At one point, you may have dreamed of having a high-powered microscope in your own home, or a kaleidoscope that you can use with your family in your backyard. But while not all of us are able to get these things and have our own planetarium at home, we get the next best thing by visiting some of the best science and technology museums in the U.S. These tourist attractions in the U.S. boast of world-class resources, as makes learning abstract concepts about science and technology a lot easier and enjoyable! The best thing about these museums is that they are available to the public. Here, we list the top technology and science museums that you can visit across the U.S.:
Museum of Science Boston
This science center is well-known for having a huge wing dedicated to displaying learnings about the science of engineering. Once you pay a visit to this museum, it’s easy to be enthralled while looking at precisely tuned contraption, and colorful pool balls that serve as the focal point of this science center in Boston. Both kids and adults will also get to enjoy doing problem-solving activities that will open your eyes to the beauty of innovation and creativity.
Exploratorium
From the name itself, you will immediately know that there will be lots of learning when you visit this “museum of science, art, and human perception” in San Francisco. Plan ahead, however, and make sure you secure reservations for the popular “Tactile Dome,” which can be really busy during the summer months. The exhibit takes visitors in a fun adventure through an all-dark place where you must use your sense of touch to “see” through the darkness. Don’t forget to take a trip to the “MIND” exhibit as well. This will let you explore the cognitive sciences of perception, communication, emotion, and learning.
Arkansas Museum of Discovery, Little Rock
This is a STEM-focused museum that is best for both little learners, adults, or the whole family. Located in Little Rock, the Arkansas Museum of Discovery is all about making visitors excited for anything related to math, science, and technology. Visitors can spend time interacting with displays that include ball mazes, foam architecture, and physical activities. Because the museum makes learning an enjoyable experience, the young ones won’t even notice they are actually acquiring new knowledge. The best part is that they get to associate learning with a whole lot of fun activities and interactive demonstrations. All these make this science center a must-visit for anyone in Little Rock.
Science Museum of Minnesota
This innovative museum not only showcases educational exhibits, but also features a stunning view, as it overlooks the Mississippi River. Stare outside the museum’s windows, and you see the flow of the river and bask in the beauty of the programming space and outdoor exhibits. Some of the family favorites in the Science Museum of Minnesota include a Fossils and Dinosaurs gallery that features a Diplodocus skeleton, nine holes of mini-golf, and hands-on activities that can be found in the Experiments Gallery.
National Air and Space Museum
This one is Smithsonian Institution’s most visited museum. It is famous for displaying the Spirit of St. Louis, the Wright 1903 FlyerWright 1903 Flyer, and a moon rock that visitors are allowed to touch. There is also a second facility outside Washington, D.C. which displays a Lockheed Blackbird, and Enola Gay. The second facility is the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.
Hands-On! Regional Museum
This museum may be small, but the fun is definitely big for kids. The activities and exhibits are specially made to suit kid’s abilities and interests – children get to play with giant chimes, act as police officers using the police motorcycle with flashing lights, create huge bubbles, and even conduct age-specific experiments in the museum’s Eastman Discover Lab.
Museum of Science and Industry
This museum in Chicago is focused on its mission to “inspire the inventive genius in everyone.” It boasts of a six-foot floating globe that has been programmed to constantly display changing images of Earth’s ocean currents, different weather patterns, and even our planet’s geological forces. The Museum of Science and Industry also features the “Networld” exhibit that lets kids get a better understanding of the inner workings of the world wide web, and lets you create a digital image of yourself.
Science Museum of Minnesota, St Paul
If you are looking for a vintage museum that has stood the test of time, then the Science Museum of Minnesota is a great place to explore. It is over a hundred years old, and has been educating northerners all those years! This museum has an array of educational exhibits and displays that are especially enjoyable for the little ones. Some of the main attractions inside the museum include the dinosaur exhibit that displays the triceratops skeleton. Also on display in the Science Museum of Minnesota is the Mississippi River Gallery, which is a local take on the national park and river that is situated just a comfortable distance from the science center. Interested in innovation? This museum also has an innovative exhibit that they call RACE: Are We So Different? The display highlights the historical, biological, and cultural components of social issues and race.
Discovery Place, Charlotte
North Carolina has a lot of famous attractions including this kid-friendly museum. A trip to Discovery Place is well worth it, as you will get to spend the day in a super-fun and educational place. It has a main building and tree branches that have been added recently. One of which is Discovery Place Education Studio, which suits educators looking to learn more about professional development. There is also the Discovery Place Nature that includes interactive exhibits, a butterfly pavilion, and live animals. One of the best branches for young learners is the Discovery Place Kids which highlights a learn-through-play experience. In addition to the several interesting programs and exhibits, you can also go to the museum’s very own IMAX Dome Theater.