Museum of Science

The Museum of Science in Boston is one of the premier science museums in the United States, and it earns that reputation with 700+ interactive exhibits, live presentations that genuinely thrill, and a Discovery Center for young children that's worth the admission price on its own.

The Theater of Electricity houses the world's largest air-insulated Van de Graaff generator, and the live demonstrations produce real lightning bolts that arc across the room with thunderous cracks. It's educational (you learn about static electricity, conductors, and Faraday cages) but it's also viscerally thrilling. The daily schedule posts presentation times — plan your visit around one.

The exhibit halls cover everything from dinosaurs to space exploration to human biology to engineering. The Hall of Human Life lets kids test their own reflexes, balance, and perception. The Engineering Design Workshop challenges kids to build structures and test them.

The dinosaur and fossil gallery has full-size replicas and real fossils. The butterfly garden (seasonal, extra fee) lets you walk among free-flying butterflies.

The Discovery Center on the lower level is a protected play space for ages 0-8. Water tables, building blocks, nature exploration, and hands-on science activities are scaled for small hands. It's calm, contained, and staffed — parents can relax while kids explore.

The museum sits on a dam spanning the Charles River, connected to both Boston and Cambridge. The Green Line Science Park station is at the front door. Parking is available in the museum garage ($20+) but transit is recommended. The museum is large enough for multiple visits — membership pays for itself quickly and includes reciprocal admission at other science museums.