Johnson Geo Centre

This place left me completely amazed. Walking inside, surrounded by the mountain itself, felt almost otherworldly like stepping into the earth’s memory. The exhibits weren’t just informative, they pulled me in so deeply that I lost track of time and spent more than three hours exploring. What moved me most was being able to touch the rocks and realize I was holding energy and history that’s billions of years old. It’s not just a museum or information centre, it’s an experience that makes you feel small in the best possible way.

If you love rocks, this is the place to go. If not, you’re better off skipping as there isn’t much else to do. I thought it would be bigger subterranean but it isn’t as big as you’d think. There are plenty of displays and some hands on activities for the kids, but you can go through everything in less than 30 minutes. We probably spent more time in the gift shop than underground. Also, this was the only touristy place I encountered in St. John’s that did not accept American Express.

The Johnson Geo Centre is truly a gem in St. John's — a beautifully designed facility nestled right into the rock of Signal Hill. It's an incredible space that we’re lucky to have in our city, offering a unique experience that blends geology, natural history, and science in a visually striking and engaging way. The staff are exceptionally friendly, helpful, and clearly passionate about what they do, which makes the visit even more enjoyable. One of the major highlights is the discounted admission for students and completely free access for Memorial University students. That kind of accessibility is something more attractions in the city should offer. The main geological exhibits are very well done. The rock and mineral displays are especially informative and visually appealing — great for all ages and backgrounds. The center does a great job educating visitors on the geological history of Newfoundland and Labrador in a hands-on and approachable way. That said, there are a few important criticisms worth addressing. First and most concerning is the smell throughout the facility. It’s hard to ignore the strong odor of mildew and body odor lingering in the air, especially around the carpeted areas and in the theatre. After spending about an hour inside, it became genuinely nauseating. It’s clear the carpets and general air quality need serious attention — it takes away from the otherwise great experience. The oil and gas exhibit, while interesting and informative in some aspects, is very one-sided. It strongly emphasizes how important oil is to our lives — which is undeniably true — but completely omits any mention of the serious environmental damage associated with oil drilling and consumption. Given that this section is sponsored by ExxonMobil, it honestly reads like corporate propaganda. There must be a part of the exhibit that acknowledges the environmental consequences and discusses possible solutions or greener alternatives. Presenting only the positives is misleading and irresponsible in an educational setting. Another major letdown was the new temporary exhibit on mythical creatures. While the concept and information are fantastic, it's incredibly disappointing to see that they’ve used cheap, AI-generated imagery for the visual content. In a city with such a rich artistic community, this feels like a slap in the face to local artists who could have created stunning and original work for the exhibit. Instead, visitors are greeted with generic, soulless, AI-generated slop — it’s disheartening and frankly embarrassing. Overall, the Johnson Geo Centre has so much potential and already offers a lot — from its impressive geology exhibits to its passionate staff. But it’s being held back by poor maintenance, questionable content choices, and a disappointing lack of support for real local talent. With some cleaning, critical updates to its messaging, and a commitment to showcasing authentic creative work, the Geo Centre could truly shine.

Lots of stuff to see, learn, and read about while here. The paid show was called Antarctica when I went and it was about an hour long which I enjoyed. The oil and gas exhibits were closed when I went but I still enjoyed learning about all of the different rock types and information about space. I'd recommend watching the quick 10~ minute free show before walking through it as it serves as a nice intro. Ended up spending about 2 and a half hours here (that includes watching the paid show).

When you are in St. John’s and vicinity a great place to visit for people of all ages is Memorial University's Johnson Geo Centre. Signal Hill is just up further so visiting both seems perfect as one wall of the JG Centre is made up of Signal Hill rock. One of my photos will show you. The Centre goes along way in explaining how NL was formed over time. Study of the region’s unique rock formations helped in discovering plate tectonics. There is also an emphasis on ecology and the exploration of space.

A real nice geology based museum. It documents the history of the earth through a geological basis. Very interesting and informative. After one visits the interior, remember to visit the outside grounds for more information and geological understanding. Overall, a unique visit and good experience.

Glad we stopped by before Signal hill Cabot tower opened on a foggy morning. Educational, well laid out interactive exhibits on geology and oil production. I learned a lot about the unique natural resources of NL area. Nice little theatre film. Great for all ages.

We saw the top of Signal Hill so we had to see below it! The is place is full of cool science exhibits. Especially had fun creating our own earthquake. Kids will have fun here too, really cool building!