
Science Museum of Minnesota
About
The Science Museum of Minnesota occupies a striking building on the banks of the Mississippi River in downtown St. Paul, offering an expansive blend of natural history, science, and technology exhibits. Founded in 1907, it is one of the largest science museums in the country and draws over a million visitors annually. The William L. McKnight–3M Omnitheater features a five-story domed screen and advanced projection system for large-format documentary films on science and natural history. Permanent galleries include Dinosaurs and Fossils, Human Body Gallery (with a full-size cadaver display), Science Live Labs, and an outdoor Mississippi River Gallery that connects visitors to the watershed outside their doors. The Kitty Andersen Youth Science Center provides dedicated hands-on learning spaces for younger visitors, with rotating programs in engineering, chemistry, and natural science. The museum's Science House offers school and community outreach that extends learning beyond the museum's walls into classrooms and community centers across the region. For families with financial constraints, the museum offers "Great Tix" — $3 admission for EBT/WIC cardholders — making it one of the most economically accessible science institutions in the Midwest. School field trips, homeschool programs, and teacher professional development are core parts of the museum's educational mission. The museum is located at the corner of Wabasha and Kellogg Boulevard, with parking and light rail access. Evening hours on Fridays make it accessible for families who can't visit during the standard daytime window.
🏠 Homeschool Programs
This institution offers dedicated programming for homeschooling families. Visit the website for details.
Subject Areas
Best For
Hours of Operation
Sunday–Thursday 10am–5pm, Friday–Saturday 10am–8pm
Hours change seasonally — verify before visiting.
Admission
Paid admissionAdults $34.95, Youth $24.95. "Great Tix" $3 for EBT/WIC cardholders. Members free.
✓ 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

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