23-02-2025
Best Science Museum (2025) - USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Photo courtesy of Tellus Science Museum No. 10: Tellus Science Museum - Cartersville, Georgia
This 120,000-square-foot museum in Georgia is comprised of four main galleries dedicated to minerals, fossils, science in motion, and backyard science. Visitors to Tellus Science Museum can also explore space in the 120-seat digital planetarium, or gaze at the stars through a 20-inch telescope in the observatory. Other highlights include an 80-foot brontosaurus and a replica Apollo I capsule.
Photo courtesy of Perot Museum of Nature and Science No. 9: Perot Museum of Nature and Science - Dallas, Texas
Designed by Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate Thom Mayne, this stunning 180,000-square-foot science museum on the outer edge of the Dallas Arts District boasts five floors of interactive exhibits focusing on everything from Earth and space to geology, paleontology, and engineering. Highlights include a children's museum with a dinosaur dig, an earthquake simulator, and a gallery of gems and minerals including the largest cut imperial topaz in the world.
Photo courtesy of Great Lakes Science Center No. 8: Great Lakes Science Center - Cleveland, Ohio
The Great Lakes Science Center offers a community where real scientific challenges provide a learning culture to encourage curiosity, creativity, and innovation. Visitors can explore plenty of hands-on exhibits, as well as the NASA Glenn Visitor Center.
Photo courtesy of The Franklin Institute No. 7: The Franklin Institute - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Franklin Institute is a hands-on science museum that seeks to create a passion for science and tech in everyone. It holds the distinction of being Pennsylvania's most visited museum and features many interactive exhibits that explore science — from sports to space — plus top-notch experiences and special exhibitions.
Photo courtesy of Discovery World Milwaukee No. 6: Discovery World - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Discovery World is a science and technology center that the whole family will enjoy. The 120,000-square-foot space houses the Reiman Aquarium, as well as several hands-on exhibits that focus on two main areas: technology and aquatic biology.
Photo courtesy of Saint Louis Science Center No. 5: Saint Louis Science Center - St. Louis, Missouri
At Saint Louis Science Center, visitors can examine full-scale replicas of a Mars rover, observe sea creatures in the Pacific Coral Reef Aquarium, and watch live STEM demonstrations. Between 10 galleries featuring hundreds of interactive experiences, movies about aquatic animals, dinosaurs, and more in the OMNIMAX theater, and an impressive planetarium, there's always something more to discover at this museum.
Photo courtesy of The Wild Center No. 4: The Wild Center - Tupper Lake, New York
The Wild Center is situated on a beautiful 115-acre campus in the Adirondacks that's home to hundreds of animals. A 54,000-square-foot building houses the center's main exhibits, while trails, a private pond, and river frontage form the outdoor experience. From naturalist-led walks to animal encounters, there's always a special event happening here.
Photo courtesy of Michigan Science Center No. 3: Michigan Science Center - Detroit, Michigan
The Michigan Science Center promotes creative and dynamic STEM learning through a series of interactive exhibits. This institution in Detroit's Cultural Center Historic District features live shows, an IMAX Dome, 4D theater, planetarium, and exhibit space with more than 220 hands-on activities and exhibits.
Photo courtesy of Exploratorium No. 2: Exploratorium - San Francisco, California
San Francisco's Exploratorium is a public learning lab that invites visitors of all ages to experience over 700 interactive exhibits spread throughout several indoor and outdoor galleries. Visitors can listen to a 27-foot-tall wind-powered harp, take a selfie in a water droplet, and examine what looks like a giant painting but is actually a living terrarium brimming with colorful bacteria.
