Maybe you’ve already visited the Museum of Science, Boston, New York Botanical Garden, Intrepid, American Museum of Natural History, and New York Hall of Science, and you’re gunning for more. Or maybe the eastern seaboard isn’t your jam. In this edition of the Great American STEM Road Trip, we’re honing in on the best STEM spots in the Midwest, from western PA to Colorado, with stops in Chicago, Iowa and Nebraska.
Carnegie Science Center, Pittsburgh, PA
DaVinci The Exhibition, Carnegie Science Center. Image courtesy of Carnegie Science Center.
What makes the Science Center so special?
One of Pittsburgh’s most popular museums for good reason, the Carnegie Science Center hosts dozens of inspiring exhibits and is home to the Rangos Giant Cinema and Buhl Planetarium. Situated in the shadow of Heinze Field, the home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Carnegie Science Center also features beautiful views of downtown Pittsburgh, the rivers and the iconic yellow bridges.
What’s an exhibit people should come see this summer?
All summer long, Da Vinci: The Exhibition explores the innovations of Leonardo da Vinci through more than 60 life-size inventions and 20 recreations of his famous paintings and anatomy sketches. Kid-friendly activity tables encourage creative play and inspire visitors to make their own work of art, build a wooden tower, craft a flying machine, and so much more.
Are there any special free opportunities this summer?
As always, members of the military and veterans get half-price general admission for themselves (and active duty military get half-price for up to three others). Preschool–12th grade teachers from many states also receive free general admission.
At 100Kin10, we’re lucky to have a Pittsburgh native (and #1 fan) on our team. Here’s Julie Paturzo’s not-to-miss list: Grab a massive sandwich (with fries and cole slaw on the sandwich) at the Primanti’s in Market Square, a 25-minute-walk from Carnegie Science Center. Take the Monongahela Incline, a funicular built in 1869, to catch panoramic views of Pittsburgh from Mount Washington. Get your thrills at Kennywood Park and make sure to ride one of three single-track racing roller coasters still in existence in the world. (You’ll need to hop back in the car for this one, about a thirty minute drive from the Science Center). If you’re lucky enough to catch a home game, root for the Pirates at PNC Park and be sure to catch the Pittsburgh Pierogi Race in between the 5th and 6th innings.
It’s a seven-hour drive to our next destination, but it’s worth it once you get to the biggest science museum in the entire Western Hemisphere . . .
Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, IL
What makes the Museum of Science and Industry (MSI) so special?
Watching high-voltage lightning as you sit below a large Tesla coil, walking into a commercial airplane (without going through security), and maneuvering through the only German submarine on American soil: only a few of the reasons to visit MSI. The museum has designed itself around sparking curiosity and making sure that everyone feels included. It’s no surprise that MSI has been the top field-trip destination in Illinois for the past 10 years.
Makers United Exhibit. Image courtesy of Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, IL
What’s an exhibit people should come see this summer?
MSI has two new experiences available this summer: Wired to Wear™ and Makers United. Wired to Wear is dedicated to the future of wearable technology, and Makers United gives visitors hands-on opportunities to build circuits and fabricate materials to make their own LED band to take home.
Is there anything free that happens during the summer?
MSI’s annual Summer Brain Games program encourages kids to discover science at home with easy, hands-on experiments designed to fight the “summer brain drain.” This year, Summer Brain Games invites participants to play with science by making toys – experiencing gravity with balancing birds, making instruments to learn about sound vibrations, building a kite to understand what makes it fly, and more.
Bonus Stop: NASA Apollo 50 Events
It might only be three turns, but it’s a long 15 hours on I-80 to get from Chicago to Boulder. You might need a stop (beyond these roadside chow recs). Luckily, there couldn’t be a better year for this trip, because the country is dotted with NASA celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing. Whether your kids are tearing each other’s hair out in Des Moines, IA, or Omaha or Lincoln, NE (let’s be honest – it’s going to happen somewhere), you can find an out-of-this-world event to join on this comprehensive map. One small detour for you, one giant leap for all the passengers in your car.
The 1969 moon landing, National Geographic
Having avoided fratricide and been reminded of how magical it once seemed to look down on earth from the sky, take a little sliver of the Overview Effect and head to our final stop . . .
Fiske Planetarium, Boulder, CO
Fiske Planetarium at the University of Colorado
What makes Fiske Planetarium so special?
Located on the beautiful University of Colorado, Boulder, campus, Fiske Planetarium provides a range of experiences designed to engage and inspire visitors of all ages. With a 65-foot diameter, the planetarium’s dome is one of the largest in the country.
What’s an exhibit people should come see this summer?
Visitors can explore the planetarium’s new Solar Arcade exhibit. Constructed this past semester by CU students in collaboration with the National Solar Observatory, kids and grown-ups alike can “walk on the Sun” under simulated coronal loops of hot plasma trapped by solar magnetic fields.
What else should people look for?
Visitors can enjoy a host of data visualizations using the planetarium’s Science On a Sphere, an exhibit developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. And be sure to check the schedule for concerts, FullDome film and star shows, laser and liquid sky shows, and special events at the planetarium.
Is there anything free that happens during the summer?
Throughout July, Fiske Planetarium is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing – and looking forward to the next great leaps in humanity’s exploration of space – with a series of talks, educational programs, musical performances, and more. On July 20, the planetarium will also offer free STEM Labs.
Tune in tomorrow as we head south for grits, bbq, and a bonanza of lunar-landing celebrations.
