A Day Trip to Kentucky Science Center

We recently spent the day at the Kentucky Science Center in Louisville, Kentucky with our 7 and 2.5 year old girls. We all had a fabulous day of educational family fun! Read on for all the details about the Kentucky Science Center and tips for planning your own visit! Find other fun things to do in Louisville here.

Exhibits at the Kentucky Science Center

The fun starts right away when you enter the museum lobby. You can put yourself inside a giant bubble, or climb on a colorful play structure just steps from the entrance. From there, the Science in Play exhibit on the first floor contains an area for color and light play which includes a gigantic Lite Brite. This section also has the super popular water table!

The World We Create was one of our favorite exhibits. It allows visitors to learn about science by building, testing and experimenting. You can test bridge designs, race a ball through a maze, experience the mechanics of a real crane, and build a self-supporting arch (my husband and I were even more into this than our kids! haha!)

The Uniquely Human exhibit is Kentucky Science Center’s newest exhibit. When we visited, it was still under construction. It tackles three different themes – Thinking, Feeling and Identity to attempt to provide a broader and more inclusive view of humanity and the human experience.

Who Forted? is another new exhibit where we probably spent the most time during our visit. The exhibit is stocked with tons of blankets, cushions, furniture items, and other repurposed items that are there for your inspiration as you participate in that favorite childhood activity – building a fort! The whole family can join in to use the various materials to build an amazing fort – the only limit is your imagination!

There are many other exhibits available. Check out the current exhibit line-up here.

The MakerPlace

On the second floor of the museum, an area called the MakerPlace allows children to explore science, technology, engineering, art and math through tinkering, discovery and problem-solving. Children and families will work together on a unique creation with the help of museum staff. These activities are designed for children ages 8 and up with adult supervision. Examples of possible MakerPlace activities include soldering, circuitry, textile crafts, leatherwork and much more!

In addition to daily activities which are available in the MakerPlace, the museum also hosts MakerPlace workshops where children are able to dive deeper into a specific skill or topic. The workshops require special registration and are generally an hour or two long and often include a take-home element. Check out upcoming MakerPlace Workshops here

The Movie Theatre at the Kentucky Science Center

During your visit to the Science Center, you’ll definitely want to check out the shows that they are screening in their movie theatre. The theatre is the only 4-story, precision white screen, 3D theater in Kentucky. They show both Hollywood films and documentaries that are appropriate for visitors of all ages. Click here to see the current films and showtimes.

Tips for Visiting the Kentucky Science Center with Kids

Strollers
The Kentucky Science center is very stroller friendly. The walkways are generally wide and most of the exhibits have a good deal of space, so maneuvering through the museum with a stroller isn’t difficult at all.

Breastfeeding
Nursing moms are welcome to breastfeed in any public area. For those who prefer a bit more privacy, there’s a “Nursing Nook” in the Science In Play zone on floor 1.

Changing Tables
Changing tables are available in both men’s and women’s restrooms on floors 1-3. Family restrooms are also available on the 1st and 3rd floor.

Special Needs
The Kentucky Science Center offers special programing for children with special needs. Their No Limits Family Nights are sensory-friendly evenings that occur after the museum’s operating hours. The gift store also has sensory bags available with items to help museum visitors who may feel overwhelmed.

Kentucky Science Center Hours

The museum is open daily, 7 days a week from 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Kentucky Science Center Tickets and Memberships

As of January 2022, the price to visit the museum exhibits are $13 for ages 2-12 and $17 for ages 13 and over. Under 2s are free. Movies are priced at $8 for documentaries and $10 for Hollywood films. There is a slight discount for combo tickets that combine a movie and entrance to the exhibits. Purchasing tickets in advance is not required, but is recommended to avoid check-in lines. Purchase tickets online here.

If you become a member of the museum, you can save big by getting free entrance to the exhibits as well as discounts on movie tickets. Memberships start at $109 for a family (2 adults and up to 4 children). A combo membership called the Family Dual is available that includes memberships to both the Kentucky Science Center and the Louisville Zoo – what a bargain for a whole year of family fun! Click here for more details on museum membership.

One of the best features of our Kentucky Science Center membership is that you can also get free admission to more than 350 museums and science centers throughout the world through the ASTC Passport program.

Some other pics from our fun day at the museum: