My husband and I visited the Titanic exhibit and also checked out the gift shop, planetarium, and Science Playground with our little one. The Titanic exhibit was really interesting and packed with information about the ship, passengers, and its history. There was a lot to see and read, which I enjoyed, but some of the interactive screens had so much information packed into them that it took quite a while to get through everything. You either end up waiting for the person ahead of you to finish, or you feel pressured to move along when people start piling up behind you. I found myself skipping some of it because of that. A few more screens to spread everything out would have made the experience better. We also watched One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure at the planetarium, which our son enjoyed. The Science Playground was fantastic too. It was really fun watching our son explore and play with all the different activities. We didn't have enough time to see the rest of the museum, so there's more for us to explore another time. read more

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So OMSI is great if you're going on a weekend when it's free. I do NOT fancy paying for every TRUE attraction - like Titanic or the Submarine tour. Those are separate from the regular admission. And okay for free go check it out because it's 2-2.5 hours tops that you will spend. For little kids there is not much. For kids over 9 not that much. For elementary aged kids maybe through 3rd or 4th grade there is a lot. I don't like coming because between parking (which is always crazy,) and then paying for every little thing - it's expensive. But IF you go on a free day it's worth while. The Submarine tour is amazing. My daughter and guy did the Titanic exhibit a few months back and both really liked it. But that's not my jam. Nor is it something I'd pay for. It's also disappointing how many things are broken or can't be used. With what y'all charge it should be WAY more of a museum. read more

This place is NOT a destination for tourist from out of town. I don't know why Reddit suggests it. I can see the appeal for locals, where it gives little ones a place to burn off energy in time for nap, but other than that, the exhibits and activities are weak in comparison to other museums. It lacks a uniqueness that Portland has potential to show case, but instead just includes activities that any other museum has. Sigh read more

I'm not sure what I expected from OMSI but as a whole, it was missing its own unique pull, other than the submarine. Each major attraction required an extra price- the submarine, the planetarium, the movie theater, the Titanic display. If it wasn't for the submarine tour and the Titanic exhibit, it's geared more for kids. And by kids, probably kids younger than 10. I went with my daughter and the most exciting thing we enjoyed was the water pressure water bottle experiment. The submarine tour was worth it in my opinion but not something for all kids. The Titanic exhibit had some artifacts but lacked a wow-factor piece. I place the zoo above OMSI. read more

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We had a wonderful afternoon with the kids at OMSi with our ASTC reciprocal membership. The chemistry and physics labs were so surprisingly hands on, easy to do and understand for kids (aged 5 and 7) and adults alike. The pendulum art was a special hit. We were impressed with the ease and relative coolness of the chemistry experiments and were so happy that we came back when they had capacity again. We even got to see an extra staff-led science experiment involving lighting tubes of alcohol on fire. The bajillion puzzles to play with and solve also entertained us the kids through the grandparents in the group. A great way to way to spend a half day.. read more

I love a good adults only event! All exhibits are open during the event and you can touch and play with all the things. You have to line up outside for ID check so dress for the weather. Everyone is required to show ID regardless of age. Once inside you'll stand in another line to show your tickets. Parking is $2. If there's a show or lecture you'd like to see make sure to line up about 20 minutes before to secure your spot. The lines get long fast and space is limited. There were a good number of vendors serving drinks and a couple with food. Theres also a small corner with vendors selling goods. The different activity stations vary based on the theme but there's always plenty to stop and look at. read more

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I've been going here since I was a child, and some of my fondest childhood memories are from day trips with my family. They have had so many cool featured exhibits like the Sherlock Holmes Exhibition and the Pompeii Exhibition, and I loved the recent Titanic exhibit. It was incredibly educational. I've done a ton of curious research on it throughout my life and still learned new things. read more

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This place is so overpriced, paid $ $5.35 to park for 2 hours then $81.50 for myself and 2 daughters to walk in the door, there's barely anything to do there, super boring! Maybe more fun for little kids but still nowhere near worth that price, on top of that there's gay flags EVERYWHERE, super weird. read more

I wanted to like this museum. I visited from out of town (California native) and was disappointed in the offerings at OMSI that were available WITHOUT paying extra. Maybe I had high expectations based on museums where I'm from, but it felt like I was nickeled and dimed if I wanted to experience anything that wasn't kid related, ie, the Titanic exhibit, the submarine tour, or even the offerings in the theaters (planetarium and some other one on site). The kid-focused labs did seem cool though, so I guess a couple stars for things to do with kids when in Portland, but otherwise my trip there was uninspiring (super disappointed in what they had for space exploration!) and made me want to rectify this by visiting my local museums. Parking nearby was easy except for having to install a whole new app to pay for the space (there is a kiosk I didn't see until after the fact ). The gift shop was fine, as pricey as one would expect, and sold cooler things than were actually on exhibit at the museum. read more

A nice mid-sized-city science museum, especially popular for families. But more importantly, also home to the Sci-Fi Film Festival, the planetarium with laser light shows, and occasionally host to nerd comedy and other community events. read more

I'd like to share our experience with the OMSI Summer Camp in case it's helpful to other parents. My child only attended for two days and then refused to go back. The biggest issue was that the teachers didn't seem very patient with the children, which made my child feel uncomfortable. The classroom conditions were also below our expectations. The camp doesn't provide lunch, and there wasn't much for the kids to do during the lunch break. They were each given a ball to play with, but there were no organized activities. Much of the time, the children were outside near the entrance in the hot sun, which was uncomfortable on warm days. This was our personal experience, and other families may have different experiences. However, if you're considering this camp, I would recommend asking about the teachers' approach, lunch arrangements, and midday activities before enrolling. read more

We brought out 5th and 7th graders for the regular admission (no upgrades) and were worried they might be just a little too old to appreciate OMSI, but they both had a blast. Our youngest's favorite was the water exhibits while our middle schooler enjoyed the physics labs. Grandma and us parents enjoyed it as well. We only had 2 hours before heading to the airport and it was the right amount of time. I'd come back for a planetarium show. read more

Complete waste of money. Not much interactive stuff to see just a bunch of stuff to read on walls. You have to pay extra for certain rooms.

my first time at omsi! i loved it , the titanic exhibit was amazing. me and my friend went to the physics lab where one of the volunteers, scott was so awesome and engaging and showed us a static electricity experiment :) i may be 23 but i am feeling full of childlike wonder after my time spent here. read more

Only time I had a problem here was with the submarine tour old dude but I won't take it upon the museum. I wish they did their expos for shorter amounts of time so i could come more often. This is always a great time for big and little ones. Haven't even checked the full amenities but the kids play place, movie theater and current expos are my go to read more

Omg! OMSI after dark did not disappoint. Free drink samples, laser show, chemistry experiments, physics lab, open exhibits. What a night to remember forever!!!!!! read more

Brickman expierance amazing... learned bout the moon... many on screen information formatted to catch attention. Many nice people... planetarium... museum.. unity on earth clean up project erected funded with many inciteful ideas on how we play a part to recycle reduce reuse.... read more

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Attended OMSI's After Dark event last night called Stem Comedy hoping for an enjoyable and at least quasi-professional show and instead was subjected to embarrassing and humorless performers, crass tasteless jokes, and insipid comments passed of as insider nerd humor. I'm totally in favor of nerd jokes but these were not only not funny, they were just stupid. I felt sorry for these performers who obviously did not know how bad they were. Couldn't wait for it to be over. Bad, bad, bad! I hope this was a one-time poor decision for OMSI that will never be repeated. read more

This is quite an 'interesting' venue and unfortunately, not the good type of 'interesting.' The inside of this particular OMSI building feels like stepping back in time to the 1970s. The lecture hall consists of a few dozen rows of very steep tiered seating. I overheard 3 different people mention how walking up/down the very steep steps made them feel dizzy like vertigo. And, the lecture hall has a musty smell :( Another issue was that during the lecture my asthma started acting up, so I wanted to step out into the lobby, so my cough wouldn't disrupt the lecture and to privately use my asthma inhaler. When I got to the exit door that goes to the lobby, I realized that the doors auto-lock, so I would be locked out of the lecture hall (there weren't any staff inside the lecture hall or anywhere nearby in the lobby). Lastly, EVERYONE had issues trying to use the metered parking station for the after-hours parking! Five people in line ahead of me were unable to figure it out and neither could I (possibly the machine was malfunctioning, because I use Portland parking meters frequently without issues). Several people including me decided to use Parking Kitty, but none of the signage had the Zone Number on it. Very frustrating. The only good thing was parking is only $2.50 total for up to 5 hours in the evening, OMSI staff are very friendly and knowledgeable, and the bathrooms were very clean. read more

Came here for the Studio Ghibli film festival so I didn't get to experience all of what OMSI has to offer, but was very impressed with the theater and the ease of purchasing the tickets. There's plenty of parking which is done through the Park Kitty app and is only a few dollars. They also have EV charging available. The tickets were very affordable ($8) and the screen you see it on is MASSIVE. I feel like it is bigger than the imax theaters, but it may look that way due to the seats being so close to the screen. It almost hurts your eyes. They also offer some theater snacks and don't rip you off either, with a bag of popcorn for only $3. Overall this was a nice experience and I would like to return to see other parts of the planetarium. read more

came to the fantasy and folklore event. left almost immediately. it was basically just a ton of vendor tables (spend money to... spend money!). the featured "test out castle defense" experience was literally about ten paper blocks on the ground and a toy catapult. the second floor wasn't even open! felt like the entire event was a cash grab organized at the absolute last minute. read more

Out of all the years I've been idly sitting by letting my children enjoy the Omsi Experience I will say we finally went to an Omsi afterdark and chose a cidar fest and had a great time... we showed up about 15 minutes early which I would advise showing up even earlier because we were probably 100 people deep in a line at that time and the line only grew larger I was very surprised I just how big this event was and how big the turnout was. They had lots of exhibits open mini sampling of food and beverage as well as thanks for sale in addition they definitely made it fun to wear if you were just to buy the experience insurance you would get well worth your money and in our case enjoy a little bit extra. With our omsi level pass we get two free Omsi Afterdark, so this is a no brainer. The adult laser shows, and davinchi exhibit really put it over the top. A must experience for OMSI lovers read more

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I really like this event. The event is held at OMSI. You must have ID to prove that you are 21 and older. You get free samples of alcoholic beverages with entry. Parking is free. They have the cafeteria open so you can purchase food and drinks. They have a couple of exhibits open so you can look around the museum. Multiple guest speakers are presenting throughout the night. They have a large showroom that has multiple vendors giving free samples of food and drinks along with vendors selling food and drinks. This room is filled with puzzles and exhibits. I will return. Great date night event. read more

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We spent over $100 on a sham ripoff show called Beautifica which was just like going to a 1970's badly produced light show. Don't waste your money! Shame on you, OMSI for hosting such a SHAM, read more

The four stars is for the event, but if I had to rate OMSI on its own, the rating would be much lower. There were vendors who served alcohol, ice cream, kombucha, coffee, etc, which was probably the most fun part of the experience. We got to sample beers from different breweries. My favorite was trying the nondairy based ice cream from Little Bean. Little Bean was doing a promotion, since they are opening this year in October in the Pearl District. The exhibits here felt underwhelming (especially after having been to the Exploratorium in San Francisco). It felt like I was at a middle or high school science fair. However, one of the volunteers there was super engaging and showed us some cool science tricks; I was thoroughly amused. The theme of the night was music related and titled "Good Vibrations." I didn't really find a lot of the booths very interesting. Some of the things that stood out to me was the DJ booth, the theremin at a booth advertising a recording studio, and another booth with fruits that you can tap to make sounds. My friends and I watched the Lady Gaga laser show, which was mildly entertaining. read more

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I've been to 2 events so far, Ciderfest and Pickle It, and feel like this event isn't so much informative as it is an opportunity for vendors to sell and people to consume. I suppose that's all well and good for Ciderfest but the pickle event I thought there'd be more demos and how to's. The line to use the drink tickets also was understaffed and moved super slow for Pickle It, so it took away from time to enjoy the rest. It's always good to see the exhibits and play read more

If it weren't for Yelp Elite event, I wouldn't have come here. I am glad I came though, as the whole thing was so much fun. The restaurant had good food and good beer even though the lines were a bit long to get a beer. The gift shop was big and open. The art show that was taking place at the time of the elite event was also interesting. The best part the whole experience is that one got to be a kid again and play with all kinds of toys that normally adults don't get to enjoy because there would be kids all over them. I am sure I will be back sometime in the near future. read more

OMSI - Bugs R US - Museums Near Me - Portland, Oregon

The event we went to was called "Game On." The description specified "board games" as well as other types of games. Neither my son nor I drink, but we are both huge gamers. And we LOVE board games. Some of the other stuff sounded OK, but we wanted to play games. It is in the name of the event. So my son got off work early. And we drove downtown to OMSI. And we parked far away (OMSI oversold the event) and had to figure out "parking kitty." We waited in line (OMSI oversold the event) in the rain. When we got in, we walked around looking for board games. But that wasn't really what this event was about. It was about drinking. And we don't drink. Everything had lines (again, OMSI oversold the event). Maybe if we drank waiting in line would be fine. We didn't play one game. We tried to say something to the guys at the front desk, but they were not really the people who could do anything. We tried to give them our drink tickets, but they said they couldn't take them (good for them) - we gave them to the first person we saw. Then we left. And we drove home. We spent $50 plus parking plus gas. It was a very disappointing evening. The advertisement should have been more clear. read more

The Exquisite Creatures Exhibit by Christopher Marley was wonderful and it was so cool to see/touch live snakes and turtles at some of the vendors! When going to OMSI after dark events, don't go on an empty stomach since the vendors give up samples and there are more alcohol options than food. it's so nice to be able to walk around OMSI without kids around! I know it's more largely geared towards children, but I still want to go explore, look and learn, especially with a drink in hand! read more

OMSI - Gingerbread competition - Museums Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I've been to Omsi after dark a few times now. Mostly I give it a high rating because there's no kids there. Of course, there can be lots of drinking, which can be annoying at times. When it comes to drinking too many people become line cutters and I don't play that game, ever. You WILL get behind me when I'm in line for anything, anywhere. That's my one gripe about doing this. Other than the occasional rude drinkers it's pretty chill. You can just walk around and check everything out. It's nice to do every once in a while. read more

OMSI - Museums Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I really enjoyed the entire evening. The beverages were great the s'mores were amazing along with the exhibits and opportunity to play as adults. I don't think we get enough of this in our lives and this was the perfect opportunity to recharge and have grownup fun playing as a kid with the puzzles and skills tests. What a phenomenal job they did of setting it up read more

OMSI - Store - Museums Near Me - Portland, Oregon

We had a really fun time at the renaissance/medieval night! There were a whole slew of activities to explore, including the DaVinci exhibit, from blacksmithing to medical care. It was fun talking with the vendors about what they do, as well. We picked up some great mead and hotsauces, and learned about how cannons and swordfighting work. Highly recommend! It was a bit crowded, so get their early and prepare for a lot of people. read more

I love the OMSI after dark events. I've been to several of these and they are really fun. Most recently I went to the Beer event and it's a really fun favorite. read more

OMSI - Museums Near Me - Portland, Oregon

**WC** Honestly I think I was better off since I am in a wheelchair...otherwise get here wicked early because WOW...we were there around 615pm and there right upfront was listed ADA overflow parking because the lot was full. So, in a way, we parked closer because the lot was full I guess since we are ADA. Rolling around itself was pretty easy - I had not experienced OMSI at any time of day in a wheelchair so without kids around was nice - I get concerned because kids so not always pay attention and I cannot see if my wheels are about to run someone over - ask my husband! We went to the Medieval Science exhibit which was super fun for use even though I used to fence with the SCA...actually it made it even more fun since I was not expecting to run into people I know and I ran into several running different exhibits and one who gave a great lecture. I will admit a lot of the stuff was actually more fun for us seeing "normal people" playing with swords and learning things they had no clue about so bravo Joe Public! We ate before going and neither are the plastic cup of booze type but that's there if you need to drink and science. They also have some snacks! read more

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OAD Really cool but dang the crowds were massive! The play room was packed with lines for booze and food that made playing with the exhibits impossible. I did make it through the play area before it became a madhouse. The exhibits are obviously for kids but if you give adults booze, most become child like. So it works out. My Wife and I are older but young at heart. My Wife was a little under the weather on the night of OAD so it wasn't as fun for her. Me. I loved it. I really liked the Water Rockets. Water and Air Pressure makes for some cool rockets. If i ever win the lottery.... (I don't gamble, so my odds of winning are slightly less.) ..... I am definitely getting a Water Rocket Setup in my yard. And it will most definitely be more dangerous than the one at OMSI. I really, really wanted to play with the Robot Arms but this couple that was playing the game it has. Were locked into some fierce competition. I just wanted to play with the Robot Arms. First Come, First Served. All the lines for Food and Drinks were crazy long. I estimated it would take 30-40 minutes from the time we got in line to getting food. 15 less for drinks alone. So my Wife and I decided to enjoy more O A D and get food on the way home. The food all looked amazing. The Nachos. I wanted it so much but I soon heard the Words, "86 Nachos". The OMSI Crew did come up with another version of what they started out with and people continued to order them. The demonstrations were all very cool. I did not like the Shark Dissection. My culture believes you come back as a shark. So it was difficult to see a shark like that. I did like the huge rock with a dinosaur dolphin skull in it. Ya. I know right. How did they know it was in the rock? They x-rayed it. Not sure why they x-rayed a rock but they did and found bones. Ah. Science. You mysterious fiend All in all O A D was fun. Tips. OAD starts at 7. We showed up at about 7:30 and the line was past OMSI but we got in within 10 minutes. Eat before you go. Unless you really don't mind waiting. Prepare for crowds. People are rude wherever you go. Most are cool but some... Not so much. Be prepared to wait for certain exhibits. Either by waiting for your turn or because of the crowds. Still, each OAD has a different theme. I don't remember what the next one is but you can look it up. I can't wait for the next OAD. read more

I'm gonna echo what I see below. Way oversold; I attended last night's Astronomy event. It took 20 minutes to get a wristband. There's no signage about what to do if you already have tickets. Your ticket does say "skip the line" if you read the fine print. The wristband security took their job v seriously but that means the line moved v v v slowly. There were 5-6 separate lines near the entrance but no signage about what to do if you already have tickets. Inside, there were long lines for everything. I got here around 745. I was in line for the Planetarium at 810. I had to ask if the 8 show had already started and how many seats the planetarium holds (160) because the line was so long. Because of the crowd, it was v hot. I ditched that line, went and waited in a line for a beer sample (it wasn't moving because people kept cutting in from the front sides, v v v disorganized) and finally settled into the wine line. $9 and 10 minutes later, I was back in line at 825 for the 830 show. The line was much longer than 160 but I figured I'd get into the 9 show bear the front of the line. So I spent from 825 til 9 in line, hot, with wine. The planetarium show Extreme Planets was oriented to one side of the room so half the room had a crappy, crane-your-neck view. But that was awesome, and unique and made me feel less scammed. After we came out at 930, pretty much everything was shut down. If this were my event, a $15 ticket should include 1 drink. The window should be bigger, from 5p to 10p and I still think, even doing that, they should incorporate the outside space and sell less tickets. I think I saw online while buying, the cap was 500. Omsi can't really accommodate that many people inside. Something Austin City Limits (I only mention because of the size of the crowds there) does is integrate a wristband for paying. I think getting a wristband ahead of time that can be activated for payment is an option when Omsi is doing these events monthly. That would solve the wristband line and cut down the drink lines. Final caveat, I think the first time I went to Omsi was an After Dark with the Yelp Elites that allowed access to the (retro gaming?) exhibit, themed around Fire and Ice. There were tons of food options (a million samples), less people, the outside space was used (with the Unipiper in attendance!) and drinks were not $9. I realize this probably spoiled me but wow, Omsi has got some work to do on these After Darks. -Astronomically Disappointed read more

Tips for visiting OMSI After Dark We went to Corklandia in November. We read the reviews on Trip Adviser and Yelp and some of the suggestions were helpful Tip #1 Eat before you arrive. The food at the event are super tiny portions and you only get a couple of food tickets. Several of the options weren't even appealing. Tip #2 Parking. OMSI has two large parking lots. OMSI closes at 5:30 and families are leaving so the spaces open up. There is also on street parking nearby and Max has a OMSI stop. There was also no issues leaving, no crowds or lines. Tip #3 Crowds and Long lines? This was not our experience. The event was sold out so we expected crowds. We arrived early and were let in before 6pm. That gave us a whole hour to explore with no lines. It gave us time to visit with the venders while everyone else was waiting in lines, being carded and checked in. Tip #4 Take advantage of the planetarium, the free lectures and the fun OMSI exhibits. read more

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Wow! What a great crowd on a Wednesday. The venue was amazing. The way the organizers put the breweries spread out around the museum was very crafty. No pun intended... Definitely a great night. My only qualm would be the submarine. I Love Subs! Maybe next year there can be a contest to have your booth on the sub or near it? read more

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Last night my beau and I attended the OMSI After Dark event which is held the last Wednesday of every month from 6pm - 10pm. I have wanted to go to OMSI since I moved here, but hordes of squealing, hyper children being chased by frantic parents is not my scene. After Dark gives any person over the age of 21 an option to go and enjoy science without having to "enjoy" children. They rid the museum of all the little weezers, stay open until 10 (usually closing at 5:30pm), bring in booze and let you take your adult beverages anywhere. They must really trust us! Tickets for the event are $10, one dollar off normal adult admission. I suggest ordering and printing online as we bought ours the day of and got to skip the long and growing ticket line. Along with our admission to the entire museum including the Da Vinci exhibit, we received a sample of local organic vodka, Elemental Vodka, and unlimited samples of Hot Lips Soda. Cash bars were scattered throughout and prices are what you expect to pay at a function like this, $4.50 for a domestic bottle up to $8.00 for premium wine. There were other activities available for a cost such as Starry Night Live - Constellations of Spring in the Planetarium and a Laser Radiohead show later in the evening. I thought the event was a huge success. The place was packed and people were buying drinks and really enjoying themselves getting into the activities. I was worried that four hours was not going to be enough time to see/experience it all but it was perfect. We were tired and ready to leave by 9:30pm. My complaint would be that it was too packed and was hard to get into some of the exhibits; especially in the Da Vinci exhibit. At most points we were four people back and everyone around us was bumping into one another. At that point we would just move on and not bother waiting. I like to loose myself in museums and it would have been impossible based on the number of people. I am still glad we choose this night to go and if I was to go back, I would make sure it was an After Dark evening. I think OMSI should explore the option of doing an event like that maybe a little more often. read more

OMSI - Museums Near Me - Portland, Oregon

OMSI is awesome, but it's also more fun when the kids aren't around...right? Well, that's the theory, but a kid-free OMSI attracts a LOT of adults! Expect big lines and make sure to register for special events early because the popular ones sell out fast. The coolest thing that I found there the last time I went was the "egg drop" lab! There was a table full of everyday objects from plastic bottles, toilet paper tubes, plastic bags, masking tape, and drinking straws as well as some Nickelodeon Gak. The objective is to build a contraption that would allow you to drop an egg safely from the 2nd story balcony. I succeeded where many have messily failed, and it was all in great fun! Lots of cash beer/wine bars are scattered about (including some fare from local wineries), but only the truly brave will venture into the cafeteria to try out their "gourmet" offerings. The descriptions on paper will make your mouth water, but the manufactured slop will make your stomach churn. You're downtown, go eat someplace else! Your body will appreciate it! Ambiance: 5 Fun: 5 Crowds: 1 Food: 1 Bonus: +1 for no children & egg drop lab TLDR: Crowded, new activities not normally offered, no kids allowed, cash bars, STAY AWAY FROM THE FOOD!!! read more