Science Museum of Virginia

Science museum · Monument Avenue

Science Museum of Virginia

Science museum · Monument Avenue

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2500 W Broad St, Richmond, VA 23220

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Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null
Science Museum of Virginia by null

Highlights

Hands-on science museum: dinosaurs, cosmos, body, environment  

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2500 W Broad St, Richmond, VA 23220 Get directions

smv.org
@sciencemuseumofvirginia

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2500 W Broad St, Richmond, VA 23220 Get directions

+1 804 864 1400
smv.org
@sciencemuseumofvirginia
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@ScienceMusofVA

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Last updated

Sep 15, 2025

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@afar

9 Things to Do in Richmond, Virginia - AFAR

"A hands-on science museum housed in a grand former train station and fronted by a Guinness World Record-holding 29-ton floating granite globe (the Earth Kugel) that spins on a hefty pedestal, with interactive exhibits inside for visitors of all ages." - AFAR

https://www.afar.com/magazine/9-things-to-do-in-richmond
View Postcard for Science Museum of Virginia

Ebada Ziada

Google
The best science museum we’ve went to so far! Many interactive activities, musical, art, educational, physical exercise, mind opening and many more. Specific activities geared towards younger kids and others towards teens. As a parent I enjoyed myself a lot, too. Clean, friendly staff and well organized. Paid extra for the dome movie/show and the dinosaur exhibit. Both worth the extra money. Be sure to look at the daily schedule so you can get the best out of your visit. You can easily spend 3 hours there and even more if you have very curious children. Buy tickets in advance so you get discounts if you are adding exhibits or the dome. Highly recommend!

Cori M

Google
My family visited the Science Museum of Virginia on a Thursday mainly to see the dinosaur exhibit, and it exceeded our expectations! I’m a 52-year-old woman and I was completely in awe! The detail and scale of the dinosaurs were incredible. My husband and teenage daughter were equally impressed. The exhibit was immersive, educational, and beautifully done. The museum overall is clean, well-organized, and full of hands-on experiences for all ages. It wasn’t overly crowded, which made for a relaxed and enjoyable visit. Very easy parking, too! Highly recommend!

Theresa N.

Google
The Science Museum of Virginia was such an amazing experience for our whole family. Right now, they have the dinosaur exhibit, and my kids were in awe. My son couldn’t stop staring at the dinosaurs, and my daughter loved reading about the different species. The rest of the museum is just as exciting there are interactive exhibits on speed, light, and so many hands-on activities that kept the kids entertained for hours. The LightPlace for kids 5 and under was perfect, and they had a blast climbing and exploring there. I thought the Forge was such a cool idea where you can actually bring your own supplies and use their equipment. Between the insect and reptile exhibits, live bees, and other science displays, there was so much to see and do. We actually left for lunch and came back later in the day because there was just that much to explore. It’s definitely worth a visit if you're in the area.

Bevas 17

Google
A recent trip to the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond was an absolute delight, offering a captivating blend of education and entertainment that truly impressed me. From the moment we stepped inside, the vibrant atmosphere and engaging exhibits promised a memorable experience, and it certainly delivered. One of the undeniable highlights was the dinosaur exhibit. It's not just a static display; these incredible prehistoric creatures are brought to life through impressive animatronics, showcasing their movements in a way that's both realistic and awe-inspiring. Watching the "dinosaurs moving the dolmen" – a fascinating reference to their potential interaction with ancient structures or simply their powerful presence – was a particular standout, sparking wonder in visitors of all ages. Be prepared for an active visit, though! The museum is expansive, with multiple floors and a vast array of exhibits to explore. Comfortable shoes are an absolute must as you'll be doing a lot of walking to take it all in. Every step is worth it, however, as each turn brings new discoveries and interactive displays. Mid-visit, the concession area was a welcome find. It offered a nice variety of options, from quick snacks to more substantial fare, all served efficiently and with a friendly smile. It was the perfect spot to refuel and recharge before diving back into the scientific wonders. Finally, the parking situation was remarkably convenient. There's ample dedicated parking available on-site, making arrival and departure stress-free – a significant bonus for any popular attraction. Overall, the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond is a fantastic destination for families, science enthusiasts, and anyone looking for an enriching and enjoyable day out. With its dynamic dinosaur displays, vast exhibits, pleasant concessions, and easy parking, it's a place we'd highly recommend and look forward to visiting again.

Ü Lee

Google
It's a great museum for kids. We came here a couple of times. Now the multi leveled parking garage is done, it makes things a lot easier! The most recent visit we made was to see the dinosaur fossils. My kids had a great time.

Saher Khan

Google
This was one of my favorite stops on my road trip. It was absolutely worth the detour. We got tickets to the Dome as well as the dinosaur exhibit. We were there for two hours, but could’ve spent so many more. My niece, who is nine, said it was one of her favorite museums

Jennifer Jones

Google
Enjoyed the display on speed. Especially the little movie about space time and relativity. My guest enjoyed throwing balls to measure speed, the hurricane booth, the slow motion booth etc. But we primarily went to see the dinosaurs. Was kind of surprised we had to pay even more for that exhibit? $44 is kind of steep for a senior and a teen, imho.

Mary-Ann L.

Google
Definitely a highly recommended museum to visit. There are shows at The Dome. We saw “We are the Stars” which showcased how our constellations, galaxies were formed. Visuals were spectacular, definitely state of the art. Other upcoming shows are about Dinosaurs. Admission to Museum including a Dome show was $45 for 2 adults. A little overpriced but understandable for upkeep of the museum. The building is the old railroad station, very nostalgically grand in size with a giant pendulum display at the center. There are interactive exploration areas like giant rat wheel where you spin and see equivalent energy generated. There are various levels to explore, a good minimum of 2 hours to explore.
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Emily V.

Yelp
Excellent science museum and such a cool way to repurpose an old train station. Great exhibits for adults and kids - we could have spent several more hours exploring. Easy parking and fairly reasonable price point for the quality.
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Jennifer V.

Yelp
You could spend a very fun day here with your kids. I met my cousin and her 6 year old son here on a Friday. Parking is very convenient and right next door on the parking deck, no charge. The Science Museum offers different ticket combos depending on what you plan to do. We did the Museum and the dinosaur exhibit. Both were a hit with the adults and the 6 year old. There was plenty of activities to run his energy off and enough other kids for him to interact with while not feeling crowded or crazy. We did the Dinosaur IMAX (extra charge) movie then walked through the dinosaur exhibit. In between we also saw a LEGO section with crazy replicas of buildings from all over the world and a station where you could build your own. Overall it was a good day and a good value and we left with a very happy camper who wanted to stay longer.
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Mary-Ann L.

Yelp
Definitely a highly recommended museum to visit. There are shows at The Dome. We saw "We are the Stars" which showcased how our constellations, galaxies were formed. Visuals were spectacular, definitely state of the art. Other upcoming shows are about Dinosaurs. Admission to Museum including a Dome show was $45 for 2 adults. A little overpriced but understandable for upkeep of the museum. The building is the old railroad station, very nostalgically grand in size with a giant pendulum display at the center. There are interactive exploration areas like giant rat wheel where you spin and see equivalent energy generated. There are various levels to explore, a good minimum of 2 hours to explore.

Stella I.

Yelp
I love this museum had a good time before but I went over a week ago and the museum was full of children and babies and toddlers, there was way too many kids too young to even enjoy any of the science, treating it like a playground. some childless adults like to enjoy the exhibits too, i'm not trying to take away from anyone's experience everyone should be thoughtful of others. I have no problem with kids at all, but I do have a problem with the parents. I am upset I just got back from the doctors, I picked up a virus here, most likely from the kids! don't take your sick infected kids in public!!! common sense! others do not want to get sick picking up your viruses and have to go to the doctors. be sure to sanitize extra when visiting here
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J E.

Yelp
Wow... I came here with very low expectations and they definitely exceeded my expectations!! The place is so very cool!! They have many interesting exhibits and lots of fun stuff for kids to see, do, and participate in. The venue is beautiful and nicely kept up. They even have a nice banquet room for special functions. Definitely recommend stopping in and bring family for fun stuff for the kiddos!
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Allen P.

Yelp
What a fun museum! It is a cool combination of science and local history. The science exhibits throughout the museum are well done and most have a hands on component that is great for kids. For the history folks, the museum is in the old Richmond Main St station so there are several pieces, to include train cars, related to the station. Great for kids and a great way to spend a 1/2 day. Recommend a couple hours minimum to see the whole place.
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Shannon L.

Yelp
The Science Museum of Virginia is a fun, kid-friendly spot with interactive exhibits that make learning exciting. It's a great place for a family outing with plenty of educational and hands-on experiences. Highly recommend!

Mrcln O.

Yelp
Gets worse every time. They have a camp and just let kids run rampant completely unsurpervised all over the place all day. Very poorly managed. Save your money and go to the much better operated museums in North Carolina.
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Diane H.

Yelp
The Science Museum of Virginia is truly a gem in Richmond. It holds a rich train history and even Elvis visited the museum. There is so much to discover and learn about. The interactive experiences are so much fun for kids of all ages. There truly is something for everyone. It's a great family fun activity or even a fun date. Being a Military Veteran it was free...how AWESOME!!! Today was a $10 day so we took the family. The grandchildren had a blast. If you haven't been you are really missing out on something fun and educational.
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Estee L.

Yelp
Great for all ages. The exhibits are geared more to kids but adults will love them just as much. Be sure to check what traveling exhibits they have. Went and saw the Body Worlds exhibit which is a MUST SEE while it is still in town.
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Molly M.

Yelp
Educator discount got us in for $5 each!! With that price you couldn't go wrong. Got to see the Body World exhibit. Mostly child focused but still much to see, do, and try if you're an adult. I would suggest to someone with kids for sure! I don't need to go again.
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Jessica T.

Yelp
So much better for a two year than I thought it would! I was nervous about brining my two year old here just because it seemed like it was for older kids. Many of the new exhibits are great for older kids but the older exhibits with less people in them are perfect for young kids! My son was able to play on so many great indoor obstacles that weren't crowded at all. The toddler area was okay but lacked more interactive areas. Highly recommend especially since two and under kids are free!
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Heather B.

Yelp
What a neat place. Giving all things covid so feel they are doing very well. Do you have to wait in line, sure. Covid or not there will be in a line for interactive things. Everyone wants to have a chance to play and explore all that is offered. There is a lot of hand sanitizer stations throughout and 90% of people had masks on when we were there. This was a great spot for kiddos maybe 4 and up depending on maturity level, and patience. We opted to do the dome movie about Dinosaurs. It was a good show. Seating was a little uncomfortable for adults. The cost was $5 which was very reasonable! Pricing for tickets was not too bad. We lucked out and were members of the Nauticus in VA Beach. Turns out they are in a program with other museums. So we only paid for the extras we did. My friends husband got in free because he was active duty. We were already in free so my husband did not have to use his active duty status. The staff were working so hard. For working ticketing, the movie, attractions to sanitizing. They were all very helpful, and kind. The entire facility was very clean. Our favorite hands on active was playing air hockey with a robot. We also enjoyed music items downstairs and lastly racing against certain things like a TREX, a rat ect. Parking was not too bad. We lucked out and found a parking spot in the half loop in front of the museum. But, there was a lot to the right as you walk out of the museum that was not far at all. In all this is a great activity to do as a family in a hot day in the AC, a rainy day activity, or a nice snow day activity.

Glenda P.

Yelp
We really loved this museum! Plenty for the kids to do but also great for adults without kids. There was so much to see and do. I only wish that I knew more about this place when my children and grandchildren were younger. It's free for military and not too expensive for families to enjoy. It has a train and Lego exhibit beginning Feb 1, 2025. It's worth the trip!
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Samuel M.

Yelp
Thank you so much for making our wedding day so special! Shannon and her team did a wonderful job coordinating with all of our vendors - everything from the food, the lighting, and the ceremony were perfect. It was especially helpful to have such a communicative team to work with leading up to the wedding, which allowed us to enjoy our time and not have to worry about any logistics on the day-of. The Science Museum of Virginia was truly a dream of a wedding space - we couldn't have imagined having the best day of our lives anywhere else!
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Lena M.

Yelp
This museum is gorgeous! Housed in an old train station, the entrance is PHENOMENAL. The Foucault's pendulum at the front is the first indicator for how fun this museum is. It's giant!! The best part about the Science Museum of Virginia is all its interactive exhibits. It's great for adults and children. The Dome is another special feature. They have experts lead presentations like, "Birth of Planet Earth," "Imagine the Moon," and special shows on the current exhibit they have. They also offer something called, "Live Science" where a museum educator demonstrates amazing scientific experiments! They have cool events to check out too. The beautiful building and hands-on activities at this museum are what make it so great. I highly recommend checking it out!
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Savannah S.

Yelp
Surprised my boyfriend with tickets to go to the science museum of Virginia! What really stood out to me was the Space exhibit they had opened to the public. It was amazing to see different aspects of the world and have a hands on experience. The whole museum was very interactive and would be perfect to bring kids for the day!
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Deidre F.

Yelp
We came to the museum on a Friday afternoon. It was an awesome way to spend our rainy day off of work - we were able to be kids again in a museum with all the hands-on experiences! We touched every computer screen and activity there was. The highlight was a learning area about reaction, strength, movement, power, music, etc. And I made my first paper origami swan! I was impressed by the history and structure of the building. It is beautiful. I can see why there are many Richmond events hosted here as well as a wedding venue. I would have liked to have scheduled time/activity in the innovation creative "lab". They have a lot of resources and machineries; which is amazing for patrons to have access to. I give the museum a 4 out of 5 because the exhibits have limited written information. It is focused on kid level concepts and activities. It is a great museum for kids. If I had small children I would have a membership here and take them often. I am a kid at heart and loved it! Yet I understand if you are a history or science buff you would not enjoy. It would be too "kiddie". I would not recommend the museum as a top place to visit in Richmond. However, it is a great place for local Richmond people to go to on rainy and cold days. I will visit again.
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Krisha B.

Yelp
I am normally so excited about museums but this experience kind of fell short for me. So the idea is great: you have a museum that is meant for you to get HANDS ON! There are a bunch of touch screens and interactive areas where you can race a shark or exercise and play instruments... but during a pandemic? We found ourselves either waiting in line to touch what someone else has already touched or completely skipping an exhibit because the area was already occupied. It doesn't flow like a normal museum where you can walk behind a person or group and read or look along. For a couple with a toddler, waiting isn't always feasible. We should've opted to go to the Children's Museum next door. Not to mention, the parking is shared with the children's museum and it is pretty limited. You might have to park off campus and walk if you do not find a spot immediately (or stalk a family who is leaving). Overall, we found the most enjoyment from the train exhibit and the Light room for kids 5 and under!!
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Valerie G.

Yelp
We brought my 3 year old son and 10 year old step daughter here. They both loved it. There were so many activities for kids to interact with. Plan on spending 2-3 hours here. There are two movies to watch too. My son loves the theatre! Such a great find.
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Ted G.

Yelp
What a great museum with a lot of history! Formerly the broad street station, the museum still retains much of the old station characteristics. They have a very interactive environment, so there is plenty of things for adults and kids to do throughout the museum. The IMAX dome and planetarium was one of the best we have been to in a long time, definitely something that will bring us back to Richmond. Unfortunately the café exists of vending machines in the museum, luckily there was a food truck parked outside to provide us with some lunch. Cheers!
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Amanda H.

Yelp
It was ok. We expected more since we traveled hours to get there, but what they had was fun and interesting. My son (19yr old) and myself both beat the air hockey robot so he was excited about that. He really enjoyed the speed exhibit. On the second floor between the elevators they had a light race where you could choose your "player" and race against another "player." It utilized light bars on the ceiling to race which was very neat. The psychology exhibit was also very interesting and had amazing interactives. I really liked how it was set up and the way it utilized hands-on activities.
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Mike M.

Yelp
This viewpoint is only for that of an adult coming from out of town: There for a few days in Richmond visiting, I decided to visit the museum and see what it had to offer. Although the building is really rich in history, and the facility gorgeous, I felt overwhelmed by the kids crowd and setup for the school groups. That is a very very important audience, so I yield to the kids. But I would not suggest an adult go there on a weekday to simply view science exhibits. Perhaps the exhibit team could build something detailed about the building history (other than the model near the entrance) to play to the adult learners coming into the space.
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Amber W.

Yelp
We really wanted to come to the Science Museum of Virginia (we always do at least once on our trips to Richmond) but was worried about the "indoors" factor. We've been sticking to outdoor only activities (with mask wearing) but this was the one thing we really wanted to do inside. I read over their website and decided we'd give it a go. We pre-purchased our tickets online for a specific time slot. Right at the entrance was masks available for free if you didn't have one. There was also a table with our name, entrance stickers, and a stylus to use for "touching." Hand sanitizer was EVERYWHERE, and some exhibits were necessarily closed. I saw employees walking around constantly cleaning and wiping everything down. There were very few families in at one time so it was very easy to social distance. I also saw an employee instructing someone put their mask over their nose. (WHY is this so hard??) I was really really impressed at all the precautions they took.
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Brittany I.

Yelp
I came in with my family of 7 on a Saturday around 1030 am. The museum was very busy inside and there was a lot of construction going on around the outside but we were able to find parking near the front. The dinosaur exhibit and dome show was well worth the visit. There are many great things to see and do for kids of different ages. The outside has old trains and offers a great location for a shaded lunch. We were able to pull a wagon through with no issues. The museum is very clean and well put together utilizing new technology for even things as simple as the bathrooms. We caught the 11 am dome show and the 1 pm meet the dinosaurs exhibit. We left around 215 pm having viewed most of what the museum had to offer. I would return and recommend.
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Cathy B.

Yelp
We got in for free using a military discount. I don't know how much this place costs but it's too much. JK. It is worth it for kids, but for just adults try to find a coupon or special. As an adult, I thought this place could use way more content and more sophistication. If it was a kid's museum I would be more forgiving, but this is THE Science Museum of Virginia. The only things I enjoyed here were watching the bees and an art installation using litter. Kids will love it though. The day we were there, they had a chemistry presentation for the kids with foam exploding and fire. Ask the info desk about times. The exhibits I remember: motion, space, speed, sound, music, physical bodies and health, balance, heat, fish, bees, plants, magnets, going green. Don't miss the giant chess set outside.
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Leilani P.

Yelp
We LOVE the Science Museum it's a great place for a family trip and has so much to do and see and experience! I highly recommend going when you have the chance to see a show in the Dome it's such a cool and fun interactive experience.
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Margaret H.

Yelp
Loved the light show by museum educator, Eleanor. Will definitely return to do the hands on activities in the forge!! Next time I will look at the schedule online!

Gregory D.

Yelp
Only knock on SMofV is that they gave back the Batmobile. Great place!!!! In defense; they had to give it back, it was privately owned, not by the museum. The Batmobile on display at the SMoV was the very same one which was given away on MTV back in the late eighties. Some guy from Richmond won it. It was the most awesome looking of all the live-action Batmobile. From the 1989 blockbuster film.
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Johanna P.

Yelp
This museum wasn't too bad. It had several exhibits that were interactive for family and kids of all ages. This is a great place to kind of kill time and have your kids learn something along the way.
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Nancy R.

Yelp
Not impressed at all! I don't think I'll be back. Over crowded. They have a parking deck so that was OK.
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Montana K.

Yelp
We had a great time here yesterday! So many interesting interactive experiences- thanks!
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Jamarcus T.

Yelp
The Science Museum of Virginia is such a fun place! Before you even make it in the museum, you're met with two stone spheres, one of the earth kugel, one of the moon kugel, both rotated by flowing water and there are little puzzles to solve while in the parking lot with these two. Stepping inside, you're immediately met with a tremendous pendulum. The Foucault (pronounced foo-koh) pendulum, is large and swings slowly back and forth, moving (and designed) as the earth rotates on its axis. The pendulum swings back and forth in a straight line, but knocks down little pegs as the earth rotates. It's so cool to watch this, and so far i've only explained the parking lot and the entrance!! Getting inside the museum, as an adult anyway, is $15 a person, and from here on, the museum touches on topics such as speed (including the speed of light...or the speed of a child), electricity, force, leverage, wind, architecture designs, and best of all, these are all hands on experiments that children (and yes, adults) can interact with and play with. Speaking of all of these topics is great, but to see them in action are very fun! From the wind room that allows you to experience hurricane winds is crazy! Playing a robot in skee-ball, and winning is great! Watching little kids run on a track and seeing their times compared to an Olympic athlete, a cheetah, and other FAST things never gets old. Seeing a large Jet hung in the air for all to see is kinda ridiculous, and seeing two rats playing basketball for treats is just as enjoyable as it is unbelievable. In addition to this, there are several breakout rooms where you can experience art, wildlife, engineering (you can build to your heart's content), and while we didn't stop to see them, there are several actual trains on display on the grounds. There is a gift shop that's cool to visit, as well as a small cafe called the Periodic Table, which gets points for its name in this science filled spot! We didn't visit this on our trip. This multi leveled museum is definitely family friendly and you can spend an entire afternoon here, and in case you're saying I can't do that...just know that you're granted access all day with a purchase. So take a break, get some lunch, and come on back. I had a blast here, and it brought out the inner kid in me while also making my science nerd self feel right at home. Please give the Science Museum of Virginia a shot, if you live here or if you're just paying Richmond a visit. Definitely a fan!
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Tiffany L.

Yelp
Our family of five made it out for a day trip from Charlottesville, taking advantage of the membership reciprocity they share with the Charlottesville Children's Discovery Museum (weirdly not honored at the Richmond's Children Museum). We had a terrific and easy day! We visited on a Monday and there was plenty of (free) parking. The building is beautiful and spacious inside. We spent the morning wandering around and the kids especially enjoyed seeing the various live creatures (from the current insect exhibit, the bees upstairs, and the reptiles/fish tanks). We enjoyed the art lab where the instructions and supply for each craft were very thoughtfully laid out. The rat basketball was adorable and definitely worth checking out. Hubby and I had particular fun at the "Boost" exhibit competing against each other with the various memory and physical exercise tasks. It's a well curated museum and a great size (you can probably see everything in about 4 hours). We took a midday break to walk over to the McDonald's across the street and then returned for another couple hours. Our toddlers also enjoyed the playspace downstairs and it gave the parents a welcome break.
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Christina M.

Yelp
We had an awesome time at the museum! I went with my boys (ages 9 and 10) on a Sunday to get them out and about. I had to purchase the tickets beforehand for timed access. There was plenty of parking a bit off to the side of the museum, in front of the children's museum. I was a bit confused at first because I only noticed the handicap and member only parking initially. A lot of the exhibits were closed due to COVID but honestly we had a great time with those available. We learned about speed, sound, water consumption, music, origami, nutrition, balance and how our bodies work. The kids got to race Usain Bolt, play music, play table hockey against a robot, kick a soccer ball, tightrope walk, and see a light show all within 2 hours. I mean, come on! Mom for the win! There was also an awesome staff member there, Ken, who was so friendly and knowledgeable and helped us navigate the levels when we arrived. There was a cafe on the first floor with vending machines and space to eat. We decided to go for lunch at Boulevard Burgers & Brews nearby (so good). Unfortunately, we didn't get to do the dome show, which looked really cool but we will be back again and again, especially when the rest opens back up.
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Ina H.

Yelp
This was by far one of the most inviting, clean, well organized and friendliest place in Virginia. We loved every inch of this place and will have to say I highly recommend this place to anyone living,passing through or Vacationing in Virginia ! We came from Houston Tx and this place did not disappoint one bit ! I take my hat off to all the staff and people who made our experience very memorable! Thank you

Fernanda G.

Yelp
So disappointed maybe if the entrance it's free I would be giving this review, I'm a huge fan of museums. First things first... they only have limited time to visit (1hour) second they are not friendly at all. There's only one floor open with not that much (the main entrance), the second floor closed completely closed and going down again floor 0 it was open but nothing was working Before we go, I called hundreds of times to ask for information, guess what.. they did not pickup the phone ones. To me it's like just come to the museum pay and get disappointed because we only want your money, we don't care about your experience. I only add 4 pic because there was nothing great or exiting about this place and that's the first floor.
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EunSung K.

Yelp
The architecture is amazing, an old train station turned into a museum. I have a yearly membership and try to bring my daughter here on cold winter days or rainy days. The IMAX theater is amazing and so are the basketball playing rats. There is a kids area on the lower level and lot of interactive areas for kids. Also, the science museum has more educational fun value than the other museum next door. I would come here even if it was not a museum, because it's one of the most beautiful buildings in Richmond. I wish they would put in a train restaurant, which would make this place even better.
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Kelly F.

Yelp
Very interactive. Genuinely really enjoyed this museum and thought it was very fun but at the same time educating! Would definitely recommend for all ages to check out!
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Steven K.

Yelp
A wonderful museum designed to educate and entertain. Many of the exhibits are interactive and encourage visitor participation. Children as well as adults love this place. There are even unusual small animals. Elevators and ample parking make access easy. Very clean & well maintained. A small cafe offers a limited offering of drinks and microwaveable food & snacks.
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Kyla Z.

Yelp
We love the science museum! Our membership was $185 and we get free admission and unlimited planetarium/imax movies for a year for our whole family. There are so many cool things for kids to do that every time we go back there is something we missed the first time. It has been majorly renovated in the last five years and it is like going somewhere completely new. So if you live in RVA, you should go.
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Arthur F.

Yelp
Hmm, sometimes I feel like I'm a Richmond basher. I am not! After 18 months here, I think my reaction to the region is that more does not automatically mean better. I think overall, the region would be better served by fewer things, but of better quality. This museum is a perfect example, as part of the salt (Science Museum) and pepper museum (Children's Museum) they are both OK. However, what if they were to take one or the other, brought it more fully up to date and made it something truly special for the region? Now on to the actual review. I agree with the others on the architecture. It is certainly stately, but only on the outside. It is all pretty much lost on the inside. The NASA simulation was great for my son. He also enjoyed other elements of the space area. However, the overall flow of the space felt disjointed. Beyond that, we kind of whipped through there very rapidly, due to lack of interest, or usability. In the end, this museum appears to not have defined who its primary target population is and it hasn't invested in keeping it current/ relevant. As a result, if you're a family looking to entertain your kids, the Children's Museum wins hands down as the place to invest your time and money.
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Chris G.

Yelp
I came here for a dinner reception last night...nice enough even though we didn't get the entire tour. I was able to impress my co-attendees with knowledge of how vision guided robot air hockey works...so points for me (especially since no one scored points against the robot)! Cool interactive exhibits like you would expect in a science museum. Would be great for kids. Pendulum in main entrance was cool...have seen one before but for life of me cannot remember where.

Eileen R.

Yelp
Whenever we travel we must go to a local popular museum. We chose this one in Richmond, Virginia. We love how interactive it is, it not just looking at the exhibit and reading about it's history. We enjoyed the hurricane simulator, running against different animals and playing air hockey against a machine. This museum gave us a workout but it was fun.
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Christy S.

Yelp
Took our 12 and 13 year old boys during spring break. We highly enjoyed it. And it is free for military members! Loved all the interactive things. We would go back.
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Ashley G.

Yelp
I'm at the museum late for the Body World: Animal Inside Out exhibit. Its disgusting. I'm giving a neutral review because my opinion is just that. You might find that a sliced and diced giraffe prepped and propped for you to see its spine and brain available for only your viewing pleasure acceptable. I found it sad, desperate, and grossly unacceptable. I'm sure some of the animals died specifically for this or one of the many animals exhibits, some died painfully and were placed here, some died from carelessness and placed here, some died curious why they were being hurt. I find this unsurprising of a capitalist society but still, I'm on the outside with the few others who think this kind of display is crude, and tactless. Every living thing should be allowed to the respect to be "put to rest". Their bodies were mangled, sawed, pinned, plastered, and posed like their lives meant nothing. I cannot fault the museum for promoting a way to make money, or an opportunity to intrigue adults or children how they see fit. (Like my husband and our double date.) They have a sliced horse head with aimlessly staring glass eyes, chicks with feathers and skeletons both, squid, fish sliced thinly to see the insides, a shark partially sliced to see its muscle, baby lambs, reindeer skeleton with muscles propped, a large bull with muscle showing and horns propped. Dog, lamb, piglet and horse head veining on props displayed. A giraffe musculature showing along side a sliced giraffe. This from a very faint fast fleeting memory, so I'm sure I've missed a little bit, the display is made up of 4 small set up spaces and a hallway of long exhibits. So, in the end, everyone has an opinion, this is mine. I came, saw the mussels and walked through the rest, sight unfortunately seen. I'm not giving a poor score, or a high score, I'm giving a review of 3 stars in an attempt to give a neutral review with a viewpoint. The exhibit is also after hours on Friday evenings, 5-7 is $10. There are children too young to be here in the exhibit. I feel an age limit would be appropriate, and loud women and families not respecting the museum atmosphere. Overall museum (not exhibit) experience 6-7/10. Too loud. Too many kids.
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Lauren Be Explorin' -.

Yelp
Love this place! We got bored on a nice day downtown, and decided to see what has changed since middle school. Sad to see half of the museum shut down because of some type of renovation, but all around tray cool and tons of hands on activities for us to be entertained by! Would definitely come back here, maybe with children next time, you never know ‍
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Andy D.

Yelp
The Da Vinci Alive exhibit, where art and science meets and becomes one. Da Vinci , great thinker , artist and inventor is the originator of all the modern things we have today. His work continues to inspire many scientists, artist and thinkers alike. This exhibit is very well worth visiting. The exhibit shows that Da Vinci was truly a genius. The science Museum as a been remodeled - updated since last time I was there. 3 years ago. It always is a great place to visit, especially for kids. I was very pleasantly surprised to see all the new updates. We loved the Speed section!! FUN. We spent 4 hr wandering around discovering new things. If you have not been there in a while it's a great place to go for adults or kids. The Da Vinci Alive will be there from May 13 the to Sept 5 th - get the experience :)
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Lisa F.

Yelp
I take my grandchildren here. They are 3 and 5. We love it. I was worried that it wasn't enough geared towards them. I was so wrong. Curious George exhibit is so fun for them. We visited the Pompeii exhibit and that was amazing. Fun for all ages!!!!