🔬Science Center🏠 Homeschool ProgramsFree admission

Saint Louis Science Center

St. Louis, Missouri

About

The Saint Louis Science Center is one of the few major science centers in the United States that offers free general admission, supported by the St. Louis Zoo-Museum District (ZMD) tax district. Located in Forest Park — one of the nation's most visited urban parks — the museum draws over a million visitors annually with hundreds of interactive exhibits, large-format films, and planetarium shows. The five-story OMNIMAX Theater features one of the largest seamless screens in the world, wrapping around and over the audience for an immersive film experience covering natural history, space, and science topics. The James S. McDonnell Planetarium is a separate building within the complex, offering digital sky shows and stargazing programs for all ages. Permanent galleries include Mission: Mars (interactive Mars mission simulation), Earth Sciences (geology and environmental systems), GameXPloration (science through games and design), and a dedicated maker space where visitors can engage in hands-on engineering and fabrication. The Energy & Environment hall explores sustainability and resource systems that shape everyday life. Despite free admission, the museum offers extensive programming with costs: summer science camps, school field trips, homeschool programs, scout programs, and sleepovers. The Science Center also operates an outdoor science park and a weather observation deck. The museum's commitment to free access and community science education makes it one of the most equitable institutions in the Midwest, serving urban, suburban, and rural learners from across the region.

🏠 Homeschool Programs

This institution offers dedicated programming for homeschooling families. Visit the website for details.

Subject Areas

🔬 Science💻 Technology🌌 Space & Astronomy🪨 Earth & Geology🔧 Making & Tinkering

Best For

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 All Ages👨‍👩‍👧 Families🏫 School Groups👶 Early Childhood (0–5)🎒 Elementary (6–10)🧑 Tweens & Teens (11–17)

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Hours of Operation

Tuesday–Sunday 9:30am–4:30pm

Hours change seasonally — verify before visiting.

Admission

Free admission

Free general admission. OMNIMAX Theater, Planetarium shows, and some programs require tickets.

✓ Membership available

ASTC

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: