Science City

Science City

30 W. Pershing Rd.Kansas City, MO 64108816.460.2020Hours of Operation: Tues.-Thu., 9:30-4:00; Fri.-Sat., 9:30-5:00; Sun., 11:00-5:00

Admission: $10 (ages 3 and up). 2 and under are free.

Hot Tips:

• Purchase tickets online. Combination tickets are available for the planetarium & other attractions.
• Consider a Union Station membership, which provides discounts on Science City admission and much more.
• A four-level parking garage sits adjacent to Union Station with ample parking (the first 30 minutes are free, and rates run $1/hour on the half-hour)
• Science City is appropriate for kids of all ages (and those who are simply kids at heart!). Exhibits include age-appropriate activities for even the youngest members of your posse in the Tot Lot & Kinderlab.
• Train enthusiasts, rejoice! Science City admission grants you entry to the KC Rail Experience exhibit.
• Register for one of the Science City summer camps—each week has a different theme!

Before You Go:

Science City has been named one of the nation’s top 25 best science centers—and with good reason! This local marvel allows you and your child to explore, discover and create throughout its 50+ varied hands-on stations. Head over to both Science City and Union Station’s websites to plan your excursion; both sites offer events pages to inform you of upcoming special activities and programs taking place. Consider registering online for an upcoming Saturday Family Workshop, an additional program where Science City educators instruct groups privately, allowing science to come to life in a whole new way (workshops have an additional fee).

While You’re There:

Should children really be seen and not heard? Not at Science City! In fact, patrons are encouraged to discover through hands-on play, music and activity. Dig for dinosaur fossils at the digsite and then check in with professional paleontologists at the Dinolab. Tinker away in the Music Lab, and put your senses to the test with more than 21 illusions inside the Mr. E Hotel. Be sure to check out the newest exhibit—and winner of the Battle of the Brain competition—the Science of Energy, which showcases eight different displays highlighting wind, solar and human energy.

After You’ve Gone:

Science City isn’t the only attraction to call Union Station home. There are also three theaters within Union Station’s walls, providing audiences of all ages the opportunity to experience both live shows and media presentations. The Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium provides four different shows to learn more about stars, constellations, black holes and outer space. The Theatre for Young America brings talent to the stage through its upcoming productions of literary classics, and the 5-story-tall Extreme Screen Theater showcases current movie hits in both 2D and 3D. After a day of educational fun, sit back, relax and let the show begin!

Lauren Greenlee first visited Science City during its opening year as a student. She now has the privilege of capturing the wonder through the eyes of her two children who love Science City just as much as she does. She writes from her home in Olathe.