OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry)

The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) sits on the east bank of the Willamette River in Portland's Central Eastside district. It's one of the top science museums in the US, combining five exhibit halls, a planetarium, a large-format theater, and a Cold War-era submarine.

The USS Blueback submarine is OMSI's most unique feature. Moored in the Willamette River behind the museum, the last non-nuclear fast-attack submarine in the US Navy fleet (decommissioned 1990) is open for guided tours. Families squeeze through narrow hatches, peer through the periscope, stand in the torpedo room, and experience the cramped quarters where 85 crew members lived during deployments.

The submarine appeared in the film The Hunt for Red October.

The museum's five exhibit halls span earth science, life science, physics, technology, and early childhood. The Science Playground (ages 0-6) provides sensory play, water tables, and building activities scaled for toddlers and preschoolers. The physics labs offer hands-on experiments with electricity, magnetism, momentum, and light.

The earth science wing includes an earthquake simulator that recreates the shaking of a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake -- educational and relevant for Pacific Northwest residents.

The Kendall Planetarium uses a state-of-the-art digital projection dome for shows ranging from preschool-appropriate introductions to space to advanced astronomical programming. The large-format Empirical Theater shows science documentaries on a massive screen. Both require separate tickets.

OMSI regularly schedules lab activities where kids conduct real experiments. Chemistry labs, biology dissections, engineering challenges, and maker workshops go beyond passive exhibit viewing. Check the daily schedule on arrival for available lab sessions.

OMSI is Portland's premier rainy day destination for families. The museum is fully indoor (except the submarine), making it ideal for Portland's frequent rain. Closed Mondays. First Sunday of each month has $2 admission. Parking is $5 in the adjacent lot.