Daughter and I loved it!! It was a little crowded but its a holiday weekend, we expected it to be, the exhibits are great!! A little pricey but totally worth it for a weekend of learning. There is so much to see and touch! Great for all ages!. I really want to go there like a thousand times! LoL! read more

3.5 stars--why not 4 stars? Ugh, I was so disappointed. I received a hand stamp to get into the museum (not really sure why you need it; I would understand if it was a re-entry stamp..), and the ink rubbed all over my clothes and new leather purse. Sadly, this purse is ruined and I can't get the ink out... Pacific Science Center, PLEASE use an ink that doesn't rub off...or don't even use the stamp unless it is for re-entry. Despite the stamp issue, this place is pretty cool--would be neater if I was 10 years old. My top favorites were: 1) Butterfly exhibit 2) IMAX show- Airplane Check it out if you're in this area. I prefer this over EMP Museum. read more

Our CityPass came with admission to the museum and tickets for an IMAX show. The show that I wanted to see - the ocean documentary - was sold out, so we ended up with "Air Racers". Two thumbs way, way DOWN. It was boring and pointless. The best part about it was that it was someplace with air conditioning where we could sit down for 40 minutes. I think I fell asleep for part of it. It was just me and my husband, so there wasn't much at the museum for us to do. Pretty much the whole museum is for kids, which I understand. We certainly wouldn't have chosen the Science Museum if it hadn't come with the CityPass. The one thing that was fun for us was the butterfly pavilion. We spent nearly an hour in there! They have a huge variety of moths and butterflies. The insects aren't shy, either; a blue morpho landed on my wrist. It made for great vacation pictures. read more

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Love this place! Between numerous events and just routine visits this has got to be one of the highlights of downtown Seattle. Whether you are just a curious mind or a total nerd, the Pacific Science Center is for those hungry for knowledge at every level. Featuring an array of exhibits cov everything from primordial earth to space exploration, they have you covered. Open during normal visiting hours for the general public, the best part is those that live in the area can capitalize on the convenience of after hours events when all the adults can relish in dinosaurs, outer space, and insects from around our planet. The staff here keep science accessible even to the most destructed minds, and even though I have been dozens of times now, every visit is still something worth remembering. While not as large as a major city's science center, the Pacific Science Center is still in my personal top 10 for science museums. read more

Great place to explore with your friends or family and enjoy science! Visiting the science center is a great way to support science education in our community. The IMax screen is amazing, the staff are friendly, and the courtyard is lovely. If you can catch the arches at night when they are lit up it's quite a treat. read more

My 4 year old had a blast. I was bummed that we couldn't see the butterflies because the space is being renovated. I did appreciate that they gave a discount because of it. My daughter was really interested in the dinosaurs and starfish and outside water activies. They allowed some touching in the tank/aquarium but it was disappointing to see the lack of crowd control. There were kids that nearly spent 30 min playing with these creatures that were in a container with water. I still don't know what it was and couldn't get close enough to find out, but my daughter was also curious and hoped for a turn. It's disappointing that the employee couldn't help move people along, instead people just started walking away (including us). read more

The times are a changing. They keep some of the same exhibits for many years...nearly 10 years if not more in the general area. Your kids will only participate so many times. We went in between the traveling exhibits...not fun. There is the dino area and chem lab thats awesome of course. We have learned to review the site and most likely will only get tickets to the traveling main exhimax, the laser show and the imax theater. read more

Pacific Science Center - Museums Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Kewl. Lots of ideas for amping up the world domination plan. MUUUWAAAAAHAHAHA! read more

The outside is depressing. Why don't they fill the pools with water, at least? When we first entered, the fake dinosaur exhibits were also depressing and lackluster. However, I forced myself to read the signs, and that made the area much more entertaining. With an open mind, the entire museum lent itself to hours of fun. The live bug section is gross and cool at the same time. The butterfly pavilion is nifty. I've always wanted to go in one, but never have. It's really hot in there, and the blue topped butterflies do their darnedest to evade pictures, but the butterflies were overall beautiful. Even though you're not supposed to touch them, I saw two kids chasing them around, and one was even trying to smash them. People, pay closer attention to your children please. read more

I love the gift shops in museums. They're fun and quirky, and they remind me of happy memories of when I was a kid, browsing the museum + gift shop, and thinking that science is so cool. This store is not terribly big, but it does have a lot of good merchandise. They have a lot of kids books, and I even picked up a book that taught me the basics of Physics in a nice cutesy illustrated edition. There's also some stuff on the King Tut exhibit, dinosaurs, space exploration, etc. There's a return policy here as well (hooray!) read more

Great extensive remodel done to really make the Pacific Science Center an outstanding destination. The Tutankhamen exhibit is a "must see". I was really impressed with the size and variety of the butterfly museum. Knowledgable staff and the large IMax theatre make this a really fun zone for all ages. This is the 50th anniversary year of the Pacific Science Center and it gleams! read more

Exhibits and such. So this place will definitely appeal to the kids and inquisitive minds. Depending on what exhibit might be featured, this place could be amazing or it could be underwhelming. I remember being really intrigued as a youth, interested in all the "interactive" aspects of the place. Recently I came here for the Espionage exhibit which was quite cool. It avoids James Bond cheese and actually gets a lot of historical and factual information across.. lots of reading, but lots of goofy cool things for the kids as well. Crowded during the summer, but a good place to take your family or if you're just a straight up nerd. read more

I actually am torn between 2 and 3 stars. First off, we are a family of 5. It is expensive to do anything fun and so we pick and choose how we spend our discretionary funds very carefully. We didn't feel there was much value for what we paid (over 100.00 with parking) We arrived at the Pacific Science Center excited as it has been several years since we have been there. NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED in those few years. The exhibits are tired. A lot of them were not interactive and simply boring. Some, which did seem like they would be fun, were not working. Many exhibits were geared for the 9-12 year old crowd. We loved watching the Naked Mole Rats, Butterfly Exhibit, and the Galapagos IMAX Documentary but that is really about it. The Grossology section had some fun things (the slide and fart machine were hits). The rest of the stuff was just meh. There wasn't much that my kids wanted to stay and play for long periods of time. They are very low maintenance and we love the Olympia Hands on Childrens Museum and could spend all day there. We spent 2 1/2 hours (including the 45 minute film) and we were ready to go on with the rest of our day visiting Seattle. For the cost, we just weren't that impressed. They have had some of the same exhibits for more than 10-15 years. It is time to rejuvenate the place. Another huge gripe is that I pulled into the parking garage attached to the PSC and it had one price listed that seemed reasonable. Once I was parked and went to pay there was a different sign and it was much more expensive (15.00 for 4 hours). The kids were already out with coats on so I just paid it but I thought it was an unfair bait and switch. When I mentioned it to the employee who I bought my tickets from he said, "sorry about that, the higher ups are still trying to figure out what to charge and how to work all of that - we have never owned a parking garage before". Ok, fair enough but correct signage would be a good start. So, basically I don't think we will be back anytime soon. We will stick to the Hands on Childrens Museum in Olympia. read more

I've been here a few times for IMAX and alcohol events. The IMAX movie here is a great deal if you have Prime Passport, which is 7 dollar per person(after tax!). Even though the seat is not as comfortable as other real theater, $14 for two to watch an IMAX movie is unbeatable. And you can go to Dick's to get cheeseburger and milk shake after which is another plus. read more

Loved this place prior to the COVID closures and was very excited to be back for the first time since 2019. I recognize these types of places were very hard hit by the pandemic but there is currently only about 25 percent of what their once was here. We were done in under an hour. Not really worth the ticket price right now. read more

We were lucky enough to go for free on Monday day! I loved the animatronic dinos! Reminds me of the old Academy of Sciences. *sniff* Also had fun with all the hands-on exhibits and I thought it was funny they have a mystery section just like a real-life Professor Layton game. The naked mole rats held our fascination for a good 10 minutes. The little optical illusion exhibit in the theater was fun too. My bf learned about sausage finger!! All in all a good time. Hope they fix the fountains soon. read more

Pacific Science Center - Museums Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This museum mainly seemed geared towards family and tourists. Overall, it was a great experience and all of the staff were pretty friendly. There were about 5 exhibits that had out of order signs or were not running. We went on a Monday and rarely had to wait for any exhibits. The VR exhibit however had extremely long lines so we were not able to try any. If you have young kids they will definitely have an amazing time. read more

Pacific Science Center - Butterfly Room - Museums Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I came here a couple times, It's a fun place not only for kids but for adults as well. The most current exhibit I went was the Terracotta Warrior Happy Hour. It was nice that they set up Happy House in the courtyard so friends can hang out there before and after the exhibit. I had a great time with my friends. read more

It is huge! Soooo much to do, we really didn't even experience half by the time we were already tired and hungry, would have gone back but it's a short stay and wanted to experience more! Would love to come back!! Such a great way to spend a day with children / family superly convenient to so many more things to do in the area too! read more

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Both my husband and I recall SPC to be a lot bigger than it really is. Maybe because we haven't been there since we were in grade school and at that age, everything is big in perspective. They still have things WE remember as a kid which was cool. Lil man was so distracted, ran around and not knowing where to start first (hence our feeling as a kid that this place is huge!). We just did the general admission for I don't believe he was ready for the imax of the laser dome. So like almost any boy, mine is at the dinosaur phase and that's why we decided to go to SPC to begin with, for that exhibit. We made our way there and here, he clung on tight to his daddy's neck yelling NO NO! It was hilarious. Barely got a picture in in that exhibit. I think they made the dinosaur exhibit well and "realistic". The bugs and insect section was cool and grotesque but it was fine. Wasn't much to do with the general admission but we spent about 2 hours there and our son appeared to have had fun minus the Dino scare. Probably be back when he's older to attend Imax/laser dome or when (if they still do this) grade school field trip. read more

Pacific Science Center - Museums Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This place is amazing and I wish it was located in Los Angeles! I visited with my parents, husband and 3-year-old daughter. We could have spent all day there because there is so much to see from the IMAX movies, playground and multitude of interactive exhibits. We visited the indoor toddler playground with water tables, Butterfly House, hygiene exhibit, touch tank, and cafe. I was impressed with all but the cafe which had previously-prepared, warmed food. Not many healthy options but it made due since we were all hungry from running after my daughter for 2+ hours. Kids have freedom to explore, touch and learn about so many cool things here right along with their accompanying adults. Will definitely visit again when in town. read more

Visited here over the weekend and what a lovely place to spend a day especially if you have little ones! There are two IMAX theatres and they have shows of short documentary films, good for learning for the short attention span littluns. There is also an area for educational play and some programs/ events scheduled held. Pacific Science Center is an independent non profit science museum just right next to the Space Needle and it is a place not just for kids but for adults too. read more

Pacific Science Center - The Pacific Science Center - Museums Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Check out the cafe if you're hungry or have the munchies. Delicious made to order paninis. So delicious and hit the spot before Laser Queen.

This is mainly for children and families with children. There are alot of displays around that shows how things work and very interactive with children to the point that it seems like a play ground of a play place. I came with 3 others adults and we all felt out of place right away. However, looking at this from the standpoint of families with their children, this can be an awesome place to visit. A great place to introduce children to inventions and how things work so that it can expand their knowledge with science and such. There was a butterfly green house section that you can walk through as well here. I would recommend this place to families with children but I, myself, would probably not come back here unless I have either 1. Have children or 2. Have my baby nieces or nephews with me. read more

Second time I have seen an event here. First was Tut and now the Terracotta Warriors. Very distressing for older people to go here and be knocked around by kids who are unruly and parents who are rude and clueless. The exhibit was "ok" but the people crowded into the place and blocked my view most of the time. I was done in 10 minutes because the crowd was so dense I could not see anything without people bumping into me. It was not worth the cost, but the event was a once in a lifetime one. Been to lots of museums throughout the country, this one is substandard. read more

The associate named Cullen helped me with getting imax tickets for a large group and went out of his way to help me with the process. Very friendly and professional! read more

This place is great for kids and adults, being able to bring your child like instinct out in a fun and family oriented environment . When coming here the gates are in the park of Seattle center. They have two different lines one for members and one for if you not members. If you come to Seattle a lot it is well worth the money, if you are low income you can get the great family membership for 19.99 (all you need is your food stamp card). Once you get past the gates on first impression this place is awesome with two movie theaters in it a planetarium and laser show it is a place of all trades. At the moment if you arrive after entering the gate you see they are remodeling they are not doing a lot just updating it. When entering if you just go to the basic science center it is awesome, they have a lot of things to do to make noise and play, but within a great small area. really its hard to explain all the fun stuff you can do here because their is so much. The movie theaters are both 3d and really nice, the Boeing theater is recently remodeled and now is better then ever! With great laser movies ( regular movies in a crisp curved screen) with one of the best surround sound systems I have ever seen at a movie theater. This is not just a place for people with kids if you love photography, they have so many great opportunities to capture one in a kind beautiful pictures for everyone. when out side of the science center but within the gates they have a beautiful view of the Seattle Space Needle! If you want to come here for a visit just to bring the family on a nice surprise or throw a birthday party here that is one you want to make sure your children will remember this is the place to go! With out any regrets of the little bit of steep price you pay for it! read more

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I've read some negative reviews here and I can't wrap my mind around them. This place is magic. When my twins were toddlers, this place was our playground. My teen and preteen nephews beg to go when they're in town. The annual membership pays for itself over and over. Close your eyes in the butterfly exhibit and you'll think you're in Costa Rica. The IMAX movies are so fun and taught my kids ecology lessons that they still talk about. They're short enough to hold a kid's attention. Laser shows are great for teens. The exhibits rotate enough to keep it fresh for the kids and I learn something new every time I go. Massive dinosaurs, how much do you weigh on Saturn?, giant bubble wall, outdoor water play, and a marine touch pool are all among our can't misses. I'll never not have a membership to this place. read more

I recently went here from out of town and was moderately impressed. I used to go here yearly when I was younger and lived in Washington. I remember it to be much more well-kept. There were a lot of exhibitions that were exactly the same as I remember them from the early 90's! The whole outside was under construction so I am eager to see how they give the 1960s era decor a facelift. We loved the new astronomy as well as health and fitness areas the most. Of course our little nephews loved the water sprayers outside. I was a little confused why the cost of a ticket is over 40$!? I would charge around 15-20 at the most. We had a coupon so it was way cheaper than face value. The construction time definitely would mean a discount in my opinion. Regardless, this place is great for young people to learn about the countless scientific experiences and features that this place has. It will always hold a special place in my heart! read more

Pacific Science Center - Museums Near Me - Seattle, Washington

A good price for a fun experience! The butterfly room is worth the entrance fee for sure! Not quite as interactive as OMSI but it kept me interested. read more

Very disappointed. The exhibits are pretty much the same as 20 years ago when I took my kids. We went with my grandson this time and it had was exactly the same. No exhibits that look like 21st century science. The entry fee is really to expensive for what there is. I don't really recommend it. read more

I have been to a lot of science centers all over the country, and this is definitely the best one my family and I experienced. My children are 1 and 4. There were so many exhibits on the first floor that both of them enjoyed. The little kids section on the second floor was also a big hit. I appreciate that the butterfly house and children's planetarium show were available with no extra charge. Both kids also loved the dinosaur exhibit. I would absolutely return if we are ever back in the area. read more

Pretty disappointed. For such a large and spread out venue, I would expect a lot more interesting exhibits. This is more for children. Didn't find it worth the admission fee. Only thing I enjoyed was a 15 min combustion demonstration. At least I got to review my 6th grade science. read more

This is a review specifically for the Pacific Science center's New Year's Eve party that they hold annually, called Spectra. I couldn't find reviews about it anywhere else, and I felt I had to give people considering it next year some information. I'm not from Seattle; was just there for NYE. So my friend and I looked up parties/events to go to before arriving there. The website is plastered with "HURRY: SELLS OUT EVERY YEAR!!!" banners and "BEST NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY IN SEATTLE!!!!!, and it seemed that for the steep price ($126.95 and only one drink + a plastic cup of champagne at midnight included), it must be worth it. It felt more like a conference than a party. All the fluorescent lights in the place were on, so it was bright as day. We thought we were in the wrong place; definitely not party vibes. The webpage also advertised "exotic animals"...do they mean dinosaur skeletons? It advertised "top DJs!!" too. There was a banquet-kinda room reminiscent of a wedding reception that served as the "dance floor," (also far too well-lit) where the Backstreet Boys were playing when we walked in (and then immediately walked back out again). Seemed more like they set up a 90s playlist and left the room, rather than having actual DJs playing. The one, saving grace for this party was going to be the fireworks around the Space Needle, since this museum does have a great view. But they were canceled due to wind. Not PacSci's fault, but it meant that this party had 0 redeeming qualities for myself and my friend. The museum itself didn't interest us either; it seemed pretty run down and not too exciting. (And I love kids science museums; I've had tons of fun as an adult at the one in San Diego). Finally, it's important to note the key demographic of this party seemed to be couples between age 30-40. We're two, single, 27-year-old gals who wanted to mix and mingle and dance the night away on New Year's Eve, so the bright lights, older/married crowd, and laughable "DJs" reaaaally didn't do it for us. We left immediately after the (lack of) fireworks, at like 12:10, and had way more fun out in the bars anyway. Wish we would've saved our money. read more

We were a large group with kids form ages 3-12. There was lots of hands on exhibits and a few live shows that were all free. There was something for everyone and the kids were occupied the whole day. Even the younger kids didn't whine or complain after a full day of walking around at the museum. We especially loved the games/puzzle area. We spent a LONG time there playing all the games. I can't say we were successful with all the puzzles, but we certainly put in a lot of time and effort into this one area. Yes we are puzzle nerds. We also really enjoyed the butterfly garden. Be prepared to feel hot and humid as this is what the butterflies like. read more

I brought couple nephews and while they found it fun, I felt it was pretty boring. Some of their exhibits are cool, but some of them are misses too. Terra Cotta and Grossology, respectively. read more

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This review is for the IMAX theatre & evening programs. --The event was a film & lecture. It was advertised as IMAX. Sadly, after getting there and being seated the audience was told it was not an IMAX but a standard film. What?! So that was extremely disappointing. Shame on them. --When I went to an evening lecture and film showing at MOHAI (museum of history and industry) they had lovely appetizers and two cocktails per person - now THAT is the way to do it! I'm definitely keeping an eye on MOHAI events rather than Pacific Science Center. --The seats were gross - TONS of stains on most of them, they were very dirty and kind of grossed me out. Should have been replaced many years ago by the look of them. --Parking & general mechanics of arrival is a nightmare - no signage made it extremely frustrating. (It was my first time going there.) Which garage is the science center's? How late are these garages open? Where is the entrance?? --Props for the awesome bathrooms. Fun and wacky. --Cool water & statue display outside the IMAX was impressive read more

Oh Pacific Science Center, this pains me to write this as you are a good cause and geared towards the kids but on a recent visit I was really taken aback at how run down it is. I haven't been to the Science Center in about 15 years - and nothing much has changed. There are few new exhibits but everything is mostly outdated - and dirty! We saw dust piling up on the ceilings and in corners. Kids and germs, sure, they have sanitizer for that ready to go. But rust and build up? Come on! The saddest was the animals near the butterfly houses. Those enclosures looked downright ancient, they are in serious need of new equipment or an upgrade. We went to see the Pompeii exhibit, which was quite impressive. I'd rate that experience 4 stars if I could rate it all on it's own - but event the explosion of a mountain couldn't distract me from the bummer that the rest of the venue was over all. They really need to overhaul this place. read more

Certainly an interesting vacation stop, but one with some notable peaks and valleys. There isn't very much here which isn't viewable at any credible science center, but the Butterfly Center was alone worth the price of admission. I had never realized just how diverse was the coloration, shapes and sizes of the world's butterflies-- the revelation was truly enjoyable. For some unknown reason the curator of this science center believes that their small collection of "dinosaurs" requires motorized limbs and jaws to enhance their believability. Humming motors, mechanical grinding and jerky movement are no more convincing than they would have been in pre-history. Much of the science center is packed with things to see, and on the particular day of our visit, people seeing them. It was apparent very quickly that traffic flow was not a consideration which had received very much attention; although the Center is spacious, this is not a destination for the claustrophobic. I'll disagree a bit with my fellow Yelpers regarding the hoards of marauding children, as I enjoyed seeing their wide-eyed look of discovery. Unfortunately, their parents don't have this excuse, nor do they win any sympathy from me. On balance, an enjoyable hour, with the potential to be much more. read more

We hold a Gold-level family membership. We will not renew. PSC's condition is unacceptable. It compares very badly to its neighbor, EMP. The permanent exhibits are dated, uninspiring, and shockingly shabby (Inspect specimens have decayed, wings falling off. The music exhibit runs recording software on a 1990's Mac running System 7. Really, now...). The curator and the facilities manager both need to go (take a look at the ceiling in the insect exhibit). PSC has resources. It is well-supported by its major donors. Its patron base is highly educated. It is on arguably the best real estate in the city, a city closely connected to computer science, biotechnology, agriculture, and forestry (I deliberately omit aviation and marine biology, as those are the niches of the Museum of Flight and the aquarium). It shares this city with a world class research university teeming with grad students. Ditch the schizoid, decrepit exhibits. Bring the center new energy by focusing on one cohesive theme: The Science Life of the Pacific Northwest. Tell the kids about which dinosaurs inhabited our region - on land, in the air, and in our Sound. Show them in vivid detail about our volcanic geological history...and future. Demonstrate to them the rapid evolution of computers. Tell them about DNA and illnesses, to include cancer...and the role of the computer in solving these puzzles. Show them what is unique about our temperate rain forests. Demonstrate to them our sources of electrical energy: hydroelectric, coal, wind, and solar. Show them how snow is made by both nature and man. Show them why Seattle is so wet and Wenatchee is so dry. Tell them what goes into an apple. Work with U Dub: have the grad students do it, or the undergrads majoring in education, even. NatureBridge does this quite successfully. And repaint the damn exterior. White is a terrible color for algae-infested Seattle. I recommend they close for a year, scrap everything except the traveling exhibitions and the IMAX cash cows, and start over. read more