Arizona Science Center

At the Arizona Science Center, you can explore advances in technology and media, experience how electricity works and see how magnetism and gravity play a role in everyday life.

You can peruse an art gallery or learn  what it takes to build a house  — from the foundation up. If you need to exercise your body as well as your mind, you can try the rock-climbing wall.

Whatever your interests, the Arizona Science Center will foster your curiosity. It brings out the science geek in everyone!

Formerly known as the Arizona Museum of Science & Technology, the Arizona Science Center opened its doors to the public in 1984 as a 10,000-square-foot exhibit area in the parking garage level of the downtown Phoenix Hyatt.

After an enthusiastic public response, work began on a new multi-million-dollar center that opened in 1997, followed by a 2004 expansion — and a continuing series of additions and improvements.

Today's center includes  the new Dorrance Planetarium — making it  the first science center in the world with a state-of-the-art NanoSeam dome, where flush seams with no overlapping panels or exposed rivets provides a more realistic nighttime sky.

There's also a bigger-than-life, five-story IMAX theater, and an array of permanent exhibits, along with more than 300 hands-on activities in five themed galleries, where you can explore the interworking of the human body, mind, health and exercise.

• Watch a real cow eyeball dissection and learn about the anatomy and optics of the eye.

• Chill out with a demonstration of liquid nitrogen, exploring extreme temperatures to learn about the different states of matter.

• Decide whether seeing is really believing in a demonstration of some common optical illusions.

• Find out if you can stomach what goes on in your own body in a 15-minute simulation of the 12-hour process of digesting food.

The center provides a full listing of its many demonstrations here. 

Science Center general admission tickets are $7-$9.  If you would like to catch an IMAX show, add another $7-$8. Feeling super scientific? A visit  the planetarium is an extra $7-$8.

If all that exploration works up your appetite, you can grab a snack or meal at the City Bakery at the Arizona Science Center.  You'll find a variety of salads, soups and sandwiches ranging from $6-$12. 

Don’t want the science exploration to stop after you leave the Science Center?  Stop by the Science Center store, Awesome Atoms and pick up one of their many science experiment kits, puzzles or other learning activities.

The Arizona Science Center also offers memberships with a ton of benefits, discounts and rewards.  Click here more information on becoming a Science Center member.

Parking is validated with paid admission in the Heritage and Science Park's Garage, located on the southeast corner of Monroe and 5th Streets. With validation parking is only $1.
 

- by Jennifer Pruett, Phoenix Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Jennifer Pruett

A self proclaimed “queen of everything," Jennifer is a writer, planner and passionate lover of making exciting events extra special. As a creative mother of two she loves art, music, family, friends, exotic cuisine and exploring new areas of self improvement. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in liberal studies from the University of Oklahoma and has been writing restaurant and attraction reviews in the Phoenix Metro area since January, 2009.