Uncover the science of summer – indoors or out – at the Science Museum of Minnesota
St. Paul, Minn. – Dive deep into the Collections Vault, witness powerful storms inside the auditorium, or head outside to a living laboratory on the Mississippi River: The Science Museum of Minnesota is a summer destination for learning and fun for all ages. Mark your calendar for these upcoming programs and events for a STEM-filled summer.
The museum is open Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Members have exclusive access to the museum from 9-10 a.m. daily.
Our Backyard | Opens Monday, June 9 | Temporary outdoor exhibition
In this interactive outdoor exhibit, experience large-scale, full-body, nature-based, messy, and noisy experiences that reconnect you with the world around us. Demonstration fields and gardens provide a living laboratory for exploration of cultural connections, sustainability and the future of food. New this year, Exploring Energy, powered by Xcel Energy, is a set of interactive exhibits that give visitors the chance to experiment with energy and wind power.
Museum Nights: Summer Camp | Thursday, June 12, 6-10 p.m. | Tickets start at $34.95
Bring on the nostalgia with a 21+ summer camp-inspired experience at the museum. This event features the museum’s seasonal debut of BlackStack Brewing’s Thunder Lizard IPA, a few raucous rounds of trivia with Science Live, and hands-on science demonstrations all about grilling. Make friendship bracelets and science fair-style volcanoes, with a drink in hand.
Plus, catch Museum Nights every Friday all summer long from 5-8 p.m. featuring special performances, exclusive screenings, and trivia for grown-ups only.
Research and Collections Tours | Mondays, 10 a.m. | $75 tour ticket includes admission
Visitors can get a behind-the-scenes look at the more than 2 million objects in the museum’s collection and into the heart of its scientific work every Monday. The museum offers tours of its collections vault, as well as anthropology, biology and paleontology specimens and research.Tours limited to ten people.
Summer with Science Live | Daily shows included with admission
Visit the auditorium for two jaw-dropping shows from the Science Live theater. The Hot and Cold Show explores the power of extreme temperatures. Storms on Stage brings the phenomena of lightning, thunder and tornadoes indoors. Performances are daily Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and noon and 1:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Critter Fest | Saturday, July 12, 11 a.m-3 p.m. | Included with admission
Save the date for Critter Fest – the museum’s all-day celebration of animals of all kinds and the many ways they interact with our lives.
Dino Fest | Saturday, Aug. 2, 11 a.m-3 p.m. | Included with admission
The museum’s fan-favorite festival for fossilized friends returns on Aug. 2. The museum’s paleontology experts and partners will host a day of dino discovery. Plus, something big is coming to the Omnitheater this August… 🦖
Now Playing in the Omnitheater
National Parks Adventure • Ends May 30
Go deep into the pristine wilderness of America’s great outdoors in National Parks Adventure. This immersive road trip honoring the 100th birthday of the National Park Service takes viewers on a journey to 30 of its most spectacular landscapes — from Yellowstone and Devils Tower to Denali and the Everglades.
Journey to the heart of the Caribbean through the eyes of those exploring under the ocean’s surface and dancing in the streets of Havana.
Dive below the surface to explore the world of the magnificent blue whale — the largest animal to have ever lived, bigger than any dinosaur. In Blue Whales, follow two scientific expeditions as they work to understand why these gargantuan creatures are making a comeback after early 20th century whaling nearly drove them to extinction.
Stellar Tours: A Star is Born • Ongoing
Every show is a different journey in this live digital telescope show! Choose your own space adventure and explore the life of a star from beginning to end.