Top 5 Epic Space & Science Museums in the U.S, that Rock STEM in-person & virtually at home!
At their core, epic space and science museums in the U.S. are ecosystems designed to inspire and educate people about the world around us. We discover how things work; we learn about the innovations that have taken hold (and the ones that have not), and we are inspired to learn more about the notion of “What if?”.
The beauty behind the best space and science museums in the U.S. is how they put people in the center of the universe they are exploring! This is done with hands on exhibits, real life examples, sights, sounds, and tactical experiences to share big discoveries and to open minds to thinking about “What if?” questions that they can learn more about and take on as challenges in the future.
Below are our top 5 all time favorite epic Space and Science Museums in the U.S.:
California Science Center
Los Angeles, CA
The California Science Center is filled with interactive experiences about how the living and nonliving elements of our world are connected. It features air and space innovations that Los Angeles has a long history of exploring. The Creative World exhibit explores how and where science and technology intertwine to bring experiences to life. This is by far one of our favorite epic space and science museums in the U.S.
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Get up close and personal with the Space Shuttle Endeavour. While you see it and explore it, you can learn about the team of astronauts, scientists, and engineers that was able to bring this amazing space vehicle to life. After touring the museum, drive the route that the shuttle took through the streets of LA to get to the museum. Talk with your co-pilots about what it would take to get something that large in the air and through the city of Los Angeles.
Check out the virtual Inside the Endeavour exhibit.
Museum of Science and Industry (MSI)
Chicago, IL
MSI is a must stop on a visit to Chicago. It is filled with exhibits on science, nature, technology, outer space and is a playground for your curious mind to run wild. Their vision is to inspire and motivate our children to achieve their full potential in the fields of science, technology, medicine and engineering. The hands-on experiences and well designed interactions with scientists in the museum are second to none.
Control a 40-foot tornado, go inside a real WWII German submarine the size of a city block, test toy truck speeds on differently sized roads in the Idea Factory, and don’t skip a walk through a mirrored maze with a hidden room in the Numbers in Nature exhibit.
While MSI is temporarily closed, they have a number of things to explore and enjoy virtually.
Their holiday exhibits and science at home activities are great examples of how we can learn to adapt from science greats.
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The MSI Chicago is one of our all time favorite epic Space and Science Museums in the U.S.! Here are a few reasons why:
Mission to Mars: Pack Like an Astronaut: Pack a space suitcase for a mission to Mars! With limited space, and most filled with essential food and equipment, decide what personal items you need to bring to keep you happy and healthy during your mission. Suggested for grades: 4-8.
Forensics: Chromatography: Use science to explore your art supplies. Using forensic techniques, find out how art, chemistry, and physics interact with each other with this fun activity. Suggested for grades: 4-9.
Engineering Design: Building Bridges
Think and design like an engineer. Build a bridge made from household materials to test engineering principals. Use the engineering design cycle to discover how bridges vary in span, load, and stability. After you try with the examples shared, you can experiment with other household items to see how materials and design impact the stability of your bridge. Suggested for grades: 3-8
NASA Kennedy Space Center
Merritt Island, FL
From the dawn of space exploration to current and ongoing missions, the NASA Kennedy Space Center offers up-close, hands-on experiences to learn more about the story of space exploration and humans in space. Be inspired by past missions and fuel your quest for inspiration and the possibilities of space exploration in the future.
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Be sure to plan your itinerary and pre-purchase the activities that you really want to explore so they don’t sell out before you arrive, especially in busier family travel times. If you are lucky, and your trip is timed to when they have a rocket launch scheduled, it is worth the visit. Be sure to check the Rocket Launch Events Calendar and the NASA tips for How To Watch a Rocket Launch at Kennedy Space Center.
Allow for time to climb into some of the spacecraft from the past. Imagine what the sights, sounds, and feelings would have been like at take off and landing. Close quarters, progress in communications, and an ongoing mission for advancement.
The National Air and Space Museum
Washington, D.C.
If you love aviation, science and technology, this is a must visit for your and your family’s next visit to Washington, D.C. As one of the best aviation and human flight history museums in the world, it is full of aviation and space exploration vehicles, many of which are hands on exhibits.
Let the museum take you on a visual feast of a tour. Study theories of flight, learn about aviation pioneers that have pushed innovation forward, and marvel in the aviation designs.
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Enjoy a variety of online programs, stories, videos, activities, virtual tours, and resources along with monthly live chats with scientists at the Air & Space Museum. Discover Stem in 30 and register for Virtual Field Trips.
Exploratorium
San Francisco, CA
The Exploratorium is a worthwhile STEAM stop when you and your family are in the Bay Area, where innovation around technology and science take hold. its nickname is “The Scientific Fun House,” and it offers a unique museum experience.The museum is dedicated to giving people ways to explore and interact with science, human perception, and art. The hands-on learning and exploration areas will keep you thinking long after you leave.
The most popular attractions that kids flock to are: the Soap Film Painting (where a long bar pulls up a wall of soap solution), the Colored Shadows (pictured right), the Anti-Gravity Mirror (where it looks like you are floating) and the Bernoulli Blower (where a ball hovers in the air).
It is also filled with a virtual playground to explore from home!
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Tinkering at Home: Playful tips, inspiring ideas, and delightful outcomes as tinkerers around the world contribute their creations.
Physics is everywhere. Learn about the exciting and beautiful physics of the natural world, from the structure of time to the inner workings of fireworks.
Storytime Science for Kids: Enjoy a storybook read aloud followed by a simple related science activity geared toward young children. Each story activity has a few small things you will need at home for the activity, so check the “ingredient list” ahead of time.
These teacher-tested activities bring explorations of natural phenomena into your home. Each activity uses inexpensive, easily-available materials and instructions with clear explanations of what’s being observed and learned. These are great things to try and then write about in your home science journals.
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