The Oregon Museum of Science and Technology is located in Portland and is one of the leading science museums in the entire nation. It covers 29,000 square feet and is home to hundreds of exhibits. It also has an Omnimax theatre, five exhibition halls and a navy submarine as well.
The OMSI is not just a place for kids; parents/adults will also get wowed by the magnificent exhibitions, displays and lab experiments available.
The OMSI has a world-class planetarium that will allow you to explore the universe in detail. It is one of the most popular spots in the whole museum. It gives you a real life experience of different universal objects such as experiencing what a black hole looks like or taking a trip to outer space through their 360 degree technology.
If the planetarium is dazzling to you, then the USS Blueback will blow your mind. This USS navy ship was decommissioned and now spends its days at the pier adjacent to the museum. Movie buffs might like to know that the ship was featured in the movie starring Sean Connery, The Hunt for Red October.
Note: These two areas will incur you additional fees over and above the regular admission fee paid.
While this may be more suitable for bigger kids as well as adults, even younger ones passionate about science can find something to keep them interested at the Discovery Lab. Scientists are on hand to explain various subjects such as human development studies. You can also ask them about anything related to the topic. If you are lucky enough, you might pop in on a day where the researchers are available.
There are many things that you can do in the Life Sciences Hall. It is home to the life science lab where people get to learn about the complex nature of their bodies. You can even watch your picture age slowly over the years. You can view and even touch various animals and insects while learning more about them.
The Turbine Hall, on the other hand, is more concentrated on physical sciences and technology. It takes its name from the large turbine generator that has been well placed to help you in your understanding of engineering sciences. Apart from the chemistry lab, there are a lot of other labs that you can get to visit as well such as the physics lab, the famous earthquake house and the holograph lab.
Kids can attend residential science camps at OMSI’s Coastal Discovery Center in Newport.
The OMSI also offers a number of camps and classes for kids as well as adults. Though the camp classes are not primarily held here (one is located in Fossil and the other in Hancock), they do offer science-related activities and exhibits designed to be both educational and fun at the same time. These camps usually last for a full week.
This is just a tip of the iceberg of what you will find in OMSI. You can also get a taste of wild nature here in Portland – find out more about Oregon’s wildlife here.