Science Museum of Minnesota Review: One of the Best Family Attractions in St. Paul

When my wife and I planned a Labor Day weekend getaway to Minneapolis, there was one attraction just across the river in St. Paul that we knew we wanted to visit. The Science Museum of Minnesota had long been on our radar thanks to its reputation for hands-on exhibits, live demonstrations, and family-friendly activities.

Although we were visiting without our kids (ages 15-23), it didn’t take long to realize why families can easily spend an entire day here. Everywhere we looked, kids were building, experimenting, competing, exploring, and discovering. Unlike some museums where the experience revolves around reading information panels, the Science Museum of Minnesota encourages guests to become active participants in the learning process.

After spending a few hours exploring the museum, I came away impressed not only by the exhibits but also by the way the museum manages to make science genuinely fun.

Disclosure: The Science Museum of Minnesota provided complimentary admission tickets for my wife and me, including a theater experience. As always, all opinions are my own.

More Than Just Another Science Museum

Over the years, I’ve visited several science museums, including the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, and the Museum of Science in Boston. While the Science Museum of Minnesota shares some similarities with those attractions, it quickly established its own personality.

The museum’s greatest strength isn’t necessarily its collections. Instead, it’s the way visitors interact with those collections and the scientific concepts behind them.

Nearly every floor seemed to offer opportunities to engage directly with what we were learning. Rather than simply reading about principles of motion, electricity, weather, or biology, visitors are invited to experiment with them firsthand. That interactive approach makes the museum appealing for children, teenagers, and adults who may not normally consider themselves science enthusiasts.

In many ways, the museum succeeds because it transforms science from something you observe into something you experience.

The Scavenger Hunt Was an Unexpected Highlight

If you only take one piece of advice from this review, let it be this:

Don’t skip the scavenger hunt. Especially if you have kids with you.

What initially sounded like a simple activity ended up becoming my wife’s favorite part of the entire museum.

The process begins by accepting a mission at a kiosk computer. Once you’ve received your instructions, you’re sent off to various locations throughout the museum to solve clues and answer questions. Correct answers unlock the next challenge, while wrong answers send you back to investigate further.

What I appreciated most was how naturally the scavenger hunt guided us through the entire museum. Within a short amount of time, we had explored areas we might have overlooked and became familiar with the museum’s layout. Because we completed the hunt near the beginning of our visit, we knew exactly which exhibits we wanted to revisit later.

The scavenger hunt also added a sense of purpose to our day. Instead of wandering aimlessly from exhibit to exhibit, we always had a goal to accomplish and another clue waiting around the corner. That’s something my wife needs when we visit a museum – a guided purpose.

Completing the missions earns participants a small prize. I won’t spoil the surprise, but it was a fun bonus and a nice reward for finishing the challenge.

Families visiting with children should absolutely make time for this activity. Not only is it entertaining, but it’s also one of the best ways to see the museum.

Hands-On Exhibits Steal the Show

While the museum features plenty of traditional displays, the interactive exhibits are where the Science Museum of Minnesota truly shines.

One area challenged visitors to test their athletic abilities. My wife and I found ourselves participating in a ball-throwing competition and a vertical jump challenge as we compared our results with other guests. Nearby exhibits explored various aspects of human health and performance, creating opportunities to learn through direct participation.

As someone who lives with atrial fibrillation, I was particularly drawn to exhibits involving heart rhythms and the body’s electrical systems. It’s always fascinating to see complex medical concepts transformed into experiences that visitors can see, hear, and – more importantly – understand.

Throughout the museum, I noticed the same pattern repeating itself. Whenever children (and even teens) encountered an exhibit, they weren’t simply standing in front of it. They were touching buttons, solving problems, conducting experiments, or interacting with the display in some meaningful way. That level of engagement helps explain why the museum remains such a popular destination for families.

RELATED TRAVEL ARTICLE: Visit the Bakken Museum in Minneapolis

The Giant Astronaut Practically Demands a Photo

I’ll admit I’m a little biased when it comes to anything space-related. After all, Carltonaut is a combination of Carlton (my last name) and astronaut.

Naturally, one of the first exhibits that caught my attention was the enormous astronaut towering over visitors inside the museum. Standing several stories tall, it’s impossible to miss and serves as one of the museum’s most recognizable landmarks.

As soon as I saw it, I knew I needed a photo.

For me, that astronaut became one of the defining images of our visit. It perfectly captures the museum’s ability to inspire curiosity and imagination before you’ve even had a chance to explore the exhibits around it.

We Had More Fun Than Expected on the Musical Stairs

Some of the museum’s best moments came from exhibits we never expected to spend much time enjoying. For us, that was the musical staircase.

After seeing how it worked, my wife and I couldn’t resist trying to recreate the famous piano scene from the movie Big with Tom Hanks. Our ambitious goal was to perform “Heart and Soul.”

The results were… mixed.

Let’s just say Tom Hanks has nothing to worry about.

Still, we spent several minutes laughing, experimenting, and trying again. Those moments may not have been the most educational part of our visit, but they were certainly among the most memorable. They also reinforced what makes the museum so enjoyable. Learning happens naturally when visitors are allowed to play, experiment, and explore.

Live Demonstrations Keep the Museum Feeling Fresh

One of the biggest advantages of visiting the Science Museum of Minnesota is that the experience goes beyond the permanent exhibits.

During our visit, we attended a weather-focused science demonstration held in the museum’s auditorium. The presentation featured fire, wind, electricity, and even a Tesla coil demonstration. While I found the program interesting, I will admit that I was expecting a little more spectacle based on similar shows I’ve seen at other science museums. The educational content was solid, but the performance itself felt somewhat restrained.

Even so, I was glad we attended.

Elsewhere in the museum, we encountered demonstrations happening throughout the day in the main atrium. At one point, a dinosaur handler was interacting with children while families gathered around to watch. Later, another demonstration explored physics and gravity by dropping objects several stories from above.

Those unplanned moments added energy to the museum and gave visitors a reason to pause and watch science in action.

We also noticed several activity stations staffed by knowledgeable team members who were helping children build, experiment, and learn through guided activities. My wife and I chose to continue exploring other exhibits, but parents visiting with younger children should absolutely make time for these stations. They appeared to be among the most engaging experiences available.

My Omnitheater Experience Didn’t Go Exactly as Planned

Our tickets included admission to one of the museum’s dome theater presentations, and I was particularly interested in the space-themed program.

Unfortunately, I discovered something about myself during the show.

If you place me in a comfortable reclined seat inside a dark theater, surround me with soothing narration and relaxing music, and ask me to sit still for an extended period of time, there’s a very good chance I’m going to fall asleep.

That’s exactly what happened.

To be fair, the children around me appeared more engaged, and the presenter did an excellent job keeping younger audience members interested. The problem wasn’t the show. The problem was me.

Looking back, I suspect I would have enjoyed one of the documentary-style films more than the live presentation. Still, the theater remains a major attraction at the museum and is worth considering when planning your visit.

How Long Should You Plan to Spend Here?

My wife and I spent about four hours exploring the museum, but I wouldn’t consider that enough time to experience everything it has to offer.

If your goal is simply to see the highlights, 3-4 hours may be sufficient. However, visitors who want the full experience should plan closer to six hours – or multiple visits. Families with younger children could easily spend an entire day moving between exhibits, demonstrations, activity stations, theater presentations, and dining areas.

Between the scavenger hunt, live performances, interactive exhibits, and opportunities for hands-on discovery, there is far more here than can comfortably be experienced in a quick visit.

In fact, I can easily understand how some families spend six hours or more at the museum.

Getting to the Museum

During our Minneapolis getaway, we stayed downtown and used Uber to travel to the Science Museum of Minnesota. The ride took roughly 15 minutes and was significantly faster than using public transportation.

While public transit is certainly an option, the convenience of rideshare service made it an easy choice for us.

Visitors staying in downtown Minneapolis will find the museum close enough for a quick trip while still feeling like a worthwhile destination outside the city center.

Where to Stay in Minneapolis

If you’re planning to explore attractions throughout both Minneapolis and St. Paul, staying in downtown Minneapolis provides convenient access to the entire Twin Cities area.

Rand Tower Hotel

Rand Tower blends historic architecture with modern comforts in the heart of downtown Minneapolis. Its central location makes it an excellent home base for exploring many of the area’s top attractions.

Courtyard Minneapolis Downtown

The Courtyard Minneapolis Downtown offers comfortable accommodations with convenient access to major roads, restaurants, and public transportation options throughout the Twin Cities.

Sheraton Minneapolis Downtown Convention Center

Located near the Minneapolis Convention Center, the Sheraton provides a convenient downtown location for visitors who want easy access to attractions in both Minneapolis and neighboring St. Paul.

Is the Science Museum of Minnesota Worth Visiting?

Absolutely.

While the museum certainly offers interesting displays and collections, its real strength lies in the way it encourages visitors to engage with science rather than simply observe it. The scavenger hunt, interactive exhibits, live demonstrations, activity stations, and hands-on challenges create an experience that feels far more immersive than a traditional museum visit.

Although my wife and I visited during a couples getaway, we repeatedly found ourselves thinking about how much our children would have enjoyed this place when they were younger.

If you’re looking for family-friendly things to do in Minneapolis or St. Paul, the Science Museum of Minnesota deserves a spot near the top of your list. It’s educational without feeling overly academic, entertaining without feeling gimmicky, and interactive enough to keep visitors of all ages engaged from beginning to end.

PIN THIS