit Safe and Comfortable
• Please wear comfortable shoes suitable for historic, sometimes uneven surfaces. Spike heels are not permitted.
• Bags should be smaller than a standard backpack. Larger bags must be left in the reception area.
• Please do not touch historic collections.
• Water in closed containers is permitted; glass containers are not allowed.
3) Accessibility
• Visitors with accessibility needs are encouraged to contact us in advance with any questions.
• Visitors with service dogs are welcome.
• Emotional support and therapy dogs are not permitted in the museum.
• At this time, the ACHA does not have a fully ADA‑accessible restroom; a ground‑floor restroom is available.
• Museum spaces and gardens offer very limited seating.
4) Gardens & Grounds
• Our gardens and parking lot are reserved for registered museum program visitors during regular tour and program hours.
• Our site is pack‑in, pack‑out; please take all waste with you. Light lunches (brown-bag type) may be enjoyed on our grounds, but no parties, buffets, hammocks, additional chairs and tables, or tents may be brought in or used.
• Pets must be kept on a 6 foot or less leash at all times, and all pet waste must be removed. Please do not have pets relieve themselves in garden beds or near walks.
• No smoking, vaping, or alcohol consumption.
• Please follow posted signs and use caution throughout the site.
• Free educational kits and self‑guided tours are available at the garden kiosk.
• Hours may change; please check our website or call for current information.
• See our website for full garden regulations.
5) Registration & Program Timing
• Advance registration is required for all free programs.
• We cannot guarantee admission, seating, or program materials for unregistered or late‑arriving visitors.
• The ACHA often runs concurrent programs; please respect other programs’ spaces and access, as all visitors share the site.
• Late arrivals cannot remain past the scheduled program end time, and programs cannot be extended.
6) Groups of Six or More for Free Programs
• To ensure a positive experience for all visitors, free programs are not able to accommodate groups of six or more due to space limitations and program format needs.
• If your group of six or more would like to visit, please contact us to discuss arranging a special program or to receive suggestions for free programs which can accommodate larger groups.
• The ACHA reserves the right to cancel reservations for groups of six or more who register without prior approval.
7) Ensuring a Positive Experience
• The ACHA is committed to a welcoming, respectful environment. For everyone’s safety, visitors must follow all guidelines and the instructions of ACHA staff. Disrespectful, abusive, threatening, or otherwise inappropriate behavior is not permitted.
• Visitors who do not follow these expectations will be asked to leave.
These regulations are subject to being updated at any time. Please visit our website for current regulations.
Free educational programs made possible in part with funding by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and members of the ACHA like you: thank you.
Pictures: The Dudley Observatory at our STEAM: Astronomy program 2024, Musician Deb Cavanaugh at our STEAM: Music program 2025, Arts Center of the Capital Region at our STEAM: Ceramics Program, NBC 10 meteorologist Kevin Appleby with the Stormtracker at our STEAM: Meteorology program 2024, Exploring tin foil boats at STEAM: Waterways 2024, and Meteorologist Stephen DiRienzo from the National Weather Service at our STEAM: Meteorology program 2024.