What do astronauts, butterflies, and electricity all have in common? Science! And these science museums for kids are some of the best in the bunch for hands-on learning in a stimulating and welcoming environment. So if you’ve got a budding explorer, geologist or doctor, heading out to one of these epic science museums can be a trip the whole family will never forget. Keep reading to see our favorites and see if your top museums made the list.
Bell Museum—Minneapolis, MN
Located on the University of Minnesota’s St. Paul campus, the newly redesigned Bell Museum is back and better than ever. Gaze at the stars in the digital planetarium, step back in time to see a woolly mammoth and other wildlife dioramas, and learn about science through hands-on activities in the Touch & See Lab.
2088 Larpenteur Ave. West
St Paul, MN
Online: bellmuseum.umn.edu
Museum of Science and Industry—Chicago, IL
Feed your kiddo’s curiosity with an unforgettable visit to the Museum of Science and Industry. See a real submarine (the only German sub in the US), descend a mine shaft to learn about coal mining, venture through a mirror maze to discover mathematical patterns and lots more. One thing’s for sure: you’ll never get bored at this Windy City gem.
5700 S. Lake Shore Dr.
Chicago, IL
Online: msichicago.org
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University—Philadelphia, PA
Founded in 1812, the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is well worth a visit with your budding scientists. They’ll have the chance to get up close and personal with towering dinosaurs, meet live animals and explore a tropical garden filled with live butterflies. Don’t forget to visit The Big Dig to uncover fossils and see a legendary sea monster in the Mythic Creatures exhibit.
1900 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy
Philadelphia, PA
Online: ansp.org
Discovery Place Science—Charlotte, NC
Kids will love spending a day at the STEM wonderland that is Discovery Place Science. Let their imagination shine in the collaborative, anything-goes Think It Up exhibit, then discover exotic birds and tree-dwelling reptiles in Charlotte’s only urban rainforest. That’s only the beginning, though—they can also learn about human anatomy, engineering and physical phenomena in other hands-on exhibits.
301 N. Tryon St.
Charlotte, NC
Online: science.discoveryplace.org
The Tech Museum of Innovation—San Jose, CA
It’s fitting that such a spectacular museum of technology is located right in the heart of Silicon Valley. You can get a glimpse of the tech world during your visit, as the exhibits cover everything from bioengineering to virtual reality to robotics. There’s also an exhibit that showcases how technology can be used to change our world for the better—it’s the perfect way to cap off your day at The Tech.
201 S. Market St.
San Jose, CA
Online: thetech.org
Liberty Science Center—Jersey City, NJ
With 300,000 square feet of space containing 12 museum exhibition halls, 110 live animal species, a 3D theater, and the Western Hemisphere's biggest planetarium, it’s safe to say there’s plenty to do at Liberty Science Center. Just to scratch the surface, kids can crawl through an 80-foot tunnel to learn about sight, use bicycle pumps to produce sounds and scents and make pixel art on a giant wall installation.
222 Jersey City Blvd
Jersey City, NJ
Online: lsc.org
Montshire Museum of Science—Norwich, VT
Located on a 100-acre site along the Connecticut River, the Montshire Museum of Science has more than 150 exhibits to explore. Discover the science behind musical instruments, test your problem-solving skills and build with larger-than-life blocks. If you visit in the warmer months, be sure to head outside to splash around in the Science Park’s water-based exhibits, or just take a walk on the scenic trails around the museum.
1 Montshire Rd.
Norwich, VT
Online: montshire.org
Maryland Science Center—Baltimore, MD
The Maryland Science Center is all about fostering a love of science in kids from an early age. With exhibits covering everything from Maryland’s famous blue crab to the cells that make up our bodies to Newton’s laws of physics, your little ones are bound to find something to fascinate them. Be sure to check out their events calendar for sing-along sessions, planetarium shows and more.
601 Light St.
Baltimore, MD
Online: mdsci.org
Carnegie Science Center—Pittsburgh, PA
The mission of Carnegie Science Center is to connect science and technology with everyday life, and you’ll see what they mean the minute you step inside. The Ropes Challenge tests your sense of balance while teaching about mass and inertia; in H2Oh! you’ll learn about Pittsburgh’s rivers and why we need to conserve our water. Other exhibits let you become an astronaut for the day and learn how robots work—in short, it’s safe to say the kids will love this gem of a museum.
1 Allegheny Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA
Online: carnegiesciencecenter.org
Museum of Life and Science—Durham, NC
In addition to a two-story science center with lots of exhibits to explore, the Museum of Life and Science also has one of the largest butterfly conservatories on the East Coast along with outdoor exhibits that house rescued black bears, lemurs and endangered red wolves. Turn your dance moves into sounds on an interactive dance floor, build a contraption with pulleys and ramps and make your own stop-motion film. There’s also a play area that’s perfect for younger kids with lots of opportunities for creative play and movement.
433 W. Murray Ave.
Durham, NC
Online: lifeandscience.org
California Academy of Sciences—San Francisco, CA
An aquarium, planetarium and natural history museum all in one, the California Academy of Science is a must-visit for Bay Area locals and tourists alike. Take a stroll through the four-story rainforest, where you'll see free-flying birds, butterflies and loads of tropical flora. Kids can also touch urchins and starfish, check out a towering T. Rex skeleton and watch a coral reef dive. Get all the details on how to plan your day at Cal Academy by clicking here.
Golden Gate Park
55 Music Concourse Dr.
San Francisco, CA
Online: calacademy.org
Science Museum of Minnesota—St. Paul, MN
From the moment you walk in the door of this multi-story building located on a bluff above the Mississippi, the fun (and science) begins. Kids can amuse themselves with a massive pressurized ball display while you wait in line for the tickets. Once inside, project your image on a giant astronaut, catch an iMax show, explore dinosaur fossils, navigate the river and listen to the sounds of the earth’s many quakes on the seismophone—a spiny wind chime-like sculpture that projects notes based on a seismograph. Bring a few natural treasures from your travels to trade in the collectors' corner. Rotating exhibits and amazing summer camp programs that teach coding, scientific concepts and creative thinking make this a gem of the Midwest.
120 W. Kellogg Blvd.
Saint Paul, MN
Online: smm.org
Oregon Museum of Science & Industry—Portland, OR
Portland parents know the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry is a permanent fixture on the list of top activities before kids turn 10, but if even you're just visiting the area, this museum is well worth the trip. Want to know what a black hole really is? Or maybe you’d like to tour a real submarine? From physics to chemistry to space and beyond, your kids will learn new concepts and discover phenomena without even trying (there’s a 7,000-square-foot Science Playground!). Plus, its location along the Willamette River in Portland ain’t too shabby either.
1945 SE Water Ave.
Portland, OR
Online: omsi.edu
The Exploratorium—San Francisco, CA
When it comes to hands-on, the Exploratorium has been a leader in interactive museums for almost 50 years! Dubbed the museum of science, art and human perception, It’s like a big, sophisticated science fair where you get to touch, taste, dance around in and hop up and down on all of the experiments. The location right along San Francisco’s scenic waterfront can’t be beat. Ongoing special events like movies, free days and changing exhibitions make this a local’s favorite and one of SF's top tourist destinations. Check out our handy insider's guide to make the most of your visit.
Pier 15
The Embarcadero & Green St.
San Francisco, CA 94111
Online: exploratorium.edu
Natural History Museum of Utah—Salt Lake City, UT
At the base of the Wasatch Mountain Range rests the Natural History Museum of Utah’s Rio Tinto Center, part of the University of Utah and an active research center. Inside you’ll find fascinating fossils (dinosaurs!), bugs from six continents, and some 40,000 marine mollusca (a.k.a. seashells and the like). Among a full calendar of family and kid programming are STEAM-based Saturday Discover Classes targeted for Kindergarten and 1st graders, 2nd and 3rd graders, or 4th and 5th graders. All ages can bug out!
301 Wakara Way
Salt Lake City, UT
Online: nhmu.utah.edu
Buehler Challenger & Science Center—Paramus, NJ
Whether you want—or wanted—to be an astronaut, everyone can have a shot at space glory at Buehler Challenger & Science Center. You can fly space missions in their simulator and learn about the Solar System in their StarLab planetarium. Public programs include a “Mini Mission” or “Full Mission” for grades 5 & up as well as Overnight Camp-Ins.
400 Paramus Rd.
Paramus, NJ
Online: bcsc.org
Center of Science and Industry—Columbus, OH
This not-for-profit museum’s current 320,000-square-foot home was designed by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki. Dedicated to understanding both the past and future progress, kids can explore the museum’s many areas that are both playful and educational. Access the Ocean through a “cave” that takes you through a crashed shipwreck and learn all about SCUBA diving, submarines, water pressure and more. The Space exhibit includes a replica space station, remote vehicles, and lots of hands-on experiments with gravity and more. There’s also an Adventure Area, a Gadget area (full of tinkering fun) and more.
333 W Broad St.
Columbus, OH
Online: cosi.org
Museum of Science—Boston, MA
The MOS mission is to help kids and grown-ups alike foster a love of technology and science without being intimidated and their approach has proved popular so far! Permanent exhibits include dinosaur fossils, a live animal care center, hands-on engineering play, math mysteries and much more. There’s also a beautiful butterfly garden and the Thrill Ride 360: a dynamic simulator that rocks, twists and turns as you ride a roller coaster or fly over Boston!
1 Science Park
Boston, MA
Online: mos.org
National Air & Space Museum—Washington, D.C.
Part of the Smithsonian family, the Air & Space Museum houses the largest collection of historic air and spacecraft anywhere in the world. Want to know what happens to your body when you go up in space? Or maybe you're curious about the future of space travel? This is where you'll find all your questions answered! You'll also find Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis, the Wright Brothers Plane, and the Apollo 11 command module. The museum hosts regular Family Days with themes like Space Day, African American Aviation History Day and more. New exhibits are always rotating through, and on select nights you can look through the telescopes at the Phoebe Waterman Haas Public Observatory. Oh, and did we mention admission is free?
Independence Ave. at 6th St. SW
Washington, DC
Online: airandspace.si.edu
The Bakken Museum—Minneapolis, MN
This unique museum combines science and the history of electricity to teach kids about concepts like brain waves, the body, magnetism, medicine and medical technology and—the best of the best—Frankenstein! Enjoy a 12-minute show that introduces kids to Mary Shelley, her monster and reanimation. There’s tons of STEM-based learning, including camps and special events. In addition, the museum is home to the Florence Bakken Medicinal Gardens and an impressive collection of medical instruments, scientific books, journals and manuscripts.
3537 Zenith Ave. S
Minneapolis, MN
Online: thebakken.org
New York Hall of Science—Queens, NY
With over 450 exhibits, events, workshops and more, this museum not only offers 100,000 square feet of indoor space, there’s 60,000 square feet of outdoor museum to explore, too. Parents in the know love this museum not just for their impressive collections and ongoing exhibits: the museum also offers drop-in Little Makers classes and an entire Preschool Place—a wonderland for the under-six set.
47-01 111th St.
Corona, NY
Online: nysci.org
The Field Museum—Chicago, IL
Where else can your kids see gems and diamonds from around the world, human and animal mummies, meteorites, animal dioramas and SUE, the most complete Tyrannosaurus Rex fossil ever discovered? The Field Museum is famous for a reason and it should definitely be on your museum (or any attraction) family bucket list. Check out these 13 current reasons we're crushing on The Field.
1400 S. Lake Shore Dr.
Chicago, IL
Online: fieldmuseum.org
Pacific Science Center—Seattle, WA
Among all the wonderful things to see and do at the PSC, one of the big highlights, especially for the under-five crowd, is the large saltwater tide pool where you can see and touch native Puget Sound creatures. Kids delight in the butterfly house too, and there's a big-screen IMAX showing the latest scientific wonder flicks. Ongoing and rotating exhibits will ignite their curiosity and foster a love of the earth and biological sciences. Be sure to check out our insider's guide to make sure your visit goes off without a hitch.
200 Second Ave. N.
Seattle, WA
Online: pacificsciencecenter.org
Museum of Discovery—Little Rock, AR
No trip to Arkansas is complete without a stop in Little Rock, but we think the Museum of Discovery is worth an entire day to itself. With cool one-off programs and a variety of ongoing events, no matter what time of year you visit, you’ll find something new and spectacular. We love that they offer free admission to families living in shelters and campaign for girls in STEM to provide opportunities for all kids to learn, thrive, get curious and excel. Permanent exhibits include the Amazing You gallery with an inside peek at bodily functions; Discovery Hall, a mathematical wonderland; and the popular Tinkering Studio.
500 President Clinton Ave. #150
Little Rock, AR
Online: museumofdiscovery.org
Saint Louis Science Center—St. Louis, MO
This science center dedicates itself to making science a fun, immersive and interactive experience for all ages. With everything from science music to classes to shows, a Life Science Lab and dedicated MakerSpace, hours will fly by here without even seeing it all. Plus, you can watch jaw-dropping films on the giant OMNIMAX screen. Looking for more St. Louis fun? Check out our family road trip guide here.
5050 Oakland Ave.
St. Louis, MO
Online: slsc.org
Arizona Science Center—Phoenix, AZ
One of the Southwest’s premier science museums, don’t miss the high-wire physics of the Evans Family Sky Cycle, and the large community makerspace. There are 3D printers, laser cutters and more alongside crafting tools to sew, solder and paint. You’ll find plenty of earth and space science displays and interactive weather models, too. Their programs are tailored to different age groups, including day camps, junior workshops and overnights.
600 E. Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ
Online: azscience.org
The Franklin Institute—Philadelphia, PA
This innovative museum offers a lot more than the (awesome) history of Benjamin Franklin, although its collection of Frankliniana, including marble busts, scientific instruments and writings, is well worth the visit alone. This museum boasts its own Escape Rooms, a planetarium, Live Science demos every day and exhibits on virtual and augmented reality (so you can see for yourself what all the fuss is about). This museum is as lively and spontaneous as Franklin's own experiments!
271 N. 21st St.
Philadelphia, PA
Online: fi.edu
California Science Center—Los Angeles, CA
Located in Downtown’s Exposition Park, this is a science lover’s heaven. But even if your little one isn’t a future lab dweller, there’s plenty to get their minds working. The IMAX Theater is a big draw for older kids. The three Discovery Rooms are perfect destinations for the 6 & under crowd—they are filled with tons of hands-on experiences like a construction zone, a kitchen, a garden and even a kid-sized TV studio complete with costumes. Plus, there’s the Space Shuttle Endeavour and the fabulous Ecosystems exhibition where you can visit an icy land, go under the sea and even get grossed out in the rot room. Plus, keep an eye out for the special, limited exhibits that come to the museum, like the King Tut exhibit, open through Jan. 2019.
700 Exposition Park Dr.
Los Angeles, CA
Online: californiasciencecenter.org
Houston Museum of Natural Science—Houston, TX
With a planetarium, impressive gem displays and the newly reopened Wiess Energy Hall 3.0 dedicated to the latest advancements in hydrocarbon energy, the Houston Museum of Natural Science has something for every kind of scientific curiosity. Learn about everything from mapping to insects to pruning trees—that is, if you can get the kids out of the incredible Cockrell Butterfly Center.
5555 Hermann Park Dr.
Houston, TX
Online: hmns.org
Denver Museum of Nature and Science—Denver, CO
Mummies? Dinosaurs? Gems? Native American culture? The Denver Museum of Nature and Science will keep your kiddos enraptured for hours (and possibly days) with its extensive permanent collection and ongoing rotating exhibits. Kids can experience weekend workshops nearly every weekend and with occasional family overnights, you can go all Night at the Museum in real life.
2001 Colorado Blvd.
Denver, CO
Online: dmns.org
—Amber Guetebier
with Susie Foresman, Wendy Altschuler, Meghan Rose, Gabby Cullen & Jennifer Massoni Pardini
