There's fun kids' activities in the Maryland Science Center downtown Baltimore. We're members, so it's free to go as often as we like! With that, we can stay with any one thing we're in the mood for, and next time see other stuff. This time, (Apr 2026), it was all the color-panel floor! No, I dont know what the official name is. The kids with us just ran and danced and played across the changing shapes and colors, and sometime just lay there as the colors and shapes changed around them, while other kids of all ages joined in for longer or shorter times. I don't think they have free days, but there are some inexpensive entry categories, and you can bring a friend in with anything but the most basic membership. read more

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Overall, I really enjoy the center and think that it can be a wonderful place for families. Pros: it's a big facility and plenty for kids to see and do. My favorite location at the moment is the new Space Center which was just opened this year. It has some fun interactive exhibits and encourages kids to think about the universe around them. Also, there's a Kid's Rook filled with all sorts of in doors interactive activities including a giant water take, and many manipulatives. The live shows and science demonstrations are varied and incredibly well scripted and interactive. We've seen about 5-6 different shows this year and both my kids (ages 5 and 8) have loved and been engaged for every one. Staff are overall super friendly and they keep the facility super clean with the exception of the men's bathrooms. There's also a room where kids can conduct their own supervised experiments which is wonderful. And there's a new maker area that opened a few weeks ago where the kids are challenged to design all sorts of contraptions using recycled material (my kids spend 90 minutes there this morning!) Cons: no refreshments except for a really poorly designed self check out for frozen burgers and soft drinks and chips. This place could do with an actual eatery. Some areas are feeling and looking old. The dinosaur exhibit feels ancient and several of the areas, like the interactive screens do not work properly. It needs an upgrade (and so do a couple of other areas). Summer field trips can be unpleasant. At times, hundreds of unsupervised children can be in the facility and staff do not know how to force chaperones to be watching their children instead of being on their phones. I've seen kids shove other kids, steel toys from them, or simply be completely unsupervised at times and it makes me worry for their own safety. This was a repeated problem over the summer. The men's bathrooms especially on the second floor smell awful and are disgusting. Overall: my family and I have a membership and we do come a lot (probably 20 times a year). I feel like you can get a ton of use for it and kids have fun and can learn quite a bit while they are at it. read more

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We found a Groupon deal for four adults memberships for a year for only 100 dollars! We went for the first time with our neighbors. The group included 4 adults and a 5 year old and a 2 year old and we all had a blast! We explored the dinosaur exhibit, the human body exhibit and a few others! They even had some live science stations that showed some cool experiments! We spend a few hours there and then left before nap time. What a wonderful educational way to spend some time indoors with the kiddos. Can't wait to be back! Also, they do validate parking in certain garages! read more

Maryland Science Center - Museums Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

We had so much fun taking our students on a field trip here. The staff helped us get into IMAX, which costs extra, quickly. Some chaperones wanted to go to the planetarium, which was free, but were unable to without wristbands. Out seems that field trips are discounted so they don't include those extras. read more

Maryland Science Center - Museums Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Being a parent of a toddler, I'm always looking for something for my kid to do that's fun and educational. The Maryland Science Center is three levels of exhibits, a planetarium, and an observatory, however our most visited part is the Kid's room. The Kid's Room has a place to park our stroller. This play room has a special section for kids under two, where no shoes are allowed with toys, blocks and a lava bed. The Kid's Room also has a water (sensory) area with ponchos for the kids to explore, a reading nook and so much more. Most importantly, the restroom has a changing station. (Parent Hack) When it's nap time, we give our kid a bottle, stroll around the semi-full museum, turn on the white noise and the snoozing begins. We enjoyed our first visit that we purchased a membership; the perks of membership that we enjoy are unlimited access for the family, discounted parking and access to other science centers. As a whole, the museum could use a few upgrades, however I recommend it for the toddlers. read more

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The science center always delivers a great day out for my elementary school-aged daughter. We jumped on the $100 holiday Groupon deal last year for 4 passes, and have been at least 6 times (maybe more) - which is a fantastic value for what we paid. Lots of different areas for kids to explore and learn, and even after so many times there, the kiddo still has a great time! read more

What a cute experience! We recently spent the entire day here and the eight-year-old had a blast. While there are definitely some parts that are a bit young, there are so many age-appropriate and fun exhibits throughout the entire center. There were even some that I found enjoyable as an adult. What we enjoyed most, however, were the planetarium shows, which are included with admission. We went to a total of three since we were there the whole day. The more traditional planetarium show was definitely our favorite as it walk-through all of the constellations in the same ways that the shows I saw as a child did. The kid room is also extremely fun. I think the kids could've stayed there all day, and it was a great place for them to make friends. I do think they could do better in terms of cleanliness. The bathrooms were absolutely disgusting. Almost unusable. And there were several exhibits in areas that were just gross and dirty with smudges, stains, and other gross things around them. Overall, however, we had a great experience and would definitely return. There was so much to do for children of all ages. If you have ever been to The, Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia, there are some areas that are exactly like that. Next time, I want to see some of the IMAX shows, which are also included. read more

I haven't been the science center in years so I decided to plan a summer time day date with my daughter. We went doing the weekday to explore being a tourist in my own home town without all the crowds. The science center is definitely on the pricey end if you have a large family....luckily school teachers receive a discount and it was just my daughter and I so that helped lighten the blow. It was fairly empty when we got there so we almost had the place to ourselves. There are several floors to explore along with the gift shop of course. The best part for me was the movie dome and the hands on interactive area in the dinosaur exhibit. Parking is very tricky in the area because you have to rely on street parking and reading signs to make sure you are good. Also, there is a wonderful playground for kids to play adjacent to the science center. Plan your next visit!!! read more

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I get annual passes for my kids every year at a new location and the Groupon for this was too good to pass up. We've been a total of four times in the year that we've had them and they paid for themselves in two visits. Similar to Port Discovery the Science center has its staples: dinosaur area, water play, kids area, lots of interactive stations (ranging from a touch floor, to a ball drop, a workshop, to the standard electricity globe) in addition to a theater. There are demonstrations that, of course, are science based and in the two hours we were there we witnessed three. The backdrop of this place being right on the water makes it the perfect activity for families. Once you're done eating you can grab food and even do a bit of light shopping. There's lots of garage parking but if you get there at a decent time you can find parking on the street as well. As with every interactive, kid focused location kids and germs go hand in hand. I'm not sure how often they sanitize but I come with my own wipes and hand sanitizer just in case. If you can grab a membership on Groupon I'd say this is more than worth it. read more

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We had such a fun time at the Maryland Science Center! There's so much for kids to touch, build, and explore. The dinosaur area and airplane zone were big hits, and the planetarium show kept everyone's attention. It's the kind of place where kids can run around, get curious, and actually learn without even realizing it. Great spot for a family day out. read more

Love the Science center! From the planetarium to their rotating exhibits and the after dark hour events for adults! Anything where I can have a cute drink and also excavate some dinosaur bones is a right up my alley. The family friendly events are great as well and the location right in the middle of the harbor means you can options for food and more entertainment before or after you have a good time learning new science facts read more

This hands on science center was definitely one of my big highlights during my recent trip! There were so many things to see and touch. I love hands on science so this was definitely in my wheelhouse. I was curious about how often things get sterilized or cleaned because everyone was touching and touching and then touching some more. I just washed my hands at the end but if you are a germ avoider then this place may not be for you. The STEM areas were my favorite along with the view from the rooftop. Worth checking out for sure. read more

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What a great science museum located in the heart of Baltimore's Inner Harbor. We went during the week since our kids were on spring break. We initially went right when they opened at 10am but were told there would be 2,000 students on field trips visiting (MD did not have school break the same week as we did). We stayed for about 45 minutes but it did get super crowded. However, no issues as we were staying local with other things to see in the area and our passes were good for the whole day so we could come and go as we pleased. Staff was friendly and helpful telling us by 1:30 would be ideal and much quieter. So that's what we did and ended up staying an additional two hours in the afternoon. Big difference and we could explore without the crowds or lines to see areas. Great tip!! There are SO MANY hands on science rooms and cool things to explore- my kids, especially my 9yo were in heaven and absolutely loved it all! This is a definite MUST see and visit if you are in the area and with children. Stuff for all ages, I would say maybe 13yo and younger. My husband and I even found so many cold things to try and do. There is also a great outdoor playground there too! read more

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This is the first time we can to the science center this year. I was shocked to see all the new items available to try. The entire 2nd floor appears to be new. There are a lot of hands on things to try so bring your hand sanitizer. The coolest item was this machine that you could use your mind to make a ball move (so no picture) I could believe it. It was awesome. The science lab feature some very detail experiments to recall should kids and adults how science works. Also, I tried the freeze dried gummy worm aka space candy. Make sure your teeth are strong for these because they might take a tooth out. They were good though. We will have to come back because I was not expecting all the new stuff to take up my time. It was a lovely experience. read more

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The exhibits at the Science Center is totally exciting for any agegroup who are science interest. If paired with lectured or science events in the center or a Movie presentation is desired. Nearby Aquarium is truely a must watch atleast once or revisits. Its a jewel in Baltimore. The small ferry ride to several places and fabulous restaurant is also fun day. The science center have several exhibits for young minds a must. Childrens with friends and eager definite event. disneys cartoon Beauty and the beast in science center is impossible. The planetarium is truley impossible in time. An event with lecture by astronomers would be a total. Also the exhibits of ancient history is truely wonderful collection. Guided tours also awesome to learn more. Located in harbor. Truely an awesome location. Ideal for summer/late spring day or multiple visits. Baltimore may have more places. Science center is a start. Large ships time to time parked there tours and dinner boats are awesome and romantic experience paired with music would be blast. There is a huge game field. Events there should also be an event full day to spend. The science center often run promotions for memberships like the Aquarium. Ideal for revisits. Ample parking nearby. The science center memberships also available as economic option through Groupon deals. read more

Avoiding paying the steep price for our group of seven by getting the annual membership deal through Groupon, we spent a Saturday afternoon exploring all floors. It's impressive! They somehow make every exhibit come alive for kids and adults alike from the bed of nails to the electricity exhibit. There's also a planetarium and observatory inside. One thing to note is to avoid the cafe. Signs everywhere advertised pizza. Once we got there, it was over an hour wait for small and flavorless pizza. Go elsewhere for food. Other than the food, this is a GREAT museum for the whole family! read more

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We went on a Friday morning, arriving as the Science Center was opening, hoping to see a few things and catch a planetarium show with our 3 year old. Just buying tickets at the entrance, I was shocked by how friendly and informative Aniya, the representative behind the desk. I'm used to people in similar circumstances providing only grunts and gestures, but she went out of her way to suggest the exhibits and films that would be good for a 3 year old. As I told her: "they should double your salary"! I found out this was typical of the staff: all very helpful and friendly. The exhibits themselves were typical of a kids' science museum: 20% broken, 20% really amazing, and the rest overrun by screaming kids on field trips. But even so we found quieter spots to learn a bit and even read a couple books. The dinosaur exhibit was very good, as was the brief science show (a demonstration of some liquid nitrogen tricks). The Big Bird planetarium show, partly funded by the Chinese government, was pretty light on astronomy but taught us some useful phrases (like how to say "star" in Mandarin: 星星, xīng xīng). Suggestion: turn up the volume a bit! We also liked the very few live animals (turtles, spiders, fish) tucked away in a back corner. All in all, it was a reasonable place to spend a morning, but we were ready to get the heck away from the screaming after a few hours. read more

I've been to the Science Center plenty over the years, but only as a kid for school trips. We attended the Halloween event and it was the first time I've been able to explore the exhibits and play with the interactive displays as an adult with drink in hand. It was absolutely packed, the Halloween party is one of the best known events in Baltimore City, and this year it was sold out! We had an awesome time, it was so fun seeing everyone dressed to the nines, listening to amazing cover bands, and exploring science. We'll be back next year! read more

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The Maryland Science Center is always a great time. We buy the Groupon annually which is a steal for a family of 4 under $100. There is so much to do. My kids can spend a couple hours in the upstairs room alone and it's super nice that it's enclosed. They have to let the kids in or out so you don't have to worry so much if you lose track of a child for a moment. read more

Great science center and would recommend for families and kids. It's pretty busy but it was bc of the day camp field trips. lots of hands on exhibits that the kids will love. It'll probably take a good day to go through all the exhibits and free shows. read more

Maryland Science Center - Museums Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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I haven't taken my class to the Science Center since before Covid and I must say they have made some wonderful updates. I was little skeptical when we went to the dinosaur exhibit and the kids could no longer be pretend archaeologists unearthing fossils from underneath sand, but as you walk through the SC there are many hands on activities for students to explore. I had a group of HS special needs students and they loved Newtons corner. There's a pulley system where the student sits and pulls themselves up and then they can see how gravity brings them down. Upstairs you can explore the human body . Remember the game Operations? Well, there's a life sized Operation game for visitors to play with. Equipped with the light up nose for your patient. The light up dance floor that changed colors as you move was another hit as well as the Wall of Wind that allows you to control the air as you direct it over aluminum tiles that sway in the breeze when the air is directed at them. My students really enjoyed this experience and as I looked around the other schools also seemed to be engaged and enjoying their SC experience. SN: The coat room and eating area have moved and are no longer in the front off the lobby. Make sure you ask about it. read more

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Maryland Science Center is free for kids in Maryland schools weekends in March. I took my 14yo nephew on Saturday and he had a great time! I think his favorite part was the SciLab where kids grades 3+ get to do some experiments. He extracted wheat DNA and examined electrolytes. The planetarium was closed for repairs but we got a free ticket to an IMAX show instead. That was pretty cool. I was disappointed the cafe was closed as we were hoping to get lunch there. I guess it's a Covid thing? Overall, this was a great place to spend a Sunday afternoon. read more

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This was my first planetarium experience. The space was big enough that people could space out. Also, the presenter was extremely knowledgeable (and patient with the children) and walked through the shows pretty well. We were bummed that the Bodies Exhibit wasn't open as that was one of the main reasons for going. We didn't see anything posted online showing that it wouldn't be up so that was a let down. We were told we could still see part of the exhibit if we went to that floor "as they were setting it up" but we just saw construction equipment and cardboard boxes. The other exhibits throughout were kid friendly with lots of touching so we sanitized between each thing. Bring extra sanitizer! I get it - this is mostly aimed towards kids, and that's why I'm giving an extra star from my initial impressions. This seems to be a fun place to spend an afternoon, even while some exhibits may be unavailable. read more

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I'll preface this review with I do not have nor am I a child, a requirement to enjoying most of the museum. They are loud and annoying so if you do not like children then don't go. The cost of a ticket is $15 per person, more if you want to do the iMax. They do not have a map just a sign so I included it below. We got the planetarium passes and came a bit late, around 3 so the only show left was the cosmos at 3:30. The planetarium facilitator warned us it was his first time but it was like he never even practiced. Did he really even work there? I mean bad was an understatement. I absolutely love planetariums so I was really disappointed. The best part was when a child yelled he wanted to see Uranus. The exhibits are for children and during a pandemic I didn't really want to touch them. read more

Maryland Science Center - Map of the museum - Museums Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Maryland Science Center is FUN. I remember coming here when I was younger and having the best time. My most recent visit was as a teacher, chaperoning a bunch of 4th graders, running around having a good time. They loved it. I know it's geared towards kids, but it has things that are fun even as an adult. And who doesn't love science and learning things?! read more

Not worth going to. For a family of four, we paid nearly $100 in admission. Highly disappointed in how dirty this place was. The floors of the "cafe" were gross and the displays were unclean. This place needs a full time cleaning staff. They can benefit from upgrading several of the displays. Many of the activities were in disrepair and unusable for any significant learning. It does not appear that the displays have been updated in the past decade to match current technology and scientific achievement. read more

I hadn't been here since I was a kid and our school took us there on a field trip. I remember it being really fun back then, but I wasn't sure what to expect these days (like, what had changed, what was the same, etc.). I was also nervous about how my science-leaning kid was going to react. I'm happy to say it was a win on all fronts! Not only are some of the coolest exhibits I remember still there and updated, but my kid was falling in love with the place and didn't want to leave! So, yeah... total victory in my book. Let's talk about the price. I know 26 bucks for adults seems a bit steep, and you'd think kids would get in free to try and encourage them to "science" later in life. Well, there are a TON of hands-on exhibits, and that costs coin to upkeep! But, they're not cheesy experiments... they have some legit really cool stuff, like... * The planetarium! Shows are included in the cost of admission (wha???), and we got to see two of them. The Sesame Street themed one was really nice, but the Winter Sky one with constellations was the real winner! And you can do all of them for the general admission, there aren't separate tickets to buy! * The light themed exhibits! I remember the photo-sensitive wall from my school field trip, and I was stoked to see it was still there. It's really awesome how UV light can leave a temporary picture against a specific background. * The dinosaurs! You can get up close and touch replicas of actual dino bones and other fossils, which is pretty intense for a six-year-old! They took a good amount of time building this out and explaining the different theories (past and present) on dinogenesis and extinction. * Electricity! They had some really cool hands-on exhibits on how electricity works, how it powers our world, and so on. * Kids' Room! I just have one word: WATER! LOL! The kiddo loved playing in the water and seeing the various ways water can interact with its surroundings. This was a great break for her, actually, as it was a nice deviation from the rest of the science experiments. Sometimes, kids just need to be kids. * Workshop! I think this was probably a close second for best thing we did that day. They had a workshop on building trampolines, which we did with simple small frames and rubber bands. The object was to get a golf ball to bounce as high as possible with your homemade device. Pretty nifty stuff! I could go on. The bottom line is, we got there around 11am and stayed until just about closing time. And she didn't want to leave! So, that's saying something. It was definitely money (and time) very well spent. If you have kids and they have even a spark of interest in anything science, take them here and stoke their imaginations! It's a great museum/experience and deserves to be explored! read more

We visited during a special event and had so much fun! There were plenty of interactive exhibits and we loved the dinosaurs. This location could be fun for children or adults. So much to do and see, along with great views of the Inner Harbor. read more

Honestly? This place is like a zoo during field trips and during summer time. Like $24.95 for and adult and $18.95 for 3year old- 13year old is too high in pricing. The tornado exhibit was shut down because they have to repair the tornado machine. Also, the kids room and other rooms, you have to call ahead and my a reservation to do the workshops. We went on a field trip and we saw everything in 1.5 hours. If your a chaperone? Good luck, kids will get lost and it's hard to prevent kids from bumping into each out because they are running everywhere. Though this museum gets a 3/5. I can say their customer service and staff? Are great! A lady pointed me to the right direction when. Couldn't find a certain exhibition. Also, two of my kids I was chaperoning accidentally bumped into each other and fell on the ground and bumped their head. There was an older gentleman that got the first aid kid and gave it to the kids along with ice packs! Like wow to that! At least that staff member went out his way to get those items for my school kids! There is a brown bag lunch section, so you can place your lunch in that room! Overall the science center is only good if it's almost empty, if it's not? Your not Going to have a good time! read more

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last time i went here i was a little kid and it was definitely more magical to me back then than it is now. with that being said, my fiancée and i still had a really good time. there's a lot of exhibits, things to read and interact with - it's pretty cool in there. we likely won't be back by ourselves, but it's definitely a place i'd bring my nephew or something. awesome for kids. read more

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I had a great time here w/ my daughter's school for their field trip. There is so much for the children to do, the Maryland Science Center really does do an exceptional job of making learning fun. They have a dinosaur museum, with fossils collected in the Maryland area, which was very cool, and informative. On the second floor we explored space, and the children also got to take turns laying on a bed of nails. Yikes. The children got to perform on stage, and the staff was very friendly. If you're in the mood for some good, wholesome, educational family fun, I strongly recommend the Maryland Science Center! read more

Maryland Science Center - Museums Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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We had the worst experience ever at the museum/science center, especially considering it's meant for children. Today, on 01/07/2024, we visited the Maryland Science Center for their Baltimore downtown day. There is an activity on the third floor where kids can push a swinging board with a pen drawing on it. After two girls in line drew with the pink pen, it was my boy's turn. He asked the staff if he could use a blue pen, which is his favorite color. The staff responded with a very rude voice, saying, 'No, you CANNOT.' We were all shocked, thinking it might be a joke at first. Unfortunately, he meant it, and the little boy couldn't use the color he wanted because the staff wasn't willing to change the pen on the drawing board. My boy was frightened by the unfriendly voice and wanted to leave. He refused to go back to the third floor because of it. Visiting the Maryland Science Center has been our family's annual event, but not anymore. I suggest that families with kids DO NOT visit this unfriendly place. read more

Wine and dinosaurs. Education combined with relaxation. Very good combination I must say. They had a several tasting with candy. Very good combo. Especially the wine with the skittles. Nice veggie tray and light snacks was available as well. They also had other adult beverages available if you wanted something besides wine. If you go to their website they periodically have special events. They had the rest of the museum closed off. I plan on returning to check out the rest of the museum and maybe another Adult event. I've always had a thing for dinosaurs :) read more

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It an Amazing place where kids (adults) can come to learn and socialize with other. Love the infant room and kids room. We watched the Elmo's show kids love it. read more

Nice science center, a little pricy and a bummer that the IMAX was an additional cost. Pretty standard as far as science centers go. My daughter (5y) had a good time, especially with the paper airplanes and the inertia area. Lots of exhibits and so much for kids to touch an interact with. They also had people at stations doing teaching demos periodically. All of the staff we interacted with were nice and overall the facility was clean and seemed well cared for. read more

Maryland Science Center - Dinosaur exhibit - Museums Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Such a fun place for kids to learn while having fun at the same time. I love that all the exhibits are interactive and interesting for the kids. I also like that they offer free admission for Maryland school age kids. read more

Maryland Science Center - Doing science experiments. Very cool - Museums Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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The museum is great but they do quite an insane thing at 4 pm. Museum closes at 5. They close the cafeteria (Sensible time) at 4 and they close the only place allowed to eat in the museum. You can't eat at the museum from 4-5. So you and your kids have to choose not to give snacks to your crying kids or leave the museum. And the lady who barked at me about all this to me was very rude and not understanding. It's not like this place that is hosting priceless works of art. It's A kid science museum where kids play. And may need to eat. read more

I felt a little weird going to the museum without my son but I made the decision to leave him at home more often. I had so much fun at the MD science center. If anyone tells you kids have more fun at museum they lied! The planetarium brought back so many memories! I relieved my child hood and saw starts and learn a lot about the winter skies and constellations. My second favorite exhibit was very interactive. I learned some pretty dope stuff in Science & Main and had too much fun. read more

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Dated and overpriced. Not family centered; mostly for kids. Unsanitary. Their employee parking lot is empty during the evenings, but they dutifully tow any cars. I left my car there for 1.5 hours from 8pm to 9:30pm, and I had to pay a $300 cash towing fee. Their parking lot is right in front of the skatepark, and I figured that since it was empty and it was nighttime, it wouldn't be a problem. If they want to "build a community that shares their love of science by creating connections through innovative programs," I suggest that they first start by working with the skatepark to offer some of their parking for limited hours. Because it is evil and selfish to charge skaters, who are their neighbors, $300 for using their empty parking lot after hours. I would understand if they towed cars during the times employees are at the museum. (Not for $300 though..) read more

I've been going here since I was born, we are members and apparently there is some parterniship, where if your a member then you have access to a ton of different museums either for free or with discount and i'm a member so i've been to many different children's museums like this one in some crazy places like Canada and California. The only reason i'm giving it 4 stars is because it kinda gets old, they really haven't made any changes to anything in the past couple years. THIS PLACE IS STILL REALLY COOL read more