The Science Museum of Minnesota is a not-for-profit organization located in St. Paul, Minnesota. It originally opened its doors in 1907, but not in its current location. The goal of the Science Museum of Minnesota is to educate the general population about different fields of science, such as anthropology, biology, and paleontology, while conducting research, and preserving and collecting additional specimens. There is an entry fee for guests visiting the museum, though discounts may be available for large groups, seniors, students, and museum members. The hands-on aspect of the Science Museum of Minnesota makes it a frequently visited destination by people of all ages.
Although there are several different permanent and traveling exhibits, the exhibits can be generally broken down into three areas of study: anthropology, biology, and paleontology. The anthropological area of study has been included in the museum since it opened in 1907. This includes artifacts showing the cultures of various groups of people, such as the American Indians and the Mayans. The biological area of study at the museum includes specimens from tens of thousands of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and insects. It also includes specimens from a wide range of plant and marine life.
Many people come to the Science Museum of Minnesota to visit the paleontology exhibits. The museum contains many fossils and several large dinosaur bone exhibits. Often, volunteer staff members give visitors the chance to become more deeply entrenched in the educational aspects of paleontology and other areas of study.
A large scale theater, called the Omnitheater, regularly features science-related shows. The shows change every few months. This allows the museum to entice a variety of guests to visit the museum and the theater.
There are typically opportunities for children and adults to take classes and attend lectures at the Science Museum of Minnesota as well. Some classes are geared for specific age groups, while other classes revolve around a particular topic and appeal to a wider range of ages. There are also opportunities for children who are homeschooled to delve deeper into the world of science at the museum through multi-day classes.
At the Science Museum of Minnesota, visitors will find several places to eat as well. There are also places to picnic outside the museum. The gift shop offers people the chance to find souvenirs, books, and other learning tools that are related to the exhibits at the museum. It also is possible to host birthday parties, corporate functions, or other events at the Science Museum of Minnesota. These functions also can be catered by an outside catering source to make the events quite chic.
