Museum of Science

The Museum of Science, at 1 Science Park in Boston's West End, Massachusetts, sits on a dam across the Charles River and is one of the largest science museums in the United States. It holds more than 700 interactive exhibits across themes such as the human body, space, technology, natural history and engineering. Highlights include the Theater of Electricity, which houses one of the world's largest air-insulated Van de Graaff generators and delivers indoor lightning shows several times a day, the Thomson Wing's live animal and butterfly exhibits, a full-size Triceratops skeleton and the Hayden Planetarium-style Charles Hayden Planetarium for star shows. The museum also has a 3D theater and an Omni-style dome theater for large-format films, which carry separate fees. General admission is about $35 to $40 per adult and $30 to $35 per child, and the museum is typically open daily from 9am to 5pm. A visit takes three to four hours, and families often spend a full day. Good vantage points include the entrance hall with views over the river and the Boston skyline, and the long walkway along the Charles River Dam outside. Crowds are heaviest on weekends, school holidays and rainy days, when queues form for the planetarium and live shows. Weekday mornings are calmer. The museum is reached via the Green or Orange Line to Science Park/West End, and it is a short walk from TD Garden and the Charles River Esplanade. Visitors planning to see several special shows should reserve tickets in advance, and checking the daily show schedule at the entrance helps arrange the day.