Bringing science and fun together, the Rochester Museum and Science Center is a delightful destination for kids and kids at heart. With a special focus on the history and science of the Rochester area, the museum hosts a pleasing balance of traditional exhibits and interactive play. Gape at massive fossils, shoot a tennis ball cannon or look through a telescope at the stars at this comprehensive museum in downtown Rochester.
Enter the Adventure Zone on the first floor to explore the nature and history of the Genesee River and Rochester’s ecosystem. Scramble up the climbing wall as you learn about the geology below your feet, scaling from one stratum to another.
Control a submarine simulation as you examine the underwater world of Lake Ontario or try to get a barge into the Erie Canal on the lock simulation. Next door, walk through a glacial ice cave and pose next to an Albertosaurus skeleton and an enormous replica of a mastodon.
Try the technology in the Inventor Center, which has rotating challenges for designing solutions to a variety of problems, fun for both adults and handy kids. Let your children build castles or dig holes in the sandy play area. Awe them with the Tesla coils on display in the electricity exhibit.
Immerse yourself in the Native American history of the Rochester area or open your mind to new ideas in the rotating exhibit center.
As the day gets dark, head out to the Strasenburgh Planetarium for a star or laser show or to peer through the on-site telescope as you look at the stars twinkling above.
The Rochester Museum and Science Center is just east of downtown Rochester, a 30-minute walk or 7-minute drive from the main train station. Drive here in 10 minutes from the University of Rochester campus. Park for free in the museum’s on-site lots.
The museum is open daily during business hours but opens slightly later on Sundays. On Saturdays, the planetarium offers free telescope viewings until late at night. There is an admission fee, with extra charges for planetarium shows.
