COSI
About
COSI (Center of Science and Industry) in Columbus, Ohio is one of the nation's leading science centers, occupying 320,000 square feet along the Scioto River in downtown Columbus. With more than 300 hands-on interactive experiences, COSI makes science accessible and engaging for visitors of all ages and backgrounds. The museum is organized around immersive exhibit worlds that encourage active exploration. Gadgets investigates the science behind everyday technology; Space covers exploration and astronomy; Progress traces the history of science and innovation in Ohio; and Ocean puts visitors in the midst of a deep-sea environment complete with a working submarine. Little Kidspace, designed for children from birth through first grade, offers developmentally appropriate sensory and discovery experiences for the youngest learners. COSI's Planetarium features full-dome digital projection for astronomy shows ranging from introductory programs for young children to advanced explorations of the cosmos for older students and adults. The Dinosaur Gallery, opening in partnership with the Smithsonian, brings life-size fossil casts and robotic dinosaurs to central Ohio for the first time. COSI actively works to serve all community members: teachers are admitted free on personal visits to prepare for classroom integration of museum content, and the museum partners with schools, libraries, and community organizations to extend science learning into underserved areas through outreach programming. Summer camps, homeschool programs, scout programs, school field trips, and birthday events round out COSI's comprehensive educational offerings. The museum's commitment to inquiry-based learning makes it a valuable partner for alternative and home educators in the region.
🏠 Homeschool Programs
This institution offers dedicated programming for homeschooling families. Visit the website for details.
Subject Areas
Best For
Hours of Operation
Daily 10am–5pm
Hours change seasonally — verify before visiting.
Admission
Paid admissionAdults from $30 online. Members free. Teachers free on personal visits.
✓ Membership available
ASTC Travel Passport Program
Members of the Association of Science and Technology Centers' Travel Passport Program offer free or discounted admission to members of other participating institutions. Over 300 science centers worldwide participate.
Learn more →47 other places in our directory accept this membership:
Museum of Science
Boston, MA
Harvard Museum of Natural History
Cambridge, MA
EcoTarium
Worcester, MA
Connecticut Science Center
Hartford, CT
Yale Peabody Museum
New Haven, CT
Stepping Stones Museum for Children
Norwalk, CT
ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain
Burlington, VT
McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center
Concord, NH
The Franklin Institute
Philadelphia, PA
Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA
Delaware Museum of Nature and Science
Wilmington, DE
New York Hall of Science
Queens, NY
Maryland Science Center
Baltimore, MD
Liberty Science Center
Jersey City, NJ
Houston Museum of Natural Science
Houston, TX
Adventure Science Center
Nashville, TN
Science Museum of Minnesota
St. Paul, MN
Saint Louis Science Center
St. Louis, MO
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Denver, CO
Museum of the Rockies
Bozeman, MT
Pacific Science Center
Seattle, WA
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
Portland, OR
California Academy of Sciences
San Francisco, CA
Science Museum of Virginia
Richmond, VA
Exploreum Science Center
Mobile, AL
Perot Museum of Nature and Science
Dallas, TX
Discovery Place Science
Charlotte, NC
Kenneth C. Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
Chicago, IL
Milwaukee Public Museum
Milwaukee, WI
Indiana State Museum
Indianapolis, IN
Arizona Science Center
Phoenix, AZ
Exploratorium
San Francisco, CA
Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science
Miami, FL
McWane Science Center
Birmingham, AL
Museum of Life and Science
Durham, NC
Science Center of Iowa
Des Moines, IA
The Tech Interactive
San Jose, CA
Witte Museum
San Antonio, TX
Orlando Science Center
Orlando, FL
Cincinnati Museum Center
Cincinnati, OH
Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum
Denver, CO
Space Center Houston
Houston, TX
Louisiana Children's Museum
New Orleans, LA
Great Lakes Science Center
Cleveland, OH
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Chicago, IL
Maine Discovery Museum
Bangor, ME
Virginia Museum of Natural History
Martinsville, VA
ACM Reciprocal Network
The Association of Children's Museums Reciprocal Network allows members of participating children's museums to receive free or reduced admission at other network museums.
Learn more →14 other places in our directory accept this membership:
Boston Children's Museum
Boston, MA
EcoTarium
Worcester, MA
Stepping Stones Museum for Children
Norwalk, CT
Providence Children's Museum
Providence, RI
Please Touch Museum
Philadelphia, PA
Delaware Children's Museum
Wilmington, DE
New York Hall of Science
Queens, NY
Brooklyn Children's Museum
Brooklyn, NY
Staten Island Children's Museum
Staten Island, NY
DISCOVERY Children's Museum
Las Vegas, NV
Chabot Space & Science Center
Oakland, CA
Louisiana Children's Museum
New Orleans, LA
Magic House, St. Louis Children's Museum
Kirkwood, MO
Maine Discovery Museum
Bangor, ME