There’s something special about museums that encourage you to touch, tinker, and immerse yourself in the experience. Hands-on museums bring learning to life, making science, history, and technology exciting for all ages. Whether you’re exploring an underground cave, programming a robot, or creating a larger-than-life bubble, these museums invite you to get involved. If you love interactive experiences, these 15 hands-on museums across the United States should be on your must-visit list!

1. Exploratorium – San Francisco, CA

Location: Pier 15, Embarcadero at Green Street, San Francisco, CA 94111
Why It’s Special: The Exploratorium is more than just a museum—it’s a curiosity playground! With over 650 interactive exhibits, it turns science and perception into an adventure. Visitors can bend light, play with mirrors, and even step into a fog bridge. The hands-on exhibits make it an unforgettable experience for all ages.
Hours: Tue–Sun: 10 AM – 5 PM (Closed Mon)
Admission: Adults $29.95, Youth/Seniors $24.95, Kids (4-12) $19.95, Under 4 Free

2. Museum of Science – Boston, MA

Location: 1 Science Park, Boston, MA 02114
Why It’s Special: Home to over 700 interactive exhibits, the Museum of Science makes science fun through immersive experiences. Visitors can witness lightning strikes generated by the world’s largest Van de Graaff generator, walk through a butterfly garden, and explore the mysteries of outer space in the high-tech planetarium.
Hours: Sat–Thu: 9 AM – 5 PM, Fri: 9 AM – 9 PM
Admission: Adults $29, Kids (3-11) $24, Seniors (60+) $25, Under 3 Free

3. COSI (Center of Science and Industry) – Columbus, OH

Location: 333 W Broad St, Columbus, OH 43215
Why It’s Special: COSI is a hub of science discovery, featuring hands-on experiments, live demonstrations, and a real working submarine to explore. Kids and adults alike can dig into the world of dinosaurs, conduct lab experiments, and test physics principles through hands-on play.
Hours: Wed–Sun: 10 AM – 5 PM (Closed Mon–Tue)
Admission: Adults $25, Kids (2-12) $20, Under 2 Free

4. Liberty Science Center – Jersey City, NJ

Location: 222 Jersey City Blvd, Jersey City, NJ 07305
Why It’s Special: The Liberty Science Center brings innovation to life with a massive planetarium, a touch tunnel that challenges your senses, and an infinity climber for thrill-seekers. The interactive medical exhibits allow visitors to experience surgery simulations and learn about the human body in a whole new way.
Hours: Wed–Fri: 10 AM – 4 PM, Sat–Sun: 10 AM – 5 PM (Closed Mon–Tue)
Admission: Adults $29.99, Kids (2-12) $24.99, Seniors $26.99, Under 2 Free

5. Science Museum of Minnesota – St. Paul, MN

Location: 120 W Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55102
Why It’s Special: This museum is known for its awe-inspiring dinosaur fossils, interactive human body exhibits, and an Omnitheater with breathtaking science films. The Mississippi River Gallery offers a deep dive into the natural history and ecology of one of America’s most famous rivers.
Hours: Wed–Sun: 10 AM – 5 PM (Closed Mon–Tue)
Admission: Adults $19.95, Kids (5-12) $14.95, Seniors $16.95, Under 5 Free

6. Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum – Ann Arbor, MI

Location: 220 E Ann St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Why It’s Special: This museum makes learning feel like play, with over 250 interactive exhibits ranging from waterworks to an engineering lab. Visitors can create giant bubbles, experiment with sound waves, and even explore a kid-sized city built for curious minds.
Hours: Mon–Sat: 10 AM – 5 PM, Sun: 12 PM – 5 PM
Admission: General $16, Under 2 Free

7. Kentucky Science Center – Louisville, KY

Location: 727 W Main St, Louisville, KY 40202
Why It’s Special: The Kentucky Science Center encourages hands-on discovery with exciting physics demonstrations, a maker space for inventors, and a movie theater featuring larger-than-life scientific films. The Science in Play exhibit is a hit for younger children, fostering creativity through experimentation.
Hours: Mon–Thu: 9:30 AM – 5 PM, Fri–Sat: 9:30 AM – 9 PM, Sun: 9:30 AM – 5 PM
Admission: Adults $20, Kids (2-12) $15, Under 2 Free

Photo: Courtesy of the Kentucky Science Center

8. Arizona Science Center – Phoenix, AZ

Location: 600 E Washington St, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Why It’s Special: The Arizona Science Center takes hands-on exploration to another level with exhibits focused on space, physics, and the human body. Visitors can lie on a bed of nails, experience hurricane-force winds, or explore the wonders of the solar system in the planetarium.
Hours: Daily: 10 AM – 5 PM
Admission: Adults $21.95, Kids (3-17) $15.95, Under 3 Free

9. Museum of Flight – Seattle, WA

Location: 9404 E Marginal Way S, Seattle, WA 98108
Why It’s Special: The Museum of Flight brings aviation history to life with real aircraft, flight simulators, and even a NASA space shuttle trainer. Visitors can climb inside cockpits, experience virtual reality flying, and walk through an authentic Air Force One jet.
Hours: Daily: 10 AM – 5 PM
Admission: Adults $25, Kids (5-17) $16, Under 5 Free

Photo: Courtesy of the Museum of Flight

10. The DoSeum – San Antonio, TX

Location: 2800 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209
Why It’s Special: This museum is designed for kids, with interactive STEM exhibits, a spy academy, and a sensory-friendly environment. Kids can build robots, explore a giant treehouse, and dive into a hands-on innovation station.
Hours: Mon–Sat: 9 AM – 5 PM, Sun: 12 PM – 5 PM
Admission: General $14, Under 1 Free

11. Adventure Science Center – Nashville, TN

Location: 800 Fort Negley Blvd, Nashville, TN 37203
Why It’s Special: This interactive science museum offers mind-bending exhibits, including a space-themed planetarium, a flight simulator, and a towering climbing structure that provides a hands-on lesson in physics. Kids and adults alike can explore health, energy, and the universe through exciting, hands-on activities.
Hours: Daily: 9 AM – 4 PM
Admission: Adults $18, Kids (2-12) $14, Under 2 Free

12. The Franklin Institute – Philadelphia, PA

Location: 222 N 20th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Why It’s Special: One of the oldest science museums in the country, The Franklin Institute brings science to life with exhibits like the iconic giant heart, a sports challenge lab, and the awe-inspiring Fels Planetarium. Visitors can even try their hand at piloting an aircraft in a flight simulator!
Hours: Daily: 9:30 AM – 5 PM
Admission: Adults $23, Kids (3-11) $19, Under 3 Free

13. Science City at Union Station – Kansas City, MO

Location: 30 W Pershing Rd, Kansas City, MO 64108
Why It’s Special: Housed in a historic train station, Science City is a dynamic, hands-on experience featuring everything from a sky bike that defies gravity to a maker studio for young inventors. The outdoor play area and genetics lab add even more interactive fun for curious minds.
Hours: Wed–Sun: 10 AM – 5 PM (Closed Mon–Tue)
Admission: General $14.50, Under 3 Free

14. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis – Indianapolis, IN

Location: 3000 N Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46208
Why It’s Special: The world’s largest children’s museum, this massive facility boasts a real-life dinosaur dig, a carousel you can ride, and an immersive space station exhibit. With five floors of interactive exhibits, it’s an all-day adventure that sparks imagination and curiosity.
Hours: Tue–Sun: 10 AM – 5 PM (Closed Mon)
Admission: Prices vary by date, starting at $19.50 per person

15. Mississippi Children’s Museum – Jackson, MS

Location: 2145 Museum Blvd, Jackson, MS 39202
Why It’s Special: This museum celebrates Mississippi’s culture, creativity, and science through interactive exhibits. Visitors can explore a giant Scrabble board, build in a hands-on engineering lab, and learn about the state’s natural resources through play-based exhibits.
Hours: Tue–Sat: 9 AM – 5 PM, Sun: 1 PM – 6 PM (Closed Mon)
Admission: General $10, Under 1 Free

Photos: Courtesy of the Mississippi Children’s Museum

Hands-on museums take learning to a whole new level, allowing visitors to interact, experiment, and explore. Whether you’re into space, nature, technology, or physics, there’s a hands-on museum for you. These 15 incredible destinations prove that education and entertainment go hand in hand. Pack your curiosity and get ready for an adventure!