There is a huge difference between a science museum and a discovery museum or center. Growing up, my family went to museums. My husband, Rob, hadn’t. His family voted ‘no’ when his dad suggested touring a museum or history museum, monument, and the like. After high school, I spent a year outside Paris; the Louvre used to be free first Sundays. love any museum! As a kid, I especially liked science or natural history museums, such as the Franklin Institute; the Institute’s Admission prices for tickets are too costly for many families.
What are high quality museums? Naturally, the Smithsonian museums rank high and the museums in Washington D.C. are free. (Smithsonian Affiliate Museums generally are not free, unless they have a Reciprocal Membership with a Smithsonian Membership (pricey).) The National Zoo (free) partners with the Conservation Biology Institute, which is in Front Royal, Virginia (tiered prices—all high). The Institute accepts Volunteers. (In another life, the director from the Institute (formerly the CRC) had his kids at the school where I taught. I took part in several, teacher programs. The tours at the Institute are limited; much of the facility is off-limits.)
While I like just about any museum, I’m not wild about Discovery museums for younger kiddos. One summer, one day a week, I volunteered as a docent for the local Discovery Museum in Winchester. The museum did not need a docent. I either cleaned up messes or monitored kiddos in the ‘take-apart’ lab space. Since I had made a commitment, I stuck it out all summer. Before volunteering for the Discover Museum, I had never taken my own kiddos to one. For me these museums tend to be a ‘free-for-all’, not a science experience. Instead, I look for science museums, especially those with science experiments or experiences. Let me share a few great museums.
1. The Smithsonian National Museum of American History has the Spark!Lab in the museum’s basement. Like the Smithsonian museums in Washington D.C., the lab is free. Are the experiments fabulous? Nope. However, they are usually enough fun for younger kiddos, who need a bit of a break.
2. Be sure to tour the National Museum of Natural History, next door. Across the Mall is the National Air and Space Museum; the other Air and Space Museum, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is outside D.C., near Dulles airport.
3. The National Building Museum, The Arts and Industries Museum, and of course the National Zoo are also in D.C. We toured the Spy Museum in D.C. once. Frankly, we found the tickets to be overpriced and the experience underwhelming. As avid zoo visitors, the National Zoo always feels more like a lecture than a fun experience seeing animals. However, the Building Museum and Air and Industries Museum (reopening in June) are both winners.
4. Richmond Virginia has a Discovery Museum, Children’s Museum of Richmond and The Science Museum of Virginia. No, we haven’t tried the Children’s Museum; we love the Science Museum of Virginia. Below is a screenshot of one day’s schedule. Please note Rat Basketball. Absolutely fabulous! Rob, as a Physics teacher likes the Speed Exhibit. The Museum often has hands-on workshops for kiddos. Tickets aren’t cheap. Here is a Reddit post about ways to reduce costs.
5. Near Quantico is the National Museum of the Marine Corps, a free museum. Look over the events page. While the museum is dedicated to the Marines, they do host science events, from time to time, such as the events below.
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