Entering a world-class museum is like traveling to another world. For once, your admission ticket is a passport to learning interesting things, culture, and most importantly, fun, setting both hearts and minds aglow in young and old visitors alike. While you can’t visit these science museums in the world in person at the moment because of the new coronavirus, you should know that many do offer virtual tours and programs, as do other popular museums in the world.
These science museums are so much fun you’ll forget that you went there to learn something. Here are 10 of the best science museums in the whole world!
Pacific Science Center, Seattle, Washington
For anyone who grew up near Seattle, chances are you already took a field trip to the Pacific Science Center in school. Located in the shadow of the Space Needle, hands-on exhibits like Play lab and Tinker Tank and special events like Meet a Scientist, make children interested in visiting this museum, while keeping them entertained.
Additionally, this museum is good for adults too, as there’s plenty to enjoy at the Pacific Science Center, from rotating exhibits as model railroad shows to a permanent, 4,000-foot butterfly exhibit. The Pacific Science Center also features a planetarium, Imax theater, and fun evening laser shows.
It’s no wonder that the Pacific Science Center attracts 1.1 million visitors each year and has won many awards from organizations like the American Alliance of Museums. If you’re interested in the online activities, you can choose from watching Live Science Shows, Math and Science Mashup videos, and more.
National Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C.
The National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., is part of the amazing Smithsonian Institution. Visitors of all ages have the opportunity to learn about famous women in flight, like Bessie Coleman and Amelia Earhart, and marvel at exciting collections of historical aircraft and legendary missions like Apollo 11.
The National Air and Space Museum is also popular for hosting rotating exhibitions, lectures, and events to delight the more than 8 million visitors who visit it every year. Furthermore, the best thing about the National Air and Space Museum is that there are no tickets necessary because admission is always free. One more reason to walk through its doors. Their online activities include STEM in 30 and various educator resources.
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Portland
The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry is kindly referred to by locals simply as, OMSI. Located on the Willamette River, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry is one of Portland’s most important tourist attractions.
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry concentrates on the intersection of science, design, and technology with over 200 interactive exhibits, like a theater, and incredible tours or overnight camp-ins on the U.S.S. Blueback Submarine.
Additionally, there are rotating exhibits paying tribute to themes like biodiversity, fine art, science, and conservation. Children are so happy with their hands-on activities in the nature lab and they also offer the largest museum-based traveling science exhibits program on the continent.
California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco
The amazing California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park offers an aquarium, planetarium, rain forest, and natural history museum, all in one location. Incredible, right?
This awesome experience is like taking a trip around the world without having to leave the city. California Academy of Sciences is the home to a popular lecture series covering subjects as diverse as master birding and engineering for grade-schoolers.
They also have a large variety of online activities perfect for the coronavirus situation going right now in the whole world, including STEM in 30 and various educator resources. Moreover, Cal
Academy offers nightlife events for adults and it’s one of the museums where you have the opportunity to spend the night.
Museum of Science, Boston
Boston’s Museum of Science offers constant collections showcasing diverse exhibitions dedicated to subjects like dinosaurs, wildlife, optical illusions, and space. Their temporary exhibits have spotlighted King Tut, dogs, and even food.
Be prepared to be amazed by an indoor lightning show and overnights for students with adult chaperones. The museum had the privilege to receive a Cisco Award for its measures taken to help teachers integrate engineering into their curriculum.
The Museum of Science is visited by more than 1.5 million visitors every year because Boston isn’t just big on science, it’s also one of the best American cities for history buffs.
American Museum of Natural History, New York City
The American Museum of Natural History is very popular for being one of the best dinosaur museums in the world, but it’s definitely so much more to it than that. The museum also offers a butterfly conservatory, followed by the largest meteorite found in the United States, an Alaskan brown bear exhibit, and so much more interesting stuff that’s waiting for you.
The museum also provides a planetarium and a giant screen for movies. In the past, their rotating exhibits have honored everyone from Einstein to mummies. The general admission for adults is $23, while children will pay only $13 to get in, and students and seniors are $18. If that’s too expensive, don’t worry, they have an option where you pay what you can for admission at the ticket counters.
City of Science and Industry, Paris
The City of Science and Industry Museum may get overlooked, because visitors to Paris, France, might get so caught up in visiting the Louvre and the other acclaimed art museums, that they forget about this one.
I promise you, the City of Science and Industry Museum is worth making the time to make a visit, because it is very popular for its jaw-dropping geodesic dome, and houses an Imax Theater.
They also have permanent exhibits that invite you to explore the mystery of the human brain, astronomy and learn all about the technology of transportation. The City of Science and Industry also hosts a giant playground with interactive activities for children of every age. The City of Science and Industry Museum is the biggest science museum in Europe, attracting more than 5 million visitors a year.
Shanghai Science and Technology Museum
If you ever visit Shanghai, don’t forget to go to the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum which is dedicated to making science more popular and more accessible by focusing on themes of harmony, nature, mankind, and technology.
Their permanent exhibits focus on the animal world, space, light, human beings, and an interactive children’s playground. Additionally, there’s an Imax Theater and rotating exhibitions that present everything from pottery to photography along with activities like science shows and training camps. This museum is one of the most visited museums in Shanghai, welcoming over 3.5 million visitors a year.
Natural History Museum, London
London is the home to the Natural History Museum which is one of the best science museums in the world. The main campus was build in 1881, is the historical, Alfred Waterhouse building, and it’s definitely worth a visit all by itself.
Their permanent exhibits concentrate on subjects like space, human evolution, British wildlife, and dinosaurs and rotating exhibits have included wildlife photography and fun nods to Harry Potter. The Natural History Museum in London is visited by 5 million guests a year and the admission is always free.
Ontario Science Centre, Toronto
The Ontario Science Centre in Toronto is one of the most popular museums in Canada. Their permanent exhibits include Kidspark, an activity where children can build their own rollercoaster, they can learn to play musical instruments, or blow giant bubbles.
Other exhibits are focused on the human body, space, Canadian forests, and how beliefs and previous biases can impact scientific research. The Ontario Science Centre offers an Imax Omni dome theatre, a planetarium, and a children’s camp. This museum gets visited by over a million people every year.
