Maryland Science Center
About
The Maryland Science Center anchors the southern end of Baltimore's Inner Harbor with three floors of interactive science exhibits, a digital planetarium, a science demonstration stage, and an IMAX theater. Since opening in 1976, the center has been the city's primary institution for public science education, connecting visitors of all ages to physics, biology, astronomy, and the environment through direct experimentation and discovery. The center's exhibits address a broad range of scientific domains — from the mechanics of flight and the chemistry of everyday life to the paleontology of the Chesapeake Bay region and the physics of sound and light. The Davis Planetarium (recently upgraded to a fully digital system) offers sky shows and presentations that take visitors from the familiar constellations visible over Maryland to the deepest reaches of the observable universe. The science demonstration stage hosts live experiments and presenter-led inquiry sessions throughout the day, ensuring that the learning experience is not purely self-directed but punctuated by structured moments of guided discovery. The rooftop observatory allows visitors to observe the sun safely during daytime visits. As an ASTC Travel Passport Program member, members of qualifying out-of-region science centers receive free or reduced admission. The center offers dedicated homeschool programming in fall and winter, making it one of the more explicitly homeschool-friendly institutions in the Baltimore area.
🏠 Homeschool Programs
The Maryland Science Center offers dedicated homeschool programs in fall and winter, including enrichment programs, planetarium shows, and IMAX screenings. Registration required. Check website for current schedule.
Subject Areas
Best For
Hours of Operation
Closed Mondays. Tuesday–Friday 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Special holiday hours apply on Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day.
Hours change seasonally — verify before visiting.
Admission
Paid admissionGeneral admission includes exhibit halls, planetarium, and science demonstrations. Adults $29.95, children (3–12) $21.95. IMAX available as add-on. ASTC Passport members from qualifying out-of-region institutions receive up to 4 free tickets (IMAX excluded).
✓ 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
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
COSI
Columbus, OH
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