There is always so much to see and do at the Science Museum of Minnesota and the newest exhibit Space, an Out of Gravity Experience does not disappoint. The experience begins with a short film about space exploration. Then the exhibit opens up to a ton of hands on experiments, video tutorials and a rotating replica of the inside of the International Space Station.
Visitors step inside a mock representation of the Space Station with all of its control panels and items needed for a lengthy time in space. All of which rotates around you as you listen to the informational audio program. It does give you a feeling of movement and gives you the sense that there is no up, down or sideways in space. There are handrails to hold onto if you feel dizzy and there are exits on both sides if you need to leave before the presentation is complete.
There are many artifacts, like Niel Armstrong’s gloves used in space and what astronauts eat while in space. The most impressive part of the exhibit is the hands on activities for kids and adults alike. During holidays and weekends, these activities can be very busy and you may have to wait in line, but they move fast enough where everyone eventually gets a turn. Lastly, there is a video on your way out of the exhibit that is easily overlooked. It shows what life might be like for the future of travel in space from a tourists perspective. It shows scenes like a traveler looking at the rings of Saturn from a balcony of a ship and cliff jumping from 3 mile crevices of a distant moon. These scenes are breathtaking and is worth watching before leaving the exhibit.
When: 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun., Tue. and Wed., 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Thu.-Sat.
Where: Science Museum of Minnesota, 120 Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul.
Info: www.smm.org
For an additional fee, you can watch the Journey to Space Omnitheater film. This was one of the best Omnitheatre films I have seen for some time. They did a great job of showing the history of America’s space exploration, the set backs, and the advances made. The most fascinating portion of the show is the future of our space exploration. They went into great detail about plans of sending a manned mission to Mars. The two and a half year mission posses many issues that need to be solved and they do a great job reviewing all of possibilities.
The film is a must see and the cost is only an additional $7 more for non members. After a long day of touring the museum and exploring the attractions, being able to put your head back and watch this film is a nice respite.
Speaking of taking a break, there is a nice snack bar located on the lowest level of the museum. It has a good balance of sandwiches, pizzas, and healthy snacks. Take in views of the Mississippi River or watch a science demonstration while you eat. It is a nice open area that keeps you connected to the excitement of the museum.
Along with the featured exhibits that change periodically, the Science Museum has a ton of cool long term exhibits. These include the Mississippi River Gallery, that has a beautiful view of the River and an actual to boat to explore. The Human Body Gallery and Cell Lab have many hands on attractions and also have a lot of staff members to help explain the different experiments. There are many other areas that can fill an entire day. In fact, you could spend several days here and still not do everything. It can be a little overwhelming at first. I suggest going through as much as possible and then take a break at the snack bar, figure out what you want to go back and see after refueling and then explore the areas you want to spend more time.
IS IT WORTH IT?
Yes, if you are visiting for for more than a couple of days. For a family it can be a little spendy, but if you spend most of the day, it is worth the money.
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