Visiting Science City at Union Station

Science City at Union Station (30 W. Pershing Rd., Kansas City, MO, 816.460.2000) is a favorite place to spend a day as a family. Kansas City’s largest, most interactive science museum offers something for visitors of all ages. Little ones especially love three experiential, hands-on exhibitions: Let’s Play! is designed especially for babies, crawlers, and toddlers with multiple sensory and role-playing activities, Creative Corner is where art meets science in a whole new way with cool interactive activities, and All Aboard celebrates Union Station’s rail history, allowing families to discover how steam engines work as they play and explore throughout the exhibit that encourages problem-solving and creativity. Kids also love the classic exhibits that include dinosaurs, water, DNA, the human brain, energy, and more.

We typically spend a half-whole day exploring the museum and find that memberships make a great gift! With an annual membership you're able to visit all year long and passes are reciprocal with other science and children's museums across the country - making it a great way to save money when you travel!

Below you'll find an overview of some of our favorite exhibits and experiences at Science City.

Amazing Brain

Amazing Brain is one of the newest exhibits at the museum. The colorful exhibit is engaging and thought-provoking as it asks visitors to participate in experiments testing their balance, reaction time, sense of smell, strength, integrity, relaxation, and more. Each activity is designed to help kids better understand how the brain works and how to make it stronger and more efficient.

Mr E Hotel

The Mister E Hotel exhibit is a fan-favorite as guests explore twenty-one optical illusions and puzzles. As you explore the exhibit, you'll learn the secret behind the magic of the various illusions. 

Step Right Up

This carnival game-themed exhibit encourages kids to test their skills and learn the physics behind classic games.  Kids play basketball, roller bowler, skeeball, and more in this fun exhibit. 

Science of Energy

Kids burn off energy and learn how they can use their own bodies to generate energy in the exhibit "Unplugged: Science of Energy." Kids run on HUGE Power Wheel, peddle bicycle generators, hand crank an electric generator, and learn about multiple real-world power sources. Most of all they harness their human energy converting it to electricity.

SkyBike

Science City's famous Sky Bike is suspended on a high-wire 30 feet above the ground. Loaded with 450 lbs. of bricks, the rider's center of gravity is lowered and it is easier to balance and ride across the high wire. This exhibit offers both lessons in gravity and courage!

Let's Play

Let's Play is specially designed for the youngest children to discover and practice some of the foundational elements of child development and early learning.

Nature Works

Nature Works is home to a variety of animals. Staff members are always on hand to help guests learn about the fun creatures that reside at Science City.

All Aboard

Rail fans LOVE Science City's "All Aboard!" Housed in Union Station, Kansas City's rail hub, it's only fitting that an exhibit would celebrate the technology of trains and railroads. With great hands-on exhibits and model train layouts, kids have fun while learning in this exhibit. Hop in the cab of a 1920s Steam Locomotive, pretend you're a passenger aboard the train as you explore the sleeper and dining cars, and learn the history of rail transportation. 

Dig Site and Dino Lab

The Dino Dig Site has been a life-long favorite for my girls. They love uncovering fossil remains in this play space. The exhibit also features real dinosaur fossils and information.

Every Last Drop

Every Last Drop is another visitor favorite. The dynamic water table allows kids to learn more about the power of water. The exhibit covers the scientific properties of water, how we use water, and why we should conserve it.

Science on a Sphere

Science on a Sphere presents a visual perspective of Earth and other objects in our solar system projecting animated images on the interior of the giant sphere.

Genetics: Unlock the Code

This is one of the most elaborate exhibits at Science City with twenty-two interactive experiences helping students understand how genetics make each person unique.

More Interactive Exhibits in Every Corner

There are interactive experiences in every corner at Science City. Kids love hands-on experiments taught by museum staff members, exploring the Maker Lab, and the various learning opportunities available.

Gottlieb Planetarium

In addition to Science City, we love programs presented at the Gottlieb Planetarium. Live presenters take guests on an engaging journey as they learn about the night sky. The show changes seasonally with each presentation beginning with a guide to what you'll see in the sky "tonight." So, a summer visit to the planetarium is a different presentation than a winter visit and so on. The view is spectacular and we always learn something new at at planetarium show.

These are just a few reasons we love visiting Science City at Union Station! This interactive museum is wonderful for kids of all ages making it one of our top picks in Kansas City year-round.

Discover more fun attractions to visit nearby in our Guide to the Crown Center / Union Station district.