Science Museum of Minnesota Tours and Activities

With many permanent and traveling exhibitions, an educational program and a nine-story-high IMAX theater, learning about science in this interactive center is enjoyable for visitors of all ages.

The Science Museum of Minnesota has followed the history of anthropology, geology, science and technology since it opened in 1907. One of the earliest pieces in the collection was a mummy shipped from Egypt. The institution now has more than 1.75 million artifacts and specimens.

Head straight to the popular Dinosaurs and Fossils Gallery. Not many museums in the world have an almost complete triceratops skeleton mounted, so get your photo taken here with this beast that lived almost 66 million years ago.

Find more prehistoric wonders at the Primeval Swamp exhibit, dedicated to a time when crocodiles ruled the North American landscape.

Volunteers will help you examine your own cells under a microscope and extract DNA from plants at the Human Body and Cell Lab.

Visit the Perception Theater, which runs 20-minute programs exploring the magic of your mind. Older children love the Experiment Gallery, where they can control waves, energy and tornadoes. The Collections Gallery has interactive stations as well, including the Questionable Medical Devices exhibit.

The museum has an outdoor exhibit that shows how the elements shape the landscape. Play on the EarthScapes mini-golf course and see how water moves from mountains to the ocean. Head to the Mississippi Gallery to learn about life on a riverboat. If you need a break from browsing, take a seat in the IMAX Convertible Dome Omnitheater and watch movies about science and nature.

The Science Museum of Minnesota is located in downtown St. Paul on the Mississippi River. Pay to park on site. It’s also easy to get here via public transport. The museum is closed on Mondays, except during school holidays. Pay for a combined ticket for the Omnitheater and museum, or opt to visit just one of them.