Science Center of Iowa
Science Center of Iowa
4
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
263 reviews
Excellent
110
Very good
96
Average
36
Poor
11
Terrible
10
Kendra K
Tonganoxie, KS81 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
My daughter is 13 and wanted to go here first on the vacation. She loved it. It does seem geared more toward younger kids but she still enjoyed it. The IMAX is closed but tge shows were good. We really enjoyed the one about fire.
Written 7 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hilary S
Overland Park, KS3 contributions
Jul 2022
We had a great experience at the Science Center of Iowa with our three young kids. Lots of activities and areas to explore. My son and husband are both big LEGO enthusiasts, so we really enjoyed that exhibit. Would definitely recommend if you are traveling to or through Des Moines.
Written 29 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Big D
Broken Arrow, OK100 contributions
Oct 2012 • Couples
We are members of a reciprocal museum, so our visit was free, otherwise, we would have been upset because this place is pretty pricey. The museum feels empty, the exhibits just weren't that engaging, we learned some interesting things from the movie on early space flight and did some of the "hands on" activities geared at children. The employees or volunteers were pleasant and informative and invited us to do the childrens activites. If someone said, "I've got one day in Des Moines, any suggestions?" This wouldn't be one of them.
Written 31 October 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pam G
Dartmouth, MA216 contributions
Jun 2015 • Couples
My husband and I drove 2 hours to check this place out and spend some time in Des Moines and boy was I disappointed. We went without kids and there wasn't much to see. Even if I had kids, I don't think we would have spent that much longer there. The place is pretty big, but nothing there. We probably were there for a total of 45 minutes and that includes 2 bathroom stops and the gift shop. If your in the area and your kids need something to do...maybe...otherwise I wouldn't go back and wouldn't recommend it to anyone traveling in that area.
Written 25 June 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sean M
Chandler, AZ25 contributions
Jun 2015 • Family
Not worth visiting, unless you have small children. Everything is broken! There are no attractions that amuses the adult or older teens. Everything is for small children. They need to learn from the pro science centers like Phoenix. Place should be renamed as Des Moines Small Children Science Center.
Written 20 June 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephen C
Ottumwa, IA3 contributions
Feb 2014 • Couples
This is for elementary school children. They don't tell you that. They just take your $11 and hand you a map. There is little to interest adults. I see no reason for an adult to visit unless it is with family or as a chaperone for school events. There is nothing of museum quality in the entire place, just "play and learn" stations for kids. That's all.
Written 28 February 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ileen E
86 contributions
Sept 2011 • Couples
I really enjoy science, and used to have extraordinary respect for The Science Cent4er of Iowa until they hosted Gunther von Hagen's plastination exhibit. I thought, from the TV advertisements, that my husband and I were going to see completely plastic works of art to look like the human body. It turned out to be actual cadavers whose actual skin was removed by a process devised by von Hagen and whose "permission" was supposedly granted by the people beforehand, supposedly whey "donated their bodies to science". I do not believe that all those people in the exhibit really knew what was going to happen to them, and whimsically at that, with poses that were often erotic and jolly, s when one would dance in a wide leap through the air.and another had a cowboy hat on his head. Genitalia was in full view. I was mortified. I asked the person on the way out where they kept the "permissions" or if anyone at the Science Center viewed such "permissions" and he did not know.He was there to sell items and books that went to von Hagen. I went online when I returned home and looked up this von Hagen and what else he did, and learned that in Europe he had exhibits with cadavers in sexual acts. I called the Science center and spoke to two people, who promised that if I wrote out my feelings and true reactions to the exhibit, that the people in charge of deciding on such things would get it. I wrote the letter and sent a copy to The Des Moines Register. Neither the newspaper not the Science Center responded to me. In most, if not all religions in the world, reverence for the dead is a universal good. I have lost respect for the Science Center of Iowa and it is a shame, because they offer so many other interesting and wholesomely educational exhibits. There is a cafe for a light meal or dessert, lovely gift shop and an IMAX theater with several choices of films. I'll probably go back for other exhibits,especially since I have grandchildren who love to go there, but I am personally disgusted with what they did.This review is about this particular case in particular and I hope they do not ever repeat it. I have not returned since.
Written 11 August 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KCZAQT
Iowa City, IA44 contributions
Sept 2019
This science center is definitely geared towards kids 3-9 years old and they do great with that audience. The exhibits are interactive and the topics covered have decent variety, but save for one or two exhibits they don't change much.
Not great for older kids or adults. They do a mixology night for the 21+ crowd that is fun but most of it centers around booze and not science.
The WHO weather people have a station there which is an awesome experience for everyone.
Not great for older kids or adults. They do a mixology night for the 21+ crowd that is fun but most of it centers around booze and not science.
The WHO weather people have a station there which is an awesome experience for everyone.
Written 4 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James F
36 contributions
Dec 2018 • Business
The Science Center of Iowa is well worth your time to visit. It has great exhibits that change regularly. Impressive.
Written 3 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sandra C
Afton, United States2 contributions
Nov 2017 • Family
The children's rooms were very fun for my 3-yr old grandson. We took him there to see the dinosaurs, but was more interested in the fruits and vegetable play area and the giant bubbles.
Written 13 November 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are taking 8 kids, ages 3-16. How much time would you recommend? Did you eat lunch there?
Written 1 March 2018
I would not eat lunch there, I would walk to the spaghetti works which is about a block away. I figure about two hours per visit, unless you’re adding a movie then maybe three hours.
Written 29 April 2018
The cost is $12 for adults, $8 for kids 2-12, and $8 for seniors.
There is an additional cost to see the IMAX movies, but we were very busy and entertained by all of the included events, shows, and regular science movies, without seeing any IMAX ones. Have a great time!
Written 4 December 2016
How many hours would you recommend for a visit if we don't watch any IMAX movies?
Written 31 May 2016
We have spent an entire day there. There are plenty of things to keep you busy there.
3-5 hours would be more than enough time to do the egg drop, play in the water ways, make and shoot your rocket or see one of the live interactive presentations.
Written 31 May 2016
What is the name of the Omaha science center? Is it part of the Children's Museum? Thanks.
Written 20 June 2015
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