The Sciencenter: A Top Attraction for Kids in Ithaca, NY

Last updated: May 25, 2023

Oops. It had happened again. 

Another one of those random days off from school (some kind of disctrict-wide conference?) hadn’t made it into my calendar. What were we going to do with that sudden bonus day with Max? 

Sciencenter to the rescue!

We had a blast, and the day was saved. It was another reminder of what makes this area such a great place to live, especially with a family.

The Sciencenter is one of the top attractions for kids in Ithaca and the region (some 100,000 guests visit every year), and for good reason. There are loads of interactive displays, multiple outdoor areas, animals, and regularly changing featured exhibitions.

Our kids are never bored and ask to go to the Sciencenter often. As parents, we appreciate how thoughtfully curated and accessible the museum is. It’s fun for all of us.

And as I was doing a little research for this post, I learned a few things about the Sciencenter that made me realize just how special a place it is. But more about that below.

First, let me tell you more about what goes on inside the museum.

Sciencenter exhibits

On our recent visit, we actually hadn’t been in a while, so Max spent most of the time flitting about, reacquainting himself with all his favorite displays and checking out what’s new.

And there’s always something new: The first floor gallery generally has a featured exhibition that changes three times a year, and some of the other exhibits get swapped out every so often, too. This time, the main theme was Life on the Edge, exploring extreme environments on Earth and in space.

Our usual stops included building a dam with heavy metal blocks, sending rubber ducks down a waterfall (water is chlorinated for safety), hopping down the musical stairs, and watching balls clanging through a two-story, Rube Goldberg-type machine.

At the Tidepool Touch Tank, Max settled down for long enough to pet horseshoe crabs and seastars and admire the beautifully strange-looking egg cases of a channeled whelk snail. (The tank is only open at certain times, so ask about those when you arrive.)

We also never miss the Saltonstall Animal Room with amphibians, reptiles, and fish from around the world and a collection of New York natives.

At nearly 7 years old, Max is well beyond the target age (0-4) of the Curiosity Corner, but he still wanted to pay it a visit. He was probably feeling nostalgic for the water table, air station, foam blocks, veterinary corner, and play kitchen. We especially appreciated this section of the Sciencenter when the kids were younger. A wooden gate makes it a little harder for the little ones to escape, it has its own outdoor area through a separate door, and the family bathroom has a toddler size toilet.

There are always special activities going on (check the website or front desk for times), such as Science Together for kids under 4 (Miki recently spent at least 20 minutes mixing baking soda and colored vinegar) or Family Science Workshops (taking apart old electronics with tools sounds fun!). This time, Max got to carefully prod some soil for red wriggler worms and examine them through a magnifying glass.

To be honest, I think our kids are only beginning to grasp some of the science behind many of the exhibits. But I love watching them simply have fun with science — even the more “advanced” exhibits are interesting to manipulate — and learn playfully along the way.

What makes the Sciencenter special

As you can probably tell by now, we love our Sciencenter, and I know many people do. The museum is a fixture in this community.

But until I looked deeper into the Sciencenter’s history, I had no idea of the extent to which this is true! 

The Sciencenter originally grew out of a hands-on science program run by two teachers at various local elementary schools. They recognized the value of bringing science to kids at an early age, especially to underserved youth — an insight that impacts the Sciencenter’s mission, location, and programming to this day. 

In 1993, after a decade of operating out of local storefronts, the museum moved to its current location, which has been expanded twice to 32,000 square feet. (There’s also a separate building that supports its travel exhibition program.)

What’s so amazing is how much the community came together to make the Sciencenter as it stands today a reality!

As you can read in this history, architect Bob Leathers “proposed the Sciencenter be built by members of the community — including businesspersons, secretaries, store clerks, teachers, bricklayers, electricians, university professors, doctors, grandparents, and children. The result would be a science center that belonged to the entire community.”

That’s exactly what happened. In the decade from 1992 to 2002 alone, 3,400 volunteers contributed 50,000 hours of work to the museum.

“The Sciencenter was built by our community,” Kelly Barclay, the Sciencenter’s public and media relations manager, told me. “Many locals feel a connection to the Sciencenter because they, or someone in their family or friend group, helped to build it!”

To this day, volunteers play an important role in keeping the Sciencenter going. (You can learn more about volunteer opportunities here.)

The Sciencenter’s reach, by the way, goes beyond its walls and even way beyond Ithaca. The museum collaborates with several local organizations (such as Head Start, GIAC) and also has a whole portfolio of about a dozen traveling exhibitions (many built by Sciencenter staff) that get rented out to other museums. Spreading the joy!

Sciencenter logistics

If you’re planning to visit the Sciencenter, here’s some information that may be useful. (Current as of 5/2023.)

• Website: sciencenter.org
• Address: 601 1st St, Ithaca, NY 14850; phone: (607) 272-0600
• Parking: plenty available on site
• Tickets: General admission is $10 (kids under 2 free, seniors $9), with $1 entry available for EBT cardholders. Check the website for other discounts (teachers, veterans, AAA…).
• Membership: If you’re local, a membership (starting at $100) pays for itself after just a few visits. Plus, the Sciencenter is part of the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) and Association of Children’s Museums (ACM), meaning you get free or reduced entrance at numerous museums around the country and even internationally. (NOTE, however, that museums within a 90 mile radius of your “home” museum are excluded, unless they have special arrangements.) If you’re a member of another museum that participates in ASTC or ACM, you get free or half-price admission, respectively, at the Sciencenter.
• Gift shop: Members get a 10% discount on the science-related toys, games, and trinkets.
• Food: You are welcome to bring your own food and drink, which can be consumed in the Community Room. There are also a vending machine and water fountains on site.
• Accessibility: According to the website, all exhibits and outdoor playgrounds are wheelchair-accessible through outdoor ramps and an indoor elevator, as is mini-golf, including adaptive golf clubs. There are accessible restrooms on both levels, and wheelchairs are available at the front desk. Service animals are welcome, and PCAs accompanying a guest get free entrance.
• Noise: Honestly, I can only be at the Sciencenter for an hour at a time because I get a bit overwhelmed by the noise, though I think it’s pretty normal for a space like this, given everything that’s going on: balls clanking, water running, air blowing, bells ringing, and of course kids running around having boisterous fun. I sometimes retreat into the community room or the small kids’ playground for a reprieve. The Sciencenter’s website says that the quietest times typically are between 1 and 3 pm on weekdays. I was also grateful to learn that you can borrow sunglasses, noise reduction headphones and bags with sensory tools as needed.

• Sunblock: Consider bringing some on sunny days for the outdoor playgrounds. (This is our favorite.)
• Summer camp: In case your kids just can’t get enough, the Sciencenter offers summer camps.
• Mini-golf: Science-themed mini-golf is available seasonally for an additional fee.
• Birthday parties: You can book birthday parties. See more info here. (Also check out this post on other birthday party venues in Ithaca.)
• Planet Walk: The Sciencenter is the end point of the Sagan Planet Walk, which I’ll cover in a separate post sometime soon.

If you’re looking for other things to do with kids in Ithaca and the Finger Lakes, you may also be interested in these posts:

• The Museum of the Earth in Ithaca is another great science museum.
• To explore the world of birds, check out the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
• A bit farther afield, you can find the Buffalo Museum of Science, which we explored as part of a family weekend in Buffalo, NY.
• If you need activities for a rainy day, check out these indoor play spaces in Ithaca.
• Or maybe you’re looking for a treat after the Sciencenter. How about some of the best ice cream in Ithaca?

PIN THIS POST FOR LATER: