Saint Louis Science Center

Science museum · Kings Oak

Saint Louis Science Center

Science museum · Kings Oak

1

5050 Oakland Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110

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Saint Louis Science Center by Getty
Saint Louis Science Center by Michael Malyszko
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null
Saint Louis Science Center by null

Highlights

The St. Louis Science Center’s planetarium dazzles with live star shows and interactive exhibits, creating an engaging, child-friendly space for all ages.  

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5050 Oakland Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110 Get directions

slsc.org

Information

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5050 Oakland Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110 Get directions

+1 314 289 4400
slsc.org
STLScienceCenter
𝕏
@STLScienceCtr

Features

restroom
parking free street
parking paid street
wheelchair accessible parking lot
assistive hearing loop
wheelchair accessible entrance
wheelchair accessible restroom
wheelchair accessible seating

Last updated

Mar 9, 2025

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"The Museum of Science spans the length of the Charles River, connecting up-and-coming East Cambridge to Boston’s West End. Once known as the Charles River Dam Bridge, Science Park is home to one of the world’s largest science museums, which manages to stand out even in a city known for its heavy-hitting contributions in the discipline. The scale of the museum’s mid-century building is apparent from other parts of the city, and it becomes even clearer when you arrive at the lobby. With 700 exhibits, this is a place to get lost. Ideally, you could spend a half-day or more soaking up fascinating finds in every corner of this sprawling institution, but make sure to make time for one of the three daily "Lightning!" shows, which facilitates natural lightning with 5,000,000 volts of electricity." - Elizabeth Wellington, Andrew Sessa

17 Best Museums in Boston
View Postcard for Saint Louis Science Center

Julina Stout

Google
Fantastic Science Center for learning and having fun!! Parking is $15, but general admission is free, with additional activities available for purchase. The facility has three floors, each with restrooms, and there’s a food area for snacks or meals. Parking includes handicap and low-emission spaces closer to the entrance. On Sundays until 1 pm, they offer sensory time, creating a quieter experience, which is a thoughtful touch. We spent 2.5 hours there and still didn’t see everything! The planetarium was the highlight for me—you can lay on mats, giving the feeling of being under a real night sky. The physics exhibit in the entryway was massive and interactive, featuring a hamster-wheel-style contraption large enough for someone to run in and sets gears and balls in motion—fascinating for all ages. They also offer exciting experiences like virtual reality. Highly recommend if in the Saint Louis area with kids.

Madan Kundu

Google
One of the best science museum and most of all it’s free although you have to pay 15$ for parking fee. One can spend a full day easily here. There is lot to learn: about energy, the hands on learning building of bridge. I liked the planetarium and the live fire show. If you are going to planetarium don’t forget to spend time outside the planetarium where you can learn about daily lifestyle in space.

Michael Richardson

Google
Huge selection of hands-on exhibits and great geological displays. Highly informative reading materials all in a very child-oriented atmosphere and a lot of dining and snack options.

Michael McAlexander

Google
This multistory museum featured an Imax theater, interactive exhibits, modern technological advancements, and plenty of refreshments. Staff were amicable and knowledgable. The parking lot was packed full, and school bus tours of children and chaperones added to the cacophony of museal ambience. The museum even has a breezeway that crosses over Hwy. 64 toward the planetarium. This attraction is safe for all ages. Parking is $15 but the admission is free; simply print off a ticket upon entry into the car park and pay at a kiosk on your way out (credir cards only).

Vanessa Ikner

Google
On New Years Eve with took out child on the spectrum to the planetarium and science center. He is pretty nonverbal and needs a lot of assistance. All of the staff was extremely kind. The St Louis Science Museum was extremely accommodating. This was the first time we grabbed one of their sensory bags. Each membership desk has them. There is a badge, toys, and noise canceling headphones inside. The staff was extremely helpful to us, finding us good seating and suggesting areas we could go to relax if we were having a meltdown. They also informed us they have sensory friendly hours on Sunday. We will most definitely be going back.

kelli griffin

Google
Beautiful way to spend the afternoon exploring. You can park for free on the planetarium side. The exhibits rotate. Make sure you go outside and see all of the nature and agricultural exhibits (basement level, out the doors).

Julie Ferrari Beyer

Google
This place is a must for children! I took 8 and 12 year old girls and both loved it. This is the most interactive science center I've been to and I've been to several. It is also one of the largest. There is so much to do and for the kids to create and experience. My girls didn't want to do the theatre but we did attend the planetarium show which was informative and kept the attention of all of the youngsters. We stayed almost the whole day. The eating options close early so keep that in mind and no outside food or drink is allowed. The center is free (parking is not) and the shows have minimal charges. I highly recommend!!

Taufique Ahmad

Google
Great place to visit with kids. A lot of hand on activities. Kids loved the game exploration room

Ted Anthony U.

Yelp
The best place to spend quality time with your family is a place where you won't get bored because different sections of the experience change. There are many interactive things you can do in this museum. There's a greater chance of finding a free parking spot at the planetarium entrance inside the forest park.

Nicole S.

Yelp
What a fun place! The Saint Louis Science Center is one of the museums/centers that is located in Forest Park, and you can visit for free. However, parking is not free and is almost $20. There are all types STEM activities to do here, but my kids spent a lot of time building with blocks in the Structures space, as well as creating things in the Makerspace. They also loved the GameXPloration exhibit, where you can play a variety of video games (many of them collaborative). There's also a dinosaur exhibit, as well as a chicken exhibit where you can see real chickens! I saw lots of things for people of all ages to do, from babies to adults. This is a great place to explore STEM ideas in a hands-on space.

Joyce T.

Yelp
Fun place for kids and even adults. Lot of fascinating science stuffs to explore, don't forget to explore also the speed track camera planetarium.

Lexi M.

Yelp
I remember visiting this place as a kid and I haven't even visited in over 15 years! Right when we walked through the door, all the childhood memories came back to me. Right at the entrance there was an amazing Ruby Goldberg-like contraption. I could've stared at it for hours. My 1 year old daughter was in complete awe and could've stayed there too! She's recently been into dinosaurs so I was hoping she would enjoy the large animatron T-Rex and she loved it! There were many things that were still too old for her, but she loved it! I can't wait to go back when she will have a full appreciation of everything there!

Courtney F.

Yelp
We love the Science Center. Such a cool spot for kids and adults alike. I often see it get crap for the $15 parking but the place is FREE. Any other city you would paying $15 a person (plus) to get into a place like this!! And if you're local, you should support the local free amenities (or get yourself a membership and parking is free!). Regardless, there's endless fun to be had here. Everything is fantastically created so the kids think it's just play but they're also learning! Even as an adult, I learn new things here. The place is HUGE and spans out across many different exhibits. I promise that whatever interests your kiddos, there's at least one thing here for them. We're so lucky in St. Louis to have so many different free activities. This one is at the top of the list.

Rachel H.

Yelp
Great free family activity in STL. Lots of interactivity. They were hosting a day of exploration and play today, so local companies hosted booths including rocket launching, mini golf, coloring, etc.

Sara C.

Yelp
So worth it!! We parked on the street- and enjoyed the first three floors, which felt a little lacking but nice for free, the kids loved the human-sized hamspter wheel that powered all the moving and suspended balls above the entrace, and building their own St. Louis Arch- then we discovered an entire second half across the street, accessible through an overhead walkway that passes over the highway- The entire exhibit from the IMAX on was phenomenal. All of the hands-on activities, collections and space exhibits were exceptional. We went with a 16 & 17-year-old and a 6 & 9-year-old and all four of them were in awe the whole time.

Lorie L.

Yelp
Free family space! Private parking lot only $15 but if you chose to support the science center with a membership this becomes complimentary. IMAX shows also available for an additional fee. Our two favorite areas were the gaming exhibit plus the dinosaur and paleontology features. The energy area was cool for me too, especially as the daughter of an electrician that has never seen the inside of a transformer. Small stage shows are offered and only 15 minutes or so. The size of the center lets you get there quickly regardless of the exhibit you're viewing at the announcement. So glad we included this on our St Louis trip! Check website to confirm hours and days open.

Jennifer P.

Yelp
2.5 Came here on a Saturday as we had 3.5 hours to kill before our flight. Went to park in the lot, saw it was $15 and promptly went to the street to find parking. It was not very cool inside (I get it, it is a large building, plus people) but at least it was not in the boiling sun and heat. I appreciate that this place is free. It didn't take us long to get through it. It is pretty worn down in parts and kids don't know how to share so we skipped over stuff. Walked over to the planetarium and that was fun to walk over the bridge (just like I remember when I lived here). Most of the radar machines on the bridge did not work but the portholes to see the freeway and the binoculars being free were nice touches. Unfortunately we did not spend enough time here and still had time before our flights so we headed out to another museum.

Zanita W.

Yelp
Very fun and informative experience for all ages. Free to go but they have snacks and other things for purchase. I didn't get a chance to stay very long since we went on the day we were leaving St. Louis but was still able to take a lot of pictures. Hopefully I will be able to return one year and experience more of what the science center has to offer.

Meghan M.

Yelp
I used to go to the Science Center all the time as a kid so I was so excited to go back as an adult! While alot has changed, the Science Center is still as great as I remember. Most importantly, the iconic t-rex is still standing. There really are so many different exhibits to explore - dinosaurs, space, physics and so much more. There is something for everyone and it's free! It was also a great place to get some walking in on a cold January day. I love this place.

Lauren B.

Yelp
I recently got the lowest membership and it is the best value! $75 gets you: 2 tickets for planetarium shows and 2 tickets for Omnimax ever visit. And don't forget about free parking ($15 value!). You also get Discovery Room entrance as well. If you go places with your little one a lot (like I do with my daughter), this is the perfect purchase, especially for a rainy day. My recommendation: reserve tickets online for experiences before they're sold out!

Trinity P.

Yelp
okay. I really really also liked this place. the entire "science-y life biology" furnishing and atmosphere was really cool and felt right. the place isn't too hard to navigate and had signs for everything and had a good vibe to the place. all the attractions and activities that were set out were nice and fun, and the dinosaur movie was good, but I felt that there wasnt context at all. the upstairs space-thingy was real nice, and i liked that too. there's also marble mazes and chain reaction machines decked out on the entrance which I found cool. I was sad to found out the food wasn't science themed, but to be fair that would be hard to do. i would say the pricing and the experiences and everything was worth it and I would go here again.

Cassandra S.

Yelp
What a delightful place. Heads up it is FREE to get in however there is a lot of items that cost such as rides, omnimax and VR experiences. The food is expensive we ordered a 7inc pizza and a medi salad that was over $30. The food was made to order and very delicious. There is so much for kids to do and explore typically but this day there was a lot of construction. I would suggest coming in the morning starting on the third floor (where theater is) and working your way down. There are always events going on as well! Today they had a ton of engineers with booths set up to show the kids what they do.

Jen T.

Yelp
Cool free museum; I thought there would be more and ended up leaving after about 90 minutes.

Mariah H.

Yelp
Great day of fun! You can literally spend all day here. We went for the dinosaurs tbh and they were just as impressive as we imagined. There is also a whole outdoor area with live animals, gardens and hands on exhibits. They have done a great job to peak all interests no matter the age.

Amanda M.

Yelp
Free Parking is $15 button if you have a reciprocal science center membership you can get a free pass. The science center was great. They have small areas with different themes. Gaming, dinosaurs, energy etc. the lab area was really cool with animals in aquariums. You can pay extra for planetarium shows and discovery rooms. Plenty to do if you don't buy them.

L L.

Yelp
Saw movie today. And walked about the STL Science Center. Perfect Day. Sunday afternoon. Was as perfect as the last time I went! Thank you! We did go to the food area. Got a fountain soda & 2 slushies (many flavors). Was perfect freshness. And the staff was so kind and helpful.

Adrienna Y.

Yelp
The museum is free, but parking will cost ya. We visited after Labor Day had passed, so it was $12 for us. My favorite part was crossing over from the main portion of the science center to the planetarium through the passageway on the 3rd floor. This section had an exhibit called Inside the Vault with six unique collections with tons of artifacts in each. At the time of our visit, we got to see a collection of 1) minerals 2) lighting 3) shells 4) miniatures 5) fossils and 6) elephants! It was pretty fascinating to see all the different shapes, materials, cultures, and histories represented in each collection. It felt like stepping back in time as we marveled at each of the glass displays. Most of the attractions for the planetarium on the other side were for a fee, so we didn't bother with those. The passageway connecting the two buildings also took us over Highway 40/ I-64 and it was pretty cool to use the speed guns to identify how fast the cars were driving as they sped by beneath us. If you're looking to get indoors for a few hours, the Saint Louis Science Center is a great option for the young and not-so-young alike!

Daniel K.

Yelp
Decent science center. Free base admission (parking is $15). Fun live shows. Not a ton of content available in base ticket. Some of the displays were not maintained so the interactive component did not work. Not a bad place to spend a couple of hours with kids.

Chris O.

Yelp
Science center is a nice place to take you kid(s). Its free and just pay for parking. Even that can be avoided with street parking. Lots of stuff to keep your kids busy for an afternoon. Actually not too busy today which is kind of nice. "The Loft" has a few beer choices if you are interested as well as food. A bit pricy so bring your own snacks.

Steven M.

Yelp
A small group and I went to the Planetarium for a laser rock show. (led zeppelin, in case you're interested) The place was clean, the atmosphere was good, the chairs were comfortable. No social distancing, not a lot of mask-wearing. The show was good, I think it's just a matter of receiving the show through email, uploading it, and pushing play. Same show as when they used to have these here regularly in the 70's. Updated a little bit but a lot of squiggly lines and straight lines going from one side to the other while getting smaller and smaller. But this review shouldn't be about the show itself, it should be about the Planetarium. It made me want to come back for another visit during one of the regular shows. I'm sure I'll be looking at the showings before long and buying tickets to go again. I'm disappointed the laser rock shows aren't a regular thing. I shall return!

Vivienne C.

Yelp
I think its amazing how there are so many free museums in St. Louis including the Science Center. Do make sure to book your tickets ahead of time! Here are some of my favorite things at the exhibit: - You could splurge $20 on seeing a couple of mummies or just look at the one in the entrance of the exhibit for free. Its an open display of a little girl who was mummified after dying within a year of life. I find it a little bit creepy but it is there if you don't want to splurge on the $20. - Greenhouse! It's interesting to see all the different types of soil from all the different states. I didn't know there were that many soil types. - Video game exhibition was pretty interesting and they have a bunch of old games like Pac Man and Atari to play. I will say that its one of those places where you go once and you don't really have to go back again. The Center is mainly geared towards kids so I think it would have been more interesting if I was younger. Also, not sure how COVID safe everything is. Although everyone is wearing a mask, there are way too many things you have to touch with limited amount of cleaning and wiping going on between visitors. Overall cool place to visit. Probably won't go again as it seems to be geared towards kids, but definitely appreciate its presence in the St. Louis area.

Ryan A.

Yelp
Definitely tossed this one on my list since I was doing my rounds around the STL park visiting all the museums. I understood this museum was geared more towards the young ones, but still thought it would be fun to stroll through and it's free, so why not. The layout of the museum is very simple, but they have staff everywhere to assist if you have any questions. You can spend half an hour to six hours in here in regards to how interesting it is to you, but I spent around an hour or so looking at certain attractions and re upping some of that lost solar knowledge I obtained way back when in school. In all honesty, everyone tends to gravitate towards the sky bridge with the speed traps. What an absolute awesome attraction, point your radar gun at the cars below on the freeway to catch their speed live time! A real time highway patrol officer without providing tickets or warning! They do have some theaters in the museum as well, but I was in between airings, so I sadly cannot comment. All and all, a great place to take the kids as it's an easy one to let them run around and play with all the interactive attractions.

Trevor J.

Yelp
Our kids love this place. It's a great place for them to get some hands on learning done. I recommend going on a weekday to avoid crowds. One thing I noticed is that the T-Rex's head fell off. Lol The kids were not stoked about that.

Dave C.

Yelp
Very interactive place. 3 sizable floors; an outdoor section; a long bridge over the highway to the planetarium; and a couple of dinosaur statues. Many, many hands-on exhibits for the kids such as a section on solving clues for a mystery, playing chess, playing an old-style Mario Bros. game on a big screen, digging for dinosaurs, building an arch like the St. Louis Gateway Arch and so many others. The exhibits must rotate, as reading some of the older reviews - some of that stuff isn't there now. We did see a movie in the big theater; and it was very immersive. We spent 5 hours there - and didn't even have small children.

Billy H.

Yelp
It's very educational. For people who just started their first day of pre-school, kindergarten and more. I love the energy experience place. The digs are a bit dated since the time I went as a kid, and the parking is not cheap. Sammy, age 6

Teresa R.

Yelp
What a fantastic family outing during the COVID-19 era! Staff did a fantastic job! It was like you had a personal tour guide during the majority of our reserved in advance time slot. Prior to entering we were all socially distance without sidewalk markers and asked a few simple health screening questions, to my surprise they did not take each guest temperature and I would have almost expected that (and almost took away a star). Inside there were a lot of changes, the Game Exploration room has been updated with some new games and several removed. Sadly the family style foosball table is gone, so were the stand up arcade games but the handheld (Sega,Artari) we're still there. Fun for all! There were several live shows throughout the day, highly recommended. The seating is different here just like inside the Planetarium (no mats!) they had chairs grouped by 4s and 6 feet between each group of 4 chairs. It worked very well! Seating inside the Planetarium was basically every other roll and at least 2 seats between each group. Seating is very limited and about maybe 25% of its normal capacity. All guest 9 and over are required to wear mask and they did enforce. I observed stat on different occasions reminding guest to have their mask covering their nose! I mean why wear it if you aren't going to wear correctly. Thrilled they are open for the Summer! We will be back!

Milly H.

Yelp
I love this place! My grandkids do too. We enjoyed the energy stations, the dinosaurs, the game area, the Davinci exhibit. The lab/classroom area was a favorite, especially the microscope. There is so much hands on fun here you have to try it. The Davinci exhibit had lots of hands on fun too. My grandson did get rope splinters on the pulleys which was upsetting and painful to him, but we did finally get them all out. Don't let your kids hold the ropes as they lower the sand bags, and they will be fine. The season pass offers additional savings to special exhibits and planetarium tickets too.

Scott F.

Yelp
We went to see the Pompeii exhibit that is touring. It is worth going to these special showings that come thru from time to time. We were lucky enough to visit Pompeii in 2014 and it is breathtaking. The ruins are fascinating, but the intricacies of day to day life are not part of the tour we took. This exhibit brings the objects of everyday life to view. Statues, mosaics, frescos, kitchen items, furniture, the list goes on and on. The theater experience was captivating to watch and then you go into the gallery with the plaster casts of the victims. It is an enlightening and sobering view of life from almost two thousand years ago. The rest of the science center is a collection of fascinating things that we see in everyday life. Plan on spending some time here to take in all that they have to offer. This is a great St. Louis attraction to see.

Benjamin R.

Yelp
This was so cool, there was these tracks and courses with balls on them up towards the ceiling. There was a bridge over the interstate, and you could look through windows on the floor and walls, there were radar guns, and binoculars. There was an amazing dome, with lots of shows. I did "Tonight's Sky." Awesome place to take your kids, and it really improved my knowledge.

Julie O.

Yelp
Very cool place. Lots of things to look at. My favorite was the outdoor garden area. Very interesting and pretty. Love the tractors. My dad worked for International Harvester so it brought back some good memories. I would highly recommend if you have kids-though I don't. Fun place to go for the price of parking

Jonah M.

Yelp
Been here so many times- but most recently visited for stl brew fest which was a hit. But during the day it's full of kids and activities to enjoy. From science, tech, and movies this place has everything. It's been a St. Louis staple for years, and it's a great place to go to for a few hours with or without kids!

Jason V.

Yelp
One of St. Louis' top free attractions is the Science Center, which is paired with the McDonnell Planetarium. This place takes me back to my elementary school days when my class would take field trips there. I'm old enough to remember a time when the SkyBridge didn't exist yet! As an adult, it's still an awesome place that I think everyone will enjoy. It's the ultimate hands-on experience while learning new things. SLSC has had several great exhibits in the past, including one that featured old Titanic items that were underwater for decades. The exhibit that was there today was about games. Games have been a human pastime since nearly the beginning of time. Today, we play board games, cards and video games for leisure social interaction, but it is easy to forget that the nature of game-playing has not changed all through time. The museum had arcade games, even the history of video game systems! That's something obviously a gaming enthusiast would love. Downstairs you'll get the T-Rex that would likely scare just about every visitor who's not ready. The IMAX theater should definitely be experienced once (you can lean back and enjoy the show! Just don't fall asleep like I do). Also, walk across the SkyBridge which takes you over Highway 40/64 and watch the traffic. On the other side is the James McDonnell Planetarium, which has been around since 1963. They had an exhibit about the current Mars Exploration there, which was very interesting. On the first Friday of each month, the Planetarium holds public telescope viewing parties (something I have yet to experience!). Admission is free, but there are some things that do cost money including parking, the IMAX theatre and some of the interactive exhibits (like virtual reality and such). They have a food court and gift shop. When in St. Louis, check out one of the most popular science centers of the world!

Tracy B.

Yelp
Fantastic experience for the whole family! We opted to visit so we could escape the hot weather outside, and we wound up staying all afternoon. The kids (ages 11 and 13) especially enjoyed the gaming exhibit. We all enjoying the planetarium show and the exhibit on life in space and Mars. We were there for four hours and didn't even see half the exhibits!

Bill S.

Yelp
Grat spot by Forest Park, nice exciting architecture, unique skybridge connection to the planetarium over I-64. The big change needed is fresher displays. If you come here once, it's about the same s few years later. I'm unsure what the high paid board of the Science center even does. The zoo is always improving, but the Science center just feels stale. Sorry!

Haley S.

Yelp
The Saint Louis Science Center is truly a gem in the city for families. On and off street parking options are available and easy to find. The museum has three levels of fun exhibits both permanent and rotating. They also have the planetarium and IMAX theater which are unique to their venue. They play both educational shows and mainstream movies. The staff are always available throughout the venue to help you and enhance your experience. During COVID capacity is reduced and we had no difficulty finding our own safe space to play and masks were enforced. I have been here for family events, a wedding and yoga events in the planetarium, and adult nights. Every experience is fun at the Science Center.

Ashley B.

Yelp
This is a ginormous science center, and it is free which is amazing. They need to do a ticketing for entrance because when we came the place was so crowded we didn't really get to enjoy anything because there were so many lines. They also make you pay for parking, and the parking lot is a disaster.

Vincent S.

Yelp
Lots of fun for all ages. I'm 21 and I still had an absolute blast. I'd highly recommend every couple to go here one

Mona E.

Yelp
The Center is free just like an app is free with "in app purchases". The OmniMax, the Mandela Exhibit, the space vehicles, and parking all will cost you. If you are a member, use your member card when you drive into parking lot instead of taking a ticket, and parking will be free. You should know that everything is not free, but, also that the free part of the Center is amazing! There are automated giant dinosaurs, the Vault (lots of interesting displays), science demonstrations like show and tell with some audience participation, (We saw a stunning one about fire.), a huge game area that included displays of old games and games to play, fossils, space area, growing (farm) area, a walkway over a highway with clear windows in the floor so you can watch cars zip by below), a structures area with hands on activities too. Oh, the most marvelous "BIG marble game" was grand. You have to power a human sized hamster wheel that starts everything in motion.

David M.

Yelp
" You Need To Bring Your Kids " This was one of the best Science Centers or Museums I have ever seen. There is so much for young kids to do, see, and learn about. They have so many different educational locations in the Center to go too. Like the Discovery Room for very little kids. The Planetarium, and Omnimax Theater were my favorites. There is also a wide range of science to go through. From the dinosaurs, to bone structure, to outer space, to everything that is Scientific. Explore over 700-plus exhibits as you and your family will want to stay for a long time to see everything.

Brian M.

Yelp
This place rocks! There are so many exhibits to see here. It is a lot of hands on for the kids and adults both. Admission is Free except for special exhibits. One special exhibit we did was the flight simulator. It was fun flying our fighter jet! (two people per flight). We didn't need to do this though - there are so many things to do here, you can fill your day without spending a dime on the special exhibits and still have a great time. NOTE: Although admission is free, parking $12 per car (in 2017) - unless you can snag a street spot like we did.

Connie H.

Yelp
Fun and free museum for kids and adults. We enjoyed the agriculture exhibit outside, checking out all the things they were growing in the garden .. my son got to feed the chickens too (they gave the kids a leaf of something to stick through the fence to feed the chickens). Our kid loves the huge dinosaurs downstairs as well as the fossil digging next to it. We also really enjoyed the gaming exhibit inside. Great fun exhibit for kids and adults (cylindrical ping pong, oversized foosball table, Nintendo on a big screen that you use your feet to stomp on the oversized controller, mind ball, virtual reality, and much more!) we could probably stay in this exhibit for hours if we could ha. Will definitely be back another time we visit St. Louis...it's pretty big..didn't get to cover it all! A must-do for kids if you're in the area.

Laura P.

Yelp
Amazing child-centered science museum with many halls and varieties of things to learn about -- and it's FREE!!! For everyone, not just members!! They do have special traveling exhibitions come through which require a purchased ticket, and IMAX and Planetarium shows ditto, but if you are a parent wondering what to do with a bunch of kids: COME HERE!! We came here to see the Pompeii exhibition that we just missed by a few weeks in Southern California last year. It was well worth the wait and the cost of the tickets! I learned so much about daily life in Pompeii, the unique culture of the city, the beautiful art and objects that formed the visual fabric of the city, how the homes benefitted from Roman engineering - on and on and on. Of course because it's Pompeii, there's a layer of tragedy here because everyone knows how the story of Pompeii ended in 79AD. That doesn't diminish at all the power of a simple display of 14 silver coins found in a bag near a man who was overcome by volcanic gases as he fled with his life savings. Or the earrings that belonged to a wealthy woman in the Deer House (named for its feet frescoes), or the eating utensils and little oil lamps that would have been in every room. One was decorated with a figure of a gladiator: a souvenir of the games, like we have posters or baseball cards. Every object in the exhibit has been carefully curated to tell the story - the human story - of Pompeii. But the reveal of the actual casts of Pompeii's victims, which you can view up close not behind glass (no touching, and be respectful of these casts, which contain human remains). This is the most emotional part of the exhibit. Up close, you can see the expressions on the faces of the people of Pompeii as they died, without the distance a photograph allows. A guard dog writhes as it is overcome. A pregnant woman dies on store, families die together. It's evocative and affecting, but not traumatic. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the St Louis Science Center. We give them 5 million things to learn here stars

Staci W.

Yelp
Hands on activities are fun for adults and kids. Admission is free but planetarium was extra cost. They also have a current Pompeii exhibit for an extra cost. Parking is free. Something here for every type of science nerd.

Jess H.

Yelp
Just wanted to send props to the STL science center for their awesome nursing room! It's always so nice to go to a place where their facilities have everything I need to nurse my child, but it's even nicer when you can tell that they really had family in mind when they created this place. It was a large room with a comfortable couch, a glider, tons of books and toys for other children that may be a little older waiting for baby to be fed, magazines for parents to read, and a changing table. It was so nice! It's located under the stairs on the first floor. You have to get security to open it for you. Thanks STL science center!

Mary Z.

Yelp
So fun with kids!! But very very crowded in the summers (lots of camps in attendance) so if that's not your thing be wary. But there is so much to do and see even without spending money

Michelle F.

Yelp
The St. Louis Science Center was a great place to go. We went for the Pompeii exhibit and loved it. They did such a great job of telling the story of Pompeii from culture, daily life and history. The visuals and artifacts were all amazing. Well worth the fee to enter the exhibit as artifacts are on loan from Naples, Italy. We did see some other parts of the building that were geared more for kids. Its right off the freeway and parking was easy to get in and out. Fun place to bring your kids As they did have activities for all ages. You can spend at least half a day going through the other things on display.

Mike V.

Yelp
Great afternoon with our daughter in Plant Lab and Engineering Expo! Our daughter really likes visiting the Plant Lab at the Science Center, so when she asked to visit this past weekend I had to agree. The Science Center was hosting its Engineering Expo that day, and we visited a couple tables but quickly made our way to the Plant Lab. We have done several of the experiments multiple times and were thankful when the Science Center Lab "host" guided us to two tables with new experiments. Our daughter was excited as we worked through the DNA evidence to determine who the dog-napper was. We also enjoyed the station set up just for that day that was focused on genetically modified food. After the lab we explored the Engineering Expo. MIST / Missouri Institute of Science & Technology (aka Rolla) was there in full force. Their underwater robotics team showed us their underwater robot... controlled by X-Box controller for manual exercises and it can also be autonomous. They had a solar powered car team, a baja buggy team, another station with memory metal and crystal-covered metal that makes metal bearings bounce higher, tempered glass, a concrete canoe and much more. The BJC 3D lab was there showing how they create soft 3-D models of hearts and other body parts for the surgeons. NGIS was there talking about how their team is mapping the bottom of the ocean (in STL from data captured on the ships in the ocean). The Science Center is hosting both an exhibit about guitars and about gaming. We liked seeing the gaming exhibit. The Omnimax is showing a show about the Australia and one about Cuba, so the snack bar has plantain chips and mango salsa that were really good when we were hungry. Our daughter had fun with the lunar lander game on the planetarium side of the highway and we called it a good day. This was another great day of fun at the Science Center with a fantastic daughter. We had a fun and memorable time. Thank you, Science Center!