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Hands On Fun at the Michigan Science Center in Detroit – 2026

Attractions
in  Detroit
by Hannah Austin
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Michigan Science Center boy watching electricity ball Austin

Kids & Families LOVE the Michigan Science Center

If you’ve got curious kids (or you’re a curious kid at heart), the Michigan Science Center in Detroit is the kind of place where “just popping in” turns into an all-day adventure.

With more than 200 hands-on exhibits, working labs, a giant-screen IMAX theatre, a planetarium, and live science shows, this place doesn’t just teach science — it lets you touch it, test it, and launch it across the room.

Walk a mini Mackinac Bridge. Tinker in interactive galleries. Push every button. Fly paper airplanes. (Yes, you’ll want to try them all.)

And it’s not just hype — in February 2024, USA Today ranked it the third-best science museum in the country.

Plan for a full day if you can. Three hours is the bare minimum — because once you’re in, you won’t want to leave.

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Michigan Science Center Galleries

Take your time exploring the 12 galleries inside of the Michigan Science Center.

  • Space Gallery: Universe exploration and space travel.
  • Smithsonian SparkLab: Interactive invention activities.
  • Kids Town: designed for ages 5 and under, tactile and pretend play
  • Motion Gallery: Classic physics experiments.
  • Math Mountain: Math challenges and concepts.
  • STEM Playground: Engineering and physics play.
  • Fun Factory: Closed for renovation as of March 2024.
  • Centennial Lab: Hands-on science activities.
  • Roads, Bridges, Tunnels: Engineering interactive displays.
  • Nano Gallery: Nanotechnology interactive exhibit.
  • Waves and Vibrations: Sound and light experiments.
  • Earth, Wind, Weather: Dig into what’s in the atmosphere.

Favorite Galleries

Your family will love every part of this amazing hands-on science museum.

Here’s just a few of our fav parts:

The STEM Playground

The STEM Playground is a highlight, where budding scientists and engineers get to explore flight, wind navigation, engineering, and building concepts.

Paper airplane testing is just one of the things we found ourselves doing over and over again.

 

STEM Playground at Michigan Science Center
STEM Playground

Motion, Light & Sound, Matter & Energy, Waves & Vibrations

Located on the bottom floor, get sparky with even more hands-on activities.

 

Electricity Exhibit
Electricity Exhibit

 

Michigan Science Center kids blowing fog
Kids blowing fog at the Michigan Science Center

More Bridges, Please!

The Roads, Bridges & Tunnels exhibit is a real treat.

 

Mackinac Bridge
Mackinac Bridge

Walking across the mini-Mackinac Bridge, marveling at a tunnel boring machine, and learning how cement works is downright fun at the Michigan Science Center.

Somehow, this place makes civil engineering very enticing.

Roads Bridge and Tunnels at Michigan Science Center
Roads, Bridges and Tunnels exhibit

Get Your Game On at Gamers Village

It’s a gamer’s paradise! Our favorite was the interactive space table that lets you create planets, stars, and even black holes. It shows you what happens when they come in contact with each other.

 

Gaming Station
Gaming Station

There are also some non-screen games like Buildzi and giant chess.

Michigan Science Center Gamer's Village
Non-Screen Games in Gamer's Village

Kids Town for the Younger Visitors

Kids Town is located on the lower level, and is designed for kids ages 5 and under.

We had fun playing in the giant water table, dancing and lounging in the movie/disco room, and engaging in all sorts of pretend play — everything from kitchens to play houses and ball pits to basketball hoops.

My boys could have spent the whole time in this area alone!

Michigan Science Center Kids Town
Kids Town

Theaters and Food

Theaters

  • Planetarium: Stargaze in style at this top-notch planetarium. Fly through a virtual cosmos on a three-story high, 50-foot wide dome, exploring over 9,000 stars, planets, and galaxies.
  • Toyota Engineering 4D Theater: Engage all of your senses as you watch a movie. It may rain or snow on you, and your seat will probably move during the show. Smells might be part of the experience, too.
  • IMAX: The Science Center is also home to Michigan’s only IMAX dome. Be wowed by one of the daily shows playing on the 70-foot-wide, five-story high screen.

Note: Planetarium shows and Toyota 4D Theatre, and IMAX Dome Theater all have scheduled showtimes on their website. Reserve these in advance to make sure you get your desired time slots and get the best rates.

Food

The Lunar Dining seating area on MiSci’s main floor also has a Farmer’s Fridge food kiosk. It’s like a vending machine, but rather than sugary treats, it’s filled with healthy meal options like fresh salads, sandwiches, bowls and snacks.

4D-Toyota-4D-Engineering-Theatre-Michigan-Science-Center
Catch a show at the 4D theater

If You Go

Location

The Michigan Science Center is located at 5020 John R St, Detroit, MI 48202.
It’s adjacent to the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Museum of African American History, three miles from downtown Detroit.

Tickets

General admission tickets start at $23 per person.

Admission is free with a membership to the Grand Rapids Public Museum or other ASTC Museum. Additional fees apply for the IMAX, Planetarium, and traveling exhibits.

Purchase Michigan Science Center tickets online or at the door.

Hours

Tuesday-Sunday: 10 AM – 4 PM
Check MiSci’s website for the most up-to-date schedule.

Pro Tips

Bring a lunch to enjoy in the dining area. Limited free street parking is available nearby.

What’s Your Favorite Thing to Do at the Michigan Science Center?

By the end of your visit, you’ll understand why a quick stop at the Michigan Science Center rarely stays quick. The same hands-on energy that pulls you in at the door — the buttons, bridges, rockets, and live demos — keeps you exploring long past your planned exit time.

Whether you stay three hours or spend the entire day, one thing’s certain: you won’t just learn science here — you’ll experience it. And that’s what makes this Detroit gem worth the trip every single time.

Michigan-Science-Center

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Hannah Austin

Hannah is a wife to her husband Chris and stay-at-home mom to their two boys. Among her favorite things are singing, pilates, opera, dabbling in knitting and hand embroidery, writing, spending time with her family, waffles, Jesus, and a good cup of tea. She loves Michigan with her whole heart and is proud to call it home!

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