Science Museum of Virginia Review for Kids and Parents
Welcome to a journey through the marvels of the Science Museum of Virginia! Nestled in the heart of Richmond, this museum promises a captivating experience for the whole family. With interactive exhibits, fascinating displays, and hands-on activities, it's a place where science comes alive.
Exploring the Wonders of the Science Museum of Virginia
The Science Museum of Virginia, located in Richmond, VA offers an enriching and immersive experience for visitors of all ages. Boasting a diverse range of exhibits and attractions, the museum aims to make science engaging, accessible, and fun.
History of the Science Museum of Virginia:
The Science Museum of Virginia, located in Richmond, has a rich history that dates back to the late 19th century. The building that now houses the museum originally served as the original location of Broad Street Station, a prominent railway station in the heart of Richmond.
Designed by architect John Russell Pope, the Broad Street Station opened its doors in 1919 and quickly became a hub for transportation in the region. The station's neoclassical architecture and grand interior made it a notable landmark in the city.
For several decades, the Broad Street Station facilitated passenger and freight transportation, connecting Richmond to other cities and regions across the country. However, with the decline of rail travel in the mid-20th century, the station eventually fell into disuse and faced the threat of demolition.
In the early 1970s, community leaders and advocates for science education saw an opportunity to repurpose the historic building as a science museum. After extensive renovations and restoration efforts, the Science Museum of Virginia opened its doors to the public in 1977.
The transformation of the Broad Street Station into a science museum represented a visionary approach to preserving historic architecture while providing a valuable resource for education and exploration. Today, the museum stands as a testament to the intersection of history, science, and community engagement, welcoming visitors from near and far to discover the wonders of the natural world.
Essential Information for Your Visit:
Planning ahead is key before setting out on your museum journey. It operates from Tuesday to Sunday, 9:30 AM until 5:00 PM. Always verify the website for unique events or exhibits. On-site parking is provided, and you can acquire entrance tickets online or upon arrival. Elevators in the science center ensure accessibility to all floors. For those with young children or toddlers, using a stroller is advisable as the hallways and exhibits are stroller-friendly.
The Science Museum of Virginia features four floors of interactive labs, awesome artifacts, hundreds of hands-on experiences and both permanent exhibitions and touring exhibitions from around the world to amaze and inspire you!
Exhibits at the Science Museum of Virginia:
Prepare to be amazed by the diverse range of exhibits covering topics from space exploration to biology and everything in between. Highlights include the "Speed" exhibit, where you can learn about velocity, acceleration, and the science behind motion. Dive into the "Earth Revealed" exhibit to uncover the wonders of our planet's geology, or journey through time in the "Dinosaurs" exhibit.
Speed: race a friend or make a new friend seeing how fast you can run and comparing to others. This long-time exhibit has been a favorite for many years.
LightPlace is a bright experience for our youngest scientists. This exhibition promotes skill development and exploratory learning in children 5 and under with fun, preschool-sized hands-on activities.
Encourage your child to play, explore, discover and learn through direct experience and problem solving. The exhibition offers tools to advance environmental awareness, motor skills, sensory perception, object identification and introductory reading and math activities. Multi-sensory activities support developmental milestones that cultivate learning skill sets and science, technology, engineering and math concepts.
The exhibition helps build confidence in preschool-age learners as they develop new skills and empowers caregivers to engage curious children. By experiencing the space together, it reminds guests of all ages that science is all around us.
Art Studio - Get creative as you mix science and art in this hands-on lab. The Museum provides the materials and suggested activities and you provide the imagination! Activities may change by time of year or other programming throughout the Museum.
Animal Exhibit -Come face-to-face with reptiles and amphibians. From scorpions to beetles to snakes, guests can see dozens of live animals and learn more about how the eat, sleep and live.
Rat Basketball - The Science Museum staff members shows how training uses classical and operant conditioning to train the rat players.Classical conditioning is teaching the rats to respond to the buzzer used in training. The buzzer sounds when the rat has done something correct.Operant conditioning is rewarding the rats for taking the correct action – during the game they get a treat for each basket.
new exhibit: steampunk for kids age 8 and up How did thinkers of the late 1800s envision the future? Find out in Discover Steampunk, a hands-on touring exhibition showcasing the fusion of art, history and technology. Guests learn about 19-century innovators while experimenting with more than 20 interactive machines inspired by their ideas. The Science Museum is offering a variety of complementary programming for Discover Steampunk throughout the building this spring. Guests can watch live brain dissection demos, explore electricity with the Van de Graaff generator, see how steam-powered toys operate, create spirograph art with different-size gears, build clocks and use sewing machines in The Forge and more. Check the daily schedule to see what is being offered during your visit.
The Forge - Roll up your sleeves and create! Part showroom and part workshop, our makerspace celebrates innovation, design and fabrication. The Forge is a cross-generational makerspace for guests of all ages. Come work together to create solutions and tap into your creativity.Featuring both a showroom and workshop, The Forge is designed to facilitate the creative process, spark inspiration, and instill the idea that anything is possible.The WestRock Gallery displays inventive regional products, interactive stations (such as a 500 multi-colored programmable lighting piece), and introduces guests to innovative tools and materials. Additionally, the centerpiece of the space is a large welding robot, taught to draw, that creates masterful artistic renditions right before your eyes!
At the heart of The Forge is our workshop comprising the Sharp Design Studio, workroom and machine shop. This space is equipped with quality traditional tools and the latest technologies like CNC routers, 3D printers, a laser cutter and much more. This space allows guests a deeper exploration into STEM and making by giving them the chance to participate in hands-on workshops that emphasize tool utilization and skill development.The Dome - Buckle your seatbelt because it's time to explore Earth and the farthest reaches of the cosmos through these awesome planetarium shows in the coolest dome feature! At 76 feet, The Dome is the largest screen in Virginia and provides guests with the ultimate "you are there" imax theater experience. Guests can choose from various shows like Imagine the moon, Oceans: Our Blue Planet, Living Worlds, Superpower dogs and more. This is an unforgettable experience to take in a movie in the beautiful dome theater.
The Green- Museum guests, public transit passengers and individuals who live and work nearby will benefit from time spent on the shaded paths and in the casual gathering areas within the only public park located along the 7.6-mile Pulse corridor.
Cost:
Admission prices vary depending on age and whether you opt for additional experiences such as movies or special exhibits. However, the museum offers discounts for children, seniors, and military personnel, making it an affordable outing for the whole family. Membership is a great option if your family would visit more than 2-3 times a year. Gifting a membership to a loved one or family member is a great idea, and I Have rounded up my favorite Richmond memberships and great museums to give you some ideas!
Adults (13-59) $17.50
Senior (60+) $14.50
Youth (6-12) $14.50
Preschool (3-5) $10.00
Children 2 and younger Free
A trip to the Science Museum of Virginia is more than just a day out—it's an opportunity to ignite curiosity, inspire wonder, and foster a deeper appreciation for the world of science. With its engaging exhibits, must-see attractions, and immersive experiences, this museum promises an unforgettable adventure for the whole family. So pack your curiosity and embark on a journey of discovery at the Science Museum of Virginia!
Overall, the Science Museum of Virginia offers a dynamic and enriching environment where visitors can engage with science in meaningful ways. Whether you're a curious child, a lifelong learner, or a family looking for a fun day out, the museum has something to offer everyone with its hands-on environment. So come and discover the wonders of science at the Science Museum of Virginia!
Address:2500 West Broad St, Richmond, VA 23220 United States Located next door to the Richmond location of the Children's Museum of Richmond (CMOR central) for more hands on fun!
