Science City at Union Station | Kansas City

Science City at Union Station is an expansive, award-winning science center located within the historic Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri. It is a leading destination for interactive science education and family-friendly entertainment in the Midwest. Designed to engage children, students, and adults alike, Science City features more than 100,000 square feet of exhibit space filled with hundreds of hands-on, multi-sensory displays that encourage exploration, experimentation, and discovery across all fields of STEM-science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

📍 Location & Architectural Context

Science City is housed inside Union Station, a Beaux-Arts-style building originally opened in 1914 as a major railway hub. After falling into disrepair in the late 20th century, Union Station underwent a dramatic $250 million restoration, reopening in 1999 as a mixed-use cultural center. Science City was one of the cornerstone attractions developed during this revitalization, aimed at bringing educational energy and foot traffic back to the historic space.

🧪 Core Mission

The guiding philosophy of Science City is: "No wrong answers-only discovery." The center emphasizes learning through direct engagement rather than passive observation. Every exhibit is designed to invite hands-on interaction, physical participation, and personal interpretation, especially targeting children ages 4 to 14, though many exhibits are stimulating for adults as well.

🧠 Featured Exhibit Zones & Experiences

Science City is divided into several thematic areas and activity centers, each targeting different scientific principles and age groups:

1. All Aboard

A train-themed environment that blends imaginative play with basic engineering and transportation concepts. Kids can explore a full-size locomotive cab, sleeper car, and postal car, while experimenting with build-your-own track systems.

2. Riveting Robots

A robotics and coding lab featuring:

Programmable robots

Interactive screens for learning logic and coding

Jarvis, a humanoid robot that interacts with visitors

Robot races, lidar, and sensor-based tasks
This exhibit was inspired by student entries in Science City’s “Battle of the Brains” competition.

3. Eye Spy

A visually immersive illusions gallery that explores the science of perception, optics, and cognitive processing. Key features include:

Mirror mazes

Spinning color wheels

Infinity mirrors

Holograms and a moving "Travelvator"

4. Kinetic Climber

A new, multi-level climbing structure opened in 2023. It includes obstacle-course elements like ropes, nets, and slides that challenge balance, coordination, and physics. It's ideal for children ages 4–12 and encourages physical and mental agility.

5. Sky Bike

One of Science City’s most iconic features, the Sky Bike lets visitors pedal a bicycle suspended 30 feet above the floor on a cable, demonstrating the principles of center of gravity and balance in a thrilling and memorable way.

6. Every Last Drop

An environmental science exhibit exploring the water cycle, conservation, and clean water technologies. Kids learn through interactive models and water-based games.

7. Simple Machines at Play

Explains levers, pulleys, wheels, inclined planes, and gears using oversized playground-like devices that children can manipulate directly.

8. Dino Lab & Dig Site

Young visitors become paleontologists as they “excavate” fossils from sand and learn about the prehistoric world through life-sized skeletal replicas and fossil samples.

9. Science on a Sphere

A captivating globe projection system developed by NOAA. It visually presents real-time data on climate, tectonic shifts, planetary systems, and ocean currents on a six-foot diameter sphere suspended in air.

10. Maker Studio

A hands-on creativity lab where visitors can use 3D printers, circuit boards, and craft tools to build simple machines or artistic inventions. It emphasizes invention and problem-solving.

11. Test Kitchen

A culinary science lab where visitors learn about nutrition, food chemistry, and molecular gastronomy through interactive cooking challenges and sensory activities.

🎓 Educational Outreach & Programming

Science City is a regional leader in STEM education, offering structured learning opportunities that extend far beyond the exhibits:

Battle of the Brains: A biennial competition in which local students design a new exhibit for Science City. Winning concepts are fully realized within the center.

Greater Kansas City Science & Engineering Fair: Hosted annually to showcase student science projects from across the region.

STEM Seminars & Labs: Weekend classes and workshops, often led by guest scientists or educators.

Girl Scout and Boy Scout Programs: Merit badge sessions and overnight science camps.

School Field Trips: With customizable experiences aligned with Missouri and Kansas science education standards.

Home School Days: Discounted entry and special programming tailored for homeschooling families.

🕒 Visitor Experience

Hours:

Tuesday to Saturday: 10 AM – 5 PM

Sunday: 12 PM – 5 PM

Mondays: Open during summer and school breaks

Admission:

Adults & Kids: Around $17

Children under 1 year: Free

Union Station Members: Free year-round access

Group & school rates available

Accessibility:

Fully wheelchair accessible

Stroller-friendly

Nursing rooms and gender-neutral restrooms available

Hands-on exhibits designed for a variety of sensory and physical needs

Parking:

Ample paid parking available in adjacent garages and outdoor lots

Rates typically range from $6 to $15 depending on duration and events

📲 Science City Explorer App

The mobile app enhances the visitor experience by offering:

Interactive maps

Digital trivia and learning games

Augmented reality experiences

Exhibit descriptions and scientific context

🏛️ Integrated Union Station Attractions

Science City is just one part of the broader Union Station complex, which also includes:

Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium

Regnier Extreme Screen Theatre

KC Rail Experience (Model Train Exhibit)

Restaurants and Cafés

Seasonal Exhibits (e.g., Maker Faire, Holiday Village)

Summary

Science City at Union Station is not just a science center-it’s a full-scale environment where curiosity is turned into action. With its rich variety of hands-on exhibits, forward-thinking educational programs, and integration within a historic architectural setting, it offers a compelling blend of entertainment and learning for individuals, families, and schools. It stands as one of Kansas City's most important cultural and educational institutions, making science accessible, exciting, and endlessly fun.