I live abroad so I unfortunately haven't been able to visit the center myself. When I tried to purchase some gift card for tickets for friends who recently had moved to the area, I ran into some problems with the payment. I immediately received help from their very friendly staff, and their e-commerce expert Evan worked relentlessly to get the issue solved for me. I very much appreciated his kindness and helpfulness. I later heard from my friends that they have visited there before with their kids. They both have scientific backgrounds, so this also gives some indication on the quality of the exhibitions and visitor experience. read more

Always a great time with the family! So many things to do and see for adults and kids! No one is going to be bored here read more

McWane Science Center - Aquarium - Museums Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

I enjoyed my experience here! It was my first time coming back in 10+ years so I was wondering about the upkeep with it being so old, but you can tell they take a lot of pride in their cleanliness there. The carpet seemed in need of redoing with the amount of foot traffic it has seen. We were there for the IMAX screening of the Blue Angels documentary. It's a true IMAX dome theater. It was immaculately clean in the theater and the seats looked brand new. The movie gave me the same feeling I get whenever I have worn the 3D glasses they give you in the AMC theaters, so be forewarned I did get dizzy a few times during the movie. For 2 tickets the price came out to $21.90. I would definitely come again for the right movie, but need a break from the dizziness I got. read more

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Plenty to do for my 2 years old grand daughter. Museum members are polite and extremely helpful .

Just an amazing experience for a family. My wife and I went with our son and daughter-in-law, to take their two kids (8) and (4). We adults had a great time with all the amazing hands-on exhibits. We had a blast with all the mechanical, electrical, optical exhibits that demonstrate scientific concepts in a very entertaining way. Kids from 3 up will have a great time. There are many exhibits that will entertain young children even if they are not involved in the science behind what they are doing. They have a zip line, train rides, many fun items like a compressed air cannon that shoots empty soda bottles...for example... fun things to try even if a 4 year old is not concerned with how compressed air shoots a bottle into the air. Our 8 year old grandson is picking up a lot of science while enjoying the same things his four year old sister does. They have some extremely detailed scale railroad exhibits that both the kids enjoyed. Definitely a great place to take your kids. read more

As far as the McWayne Children's Museum, I heard the kids activities in museum itself are great. Birmingham had the first museum for children in the nation! Sadly, I am reviewing IMAX, particularly the movie Beautifica by James Hood. It was advertised as something you will want to see again and again. No!!! You won't want to finish it after the first ten minutes! If this was as advertised, the "best thing one ever saw on the screen" and "one of your top ten life experiences," you need to hang out with me and see the excitement of real life outside of a convent or Library! I can sum it up as an hour spent looking inside a kaleidoscope: kind of pretty for a few minutes but not worth an hour and certainly not worth the group price of 22 smackers! If the volume were not so loud at times, at least I could have enjoyed a $22 nap! Guess how many of my group of ten people thought the movie was worth their time or money? Zero! We are all over age 40 but a diverse group who met over the love of ballroom dancing, music and socializing. Most of us have traveled all over the world so it's not like we are lacking new, exciting experiences! The theater was cold and seats with little leg room but I could deal with that. I could not deal with this worthless movie with Twilight Zone music over a few low "New Age" phrases, and a few human shadow images sprinkled in to try to justify a bunch of Tie Dye designs......"You are Amazing!", "Be kind", or "Reach Out to the Universe!" No real message, no theme, nothing that unique. Save your money! IMAX, someone needs to have a committee edit your choices! read more

IMAX dome theater is very different from any other viewing experience. It has changed from the surround viewing I had when it was first made available but I still enjoyed the wrap around environment for viewing. I found myself looking from side to side. We saw Twisters and had a nice night out. It's worth checking out if you haven't done so yet read more

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We had a blast touring this huge facility. Tons of really cool experiments and fun activities. This place is for all ages. Conventionally located in Downtown Birmingham across of from the Pizitz food hall. A great place to visit before or after you tour the Museum for great food and cocktail options. read more

This place was a big part of my childhood. Our aunt would take us here very often and it was always a blast. We recently went with our grandfather to watch the Minecraft movie on the imax dome. Saw some funny turtles, went for wings, met 5 star jimmy and watched a movie. Very educational place. read more

McWane is the best! My kids love going here and the IMAX is next level. We really enjoyed bringing friends as well as family from out of town. I highly recommend membership as you'll get your moneys worth if you go more than a couple times read more

This is specifically for their I Max theater. It was mostly a great experience. I have been to better but this is not bad. The screen is a semi dome. So the characters heads look stretched to a cone head sometimes. Sound quality is amazing and even a bit loud. Some folks had ear muffs on. Concessions were minimal and that is my biggest complaint. They have pop corn, candy and drinks. The drinks are 20 oz bottles and not from a fountain. I don't think they do refills. The seat I sat in needs a good wash. It smelled of mildew. Everyone wants to sit at the top middle so It can get crowded in that section. Parking deck is free for members but I think $5. My brother in law was a member. I need to come back and explore the science center one day. read more

McWane Science Center - Museums Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

I was here recently to see the new "Little Mermaid" I'm IMAX. I definitely enjoyed myself. Some movies just need to be enjoyed in the IMAX format. I just wish directions to the theater from the parking lot were a bit more clear. Additionally, I'd prefer if they allowed you to pick your seat online. I recommend getting to your movie at least 15 minutes before it starts if you want a good seat. read more

A great place to visit with kids...or on your own if you like science! We have been to McWane Center many times, even had a membership one year. Kids always have fun and it's a great place to spend a few hours on a rainy day with them....most of the time they even learn something! While some exhibits have been there since the beginning of time it seems, there are also rotating exhibits. So if you go once every few months, you are likely to see something new. When we went this time yesterday (for the first time in almost 2 years due to the pandemic), the new exhibit is based on Ninja Turtles. They did a great job with it!! Parking is conveniently attached to the garage. It is free with membership or $5 without....which is very reasonable for the area. If you want to spend the entire day there to maximize your ticket price, there is a cafe within the museum. The cafe is okay for what it is....about what you can expect for a eatery inside a museum. The price is on the higher side for what you get, but it's actually fairly tasty considering where you are eating. read more

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Well, it's been almost 2 years since I've visited and not alot has changed. I came for my 6 year olds field trip. I'll start with the good, we enjoyed the imax presentation of Secrets of the seas. The new building themed imagination center on the 3rd floor was cool, the kids especially enjoyed the ramp to race their lego built cars and the wooden jenga like blocks. The rest of the exhibits pretty much the same and mostly in kept up condition. I was disappointed that the kids were not allowed in the Itty bitty magic city during the first grade field trip. The employee working stated that they couldn't differentiate the between 6 and 7 year olds so they just dont let us in. That's literally the best part of the museum and they won't allow kids in that age to go in during field trips if they're not in kindergarten. Its a super weak rule and I feel in this situation they should make an exception on a field trip where 90 % of the kids haven't turned 7 yet as we're only 2 months into the school year. My other complaint is the lack of hand sanitizer stations that were maintained. I found 3 that were out, and the kids were sent to the imax after playing and given popcorn and drinks, but no sanitizer present. (They also made a statement before the movie started, that there was sanitizer at the entrance, but I will tell you that's false). Overall, we will probably only visit here during field trips, going forward... read more

McWane Science Center - Museums Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

This science museum is amazing! The facility is clean and great for children of all ages! The staff is very kind and helpful! The programming they offer daily is great for older kids but leaves a lot to be desired for preschoolers/kindergartners. read more

McWane Science Center - Museums Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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I wanted to take my nephew out on a Saturday where weather temperatures were high. First thought was the zoo but decided on Mcwane. This was my second visit, first was a work event and that was years ago. So I was excited to return. I ordered our tickets online and we were set to go. I parked in the deck and purchased the token to exit. There are levels with different exhibits. If I had to pick one area that he enjoyed the most, it would be Itty Bitty Magic City. There is also an IMAX Dome Theater which I think would be nice to view a movie. My nephew told me had a lot of fun!!! We will definitely return. read more

The IMAX was awesome. The parking was easy, and the staff was kind. We thought it was totally worth the cost. Several WR codes didn't work, and several of the first floor items need to be updated or didn't work. Most things were awesome. read more

Enjoyed a wonderful Fathers Day at the Birmingham McWane Center. I highly recommend a membership for families with kiddos ranging from 2 to 12, but McWane is for all ages! My husband and I enjoy the special late night events or wandering on a slow weekend. Little ones love the pretend play at Itty Bitty Magic City. Older ones will get to perform their own experiments in four floors. But yesterday we wandered through the new Dragon exhibit which was thrilling for my four year old and challenging for my six year old. My dad even nerded out for a moment with the challenge McWane had arranged. We also caught a showing of the new Lightyear on the IMAX screen. While this wasn't our first movie at the IMAX, I highly recommend this one in particular. The space scenes were beautiful and captivating! My kids were in awe and wanted to go back in as soon as the film was over. Next door is the Pizitz Food Hall which is a food court by nature, but upscale and trendy. Interesting finds from breakfast for lunch, Hamburgers & Hot dogs, Indian, Sushi, and Ethiopian. There's a little bit for everyone. read more

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Brought our granddaughters on a rainy ugly day So glad we made the trip. Still great exhibits. They enforce wearing masks Even the iMax is running and enforcing masks. A great trip! read more

The McWane Science Center is a phenomenal hands on facility for all ages! I had visited once with a friend and her son - also volunteered recently thru my employer. Both times were equally fun and I learned a lot in the course of my visit . My friend's son really enjoyed itty bitty Magic city, which is perfect for younger age kids. The facility is well kept , organized and the staff is very educated about all the different exhibits. My volunteer experience was hands on in the learning lab where we facilitated 3 different activities- Learned a lot in the process. My fav was testing the water (oh levels , salt and water temperatures). The other activities were digging for fossils and discussing / illustrating how water rises. The beauty of the Mcwane Center is that it's something for all ages - you can learn something on every visit no matter your age group! read more

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I love, LOVE being an ASTC member. My family can enjoy science museums all over the country which is awesome! We are from Texas and was visiting family in Alabama and looked this place up. Fabulous! There was something to do for all age groups! They had a toddler land which my 2 and 3 year old spent most of their time at playing with water and so many fun, experimental toys. My 9 year old enjoyed all of the interactive exhibits, especially the robotics room. Parking is $5 so not too shabby. Our family had an amazing time, I just wish there were more snack/drink options at their cafe. We were there when they opened and I really wanted a coffee but there was nowhere to get one! What parent can function without coffee in the morning! Science people! Lol. But a wonderful place to take your family, fun for all! read more

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We had so much fun today! The tickets are reasonably priced considering the amount of things there are to do. We spent the majority of our time in Itty Bitty Magic City. Our 4 year old had a blast and didn't want to leave. We made it to each floor, but kept making our way back to the Magic City. It was well worth the money. Sunday was not super crowded, and seemed like a good day to go. They have a small Cafe with a menu geared towards healthy foods. We didn't try it, but the menu looked tasty. The smell of the IMAX popcorn wafted throughout the facility and it was very tempting! We can't wait to go back, and are contemplating a membership. read more

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This place is pretty cool and should make your list of stuff to do while visiting the B'ham area .... certainly worth at least one trip. If you have kids, good chance you'll be going back. It so happened that are visit here happened due to a rainy day and needing to find something indoors to do. A relatively large group of us big kids went in and explored the multiple hands on learning stations that have on exhibit throughout McWane. Lots of fun and plenty of staff to ask questions if you need any help. Hard to say what a favorite is, but they had stuff related to all sorts of, well sciences, and found a way to make most everything interesting. We spent a couple hours here and needed to get on with our day/schedule, but had a blast playing with all the different stuff - oh, maybe the bike at the entrance - check that out - but no more spoiler alerts, you gotta go check them our yourself if you want more. read more

Had a BLAST here even though I'm in my late 20s. We came with a 6-year-old and 10-year-old, and they loved everything. The ice slide was particularly popular, along with the VR games and the pulley. The tug-of-war thing was cool too. Definitely a great and educational place for kids and adults alike. We also saw Superdogs at the IMAX theater, and because we'd arrived a little late, we had to sit towards the front, so we had to strain our necks to look up. Other than that, the theater was great. The train on the 3rd floor is minuscule, so anyone taller than maybe 4 feet can't fit, so don't get tickets unless you have small kids. read more

McWane Science Center - Museums Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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We visited the Itty Bitty Magic City (for 6-years-old and younger. The children love it and had so much fun. read more

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On this particular visit_ IMAX THEATRE was the reason my husband & myself planned an exit from our office to catch the opening premiere of the new movie: "DR. STRANGE". This theater definitely enhances the "Total movie experience" _ whatever they are showing. PS WE HAVE PURCHASED OUR TICKETS [In Advance] for the next premiere Opening day of JUNE 01 for: WINGS OVER WATER read more

My daughter loves this place. We've been here so many times year round. I love coming on Saturdays. Kind of crowded on the weekends so we always try to come as soon as they open but we end up staying until closing, lol. The membership is worth getting if you come frequently by the way! If you become a member you get free admission, free admission to the IMAX and discounts in the food court and gift shop! Oh and also discounts on bday parties. I absolutely love the different workshops they have set up. My favorite ones so far was making diy ornaments from recycled household items, diy bath bombs and scented shaped homemade soaps!! My daughters favorite part is itty bitty magic city where there is multiple areas set up in one huge room. They have a kiddie grocery store, a restaurant where the kids pretend to serve the adults food, a pretend pet shop, pretend mechanic shop, a fire truck, a tiny house with two baby dolls my daughter is obsessed over and many other multiple activities! This is great place to spend Saturdays with your kids!! read more

McWane Science Center - Museums Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

We spent the day in Birmingham and wanted to see what else there was to do. The Blue Star Museums listed this as a place to visit so we went and used the free entry to just kill some time. We knew it would be kid oriented but it was actually more fun than we thought. I had been once before about a decade ago and it had been rented out for our work conference. It was fun then and was fun still too. The water world was more fun than the zoo! You can touch the animals in the tank which was fun. There were so many exhibits that you can really learn a lot from even as adults. We did enjoy getting most of it scene before the kids came as we went right at noon. Overall, it was a fun experience and really well thought out. read more

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I love the McWane Science Center so much I have been a Member for years. Anytime I have the kids we are able to go and spend the entire day without having to be concerned about the weather, parking or the expenses. No matter how many hours we are there, they are disappointed when it's time to leave. They are always updating the exhibits to something even more interesting and educational than the last one. The staff is friendly and offer assistance without being asked. The facility is always spotless. Adults will enjoyed the space too. read more

McWane Science Center - Museums Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

My kids did have fun... but... they don't realize how much of this stuff is missing parts or broken. It would be amazing with some maintenance and upgrades and replacement parts for to the more worn out components. So some of it comes across as sad. read more

McWane Science Center has activities and exhibits for all ages. It is great for kids, but also for teenagers and adults. I have been visiting McWane Center, with my children, since it opened in the 90s. It was a wonderful part of my children's lives and I feel like they learned so much from their experiences. To me this is confirmed, especially now, because they are all grown and now pursuing or working in science careers. One thing that McWane Center recently added is a McWane Center After Dark program. These are for adults and have themes such as SpeakEasy Science. The first event was super crowded, but alot of fun with beer tastings, live music, food, a costume costume and demonstrations. Don't miss out!! read more

McWane Science Center - Beer Tasting!! - Museums Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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We decided to stop here on a road trip back home from the holidays. So happy we did!! This place has it all and my kids are still taking about it. Wish we lived closer because we would definitely come back. read more

This was my second trip to Mcwane in my 17+ years in Birmingham. The first time was when a lot of the museums were free and I didn't have kids. It was a cool experience that first time. But it is a totally different experience when you have kids of your own... especially of the toddler variety. They have a TON for kids 3 and under. The itty bitty Magic City provides a lot of cool stuff that tries to keep some of the older kids out. But somehow those pesky roughhousing older kids still make their obnoxious way in. But it wasn't enough to really complain. I have been to a few science/children's museums in the past and Mcwane measures up to most. It isn't the best. But there is still a lot to do. Overall a great place to take kids on a rainy or cold day. We will be back again and again. read more

Took grandson on a Thursday morning. Paid for admission and 2 I Max movies. We spent 5 hours there and went to 2 other scheduled presentations. Kept a 7 year old busy and learning for the whole day, well lite, clean and organized For lunch we went right across the street to a food mall, maybe 10 different small restaurants and pretty good food at moderate prices. Would recommend, I thought that pricing for the museum, parking and movies was very fair compared to other children museums we have visited read more

I can't remember the last time I'd visited this place. It was busy and bustling on a early Saturday afternoon. The staff was cordial and friendly while accommodating customers. The exhibits were pretty cool and informative. Great place to spend an afternoon with the family. The Legos exhibit was my favorite! I love how they incorporated local talent exhibits. Awesome job! read more

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The McWane Center has always been a place to explore the museum and interact with the attraction they have. Me and my friend decided to go down memory lane and see what all has change. The price for just the museum is $16.50 after tax, but if you have a membership here, you'll be paying less than a regular customer. For the price, I was expecting to be blown away from the excitement, but the place isn't what I remember at all. It's cool they have a mini aquarium that has stingray and jellyfish. The 3rd floor is focused on prehistoric and it was nice looking at dinosaurs bones and the kids will have a blast digging up fossil. The 4th level wasn't really much to do except for the maze which was fun. Some of the attractions were down and won't open back up for sometime which is a disappointment. Some attractions involves placing your face on things which I choose to not do because you don't know who's sick that left their bacteria on things. It'll be good if they have disinfectant wipes around the center to wipe down equipment before using. Overall, this place is more suitable for kids to have fun and explore than adults. read more

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Visiting the McWane Science Center in Birmingham, AL was lots of fun with activities for the kids, digging for dinosaur bone, petting sharks and sting rays and a bubble machine! We paid $5 parking for the day, and then we got on the elevators which take us quickly between exhibit floors. We wandered merrily through the exhibits, from the Itty Bitty Magic City to the Paleontology area with a 20 foot turtle dinosaur and the bones of a Appalachiosaurus montgomeriensis which were found in Central Alabama. The year-old granddaughter loved pushing the buttons on a fire truck with Mom & Dad at the Itty Bitty Magic City. The older kids and adults enjoyed digging in the sand for dinosaur bones and checking out the paleontologist's exhibits. This is a must-see and recommend. Check it out. read more

This is my first time in years coming to the McWane, and everything is so different than what I remember 20 years ago. There's so many activities to do here and from bottom to upper level. They hit you with a fresh smell of popcorn inside the lobby so you can't help not to purchase a bag. Customer service was good from the lobby to gift shop and this is a neat place to take little kids here. read more

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Center itself is great. Reasonably priced and a great place to take kids. They have really screwed up the food situation however. Only one option. "Beansprouts" Food is garbage with Disney World prices. The Center gets a five while the food options gets a 0. read more

Great slot to take the kids to burn a day. Lots to do on multiple floors! Make sure you go to the little city for kids.