The Rochester Museum and Science Center is a fantastic place for families with a mixture of hands-on learning experiences and local and regional history. The museum has three floors of over 200 hands-on exhibits that allow families to explore the world around them. In addition to the museum is a state-of-the-art planetarium. The museum was established in 1912, and the planetarium was established much later in 1968.
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Exhibits at the Rochester Museum and Science Center
I have always considered the Rochester Museum and Science Center to be more of a “bigger kid” museum, but after witnessing it from my youngest kid’s perspective, I was able to appreciate those little ones can get a lot out of this museum as well.
Special Exhibits
There are revolving exhibits that come through the Rochester Museum and Science Center from all over the country. While numerous exhibitions have come and gone over the RMSC’s history, there is one exhibit I have seen multiple times…Dinosaurs! (and what kid doesn’t love dinosaurs.)
These special exhibits are always revolving as they circulate the country. A few years back, we also visited the touring Titanic exhibit at the RMSC.
At the Western Door
An exhibit that shows the interaction between the Iroquois nation in Western New York and the European settlers over the last 400 years.
Native Peoples of America
This exhibit is a beautiful collection of real-life dioramas depicting native American cultures from all over North, South, and Central America and cultural artifacts. This exhibit has been my favorite since I was a kid. I absolutely love the incredibly detailed dioramas with depictions of the lives of numerous Native American cultures.
AdventureZone
This interactive exhibit allows kids of all ages to experience science with hands-on fun activities including, a simulator ride that takes visitors to the bottom of Lake Ontario.
Forces of Nature
Hands-on exhibits that focus on the earth, air, fire, and water. Kids will get a kick out of the earthquake simulator.
Expedition Earth
Kids can go on a paleontological dig and dig up replica mastodon bones in a simulated excavation site, see an Albertosaurus, and visit a glacial ice cave. Amazing dioramas depict different forms of life for kids to enjoy.
Face to Face: Encounters with Identity
This extensive anthropology collection allows visitors to see objects belonging to cultures from all over the world.
Flight to Freedom: Rochester’s Underground Railroad
This historical exhibit depicts the importance of Rochester, and some of her most prominent citizens played in the underground railroad.
Special Deals
We visited the RMSC over my kid’s winter break since it had been a while since we had been there. I was quite shocked by the price when I researched online, as it was on the expensive side. I called to see if there were any discounts or Groupons available. The docent told me something very interesting. Residents of Monroe County can borrow a VIP pass from the Monroe County Library System that gives them a significant discount on admission at this museum and several others in the area. This helped make a dent in the price.
Strasenburgh Planetarium
Star shows, giant-screen films, and laser light shows.
- Star shows feature the mighty star projector along with an advanced wide-screen, high-resolution video system.
- Giant-screen films projected on the four-story dome take you on journeys of exploration all over the world.
- Saturday Night Laser Shows set classic rock music to choreographed beams of dazzling laser light, crisscrossing the Planetarium’s indoor sky.
- With assistance from volunteers from the Astronomy Section of the Rochester Academy of Science, free public telescope viewing is offered on Saturday evenings (weather permitting).
- The Challenger Learning Center, a service of Monroe #1 BOCES, offers high-tech, hands-on space mission simulations to school groups and the public.
- Don’t miss the Holiday Laser Show at Christmas time. It is a long time Rochester Family Tradition.
3rd ROC Café at RMSC
A cute little cafe that has lots of healthy food choices as well as great kid meals.
Cafe Hours:
Monday – Saturday: 10am–3pm
Sunday: 11am–3pm
Hours and Admission
Monday–Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Museum Admission and Star Shows
Address:
657 East Avenue
Rochester NY, 14607
What is your favorite science museum in New York State? What do you think of the Rochester Museum and Science Center? We want to hear from you. Please leave a comment below.
