Science Museum Oklahoma | Oklahoma City

Science Museum Oklahoma is the state’s premier science and technology center, offering a mix of interactive exhibits, planetarium shows, and large-scale demonstrations designed to make science fun and accessible for all ages. Located near the Oklahoma City Zoo in the Adventure District, it has become one of the city’s most visited family attractions, blending education with hands-on discovery.

Origins and Growth

The museum began in 1958 as the Kirkpatrick Planetarium, housed at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds. In 1978, it expanded into a full science museum under the name Omniplex, combining space exploration exhibits, aviation displays, and interactive science areas. It was rebranded as Science Museum Oklahoma in 2007 to better reflect its broader mission of inspiring curiosity in all scientific fields. Over the years, the facility has grown to more than 390,000 square feet, making it one of the largest science museums in the nation.

Layout and Major Features

The museum is designed as a vast, open complex where visitors can wander between themed areas. It emphasizes hands-on learning, creativity, and play.

Key highlights include:

Kirkpatrick Planetarium: Offering daily shows that explore astronomy, space science, and the universe, continuing the museum’s original legacy.

CurioCity: An enormous, themed adventure space for children that encourages imaginative play and physical activity while introducing basic scientific concepts.

Tinkering Garage: A makerspace where guests can build, experiment, and create with tools and materials, fostering problem-solving and innovation.

Destination Space: Focused on space exploration, with real spacecraft artifacts, astronaut training simulators, and exhibits about NASA missions.

Light Minded and smART Space: Interactive galleries exploring light, color, perception, and the intersection of art and science.

Science Live Theater: Daily live science demonstrations featuring chemistry experiments, physics tricks, and explosive displays designed to capture attention and spark curiosity.

Gardens and Aviation Exhibits: Outdoor areas feature aviation history with aircraft on display, while landscaped gardens connect science with nature.

Programs and Education

Science Museum Oklahoma is more than a visitor attraction-it is a major educational resource for the state. Programs include:

School Outreach and Field Trips: Thousands of students visit annually for hands-on learning.

Camps and Workshops: Seasonal programs in robotics, engineering, and general science for children and teens.

Public Engagement: Special events such as Astronomy Nights, engineering competitions, and maker festivals.

Atmosphere and Audience

The museum is designed to appeal to all ages:

Children enjoy CurioCity and hands-on exhibits where they can climb, explore, and play.

Teens and adults engage with engineering challenges, the Tinkering Garage, and scientific demonstrations.

Families appreciate the balance of play, education, and entertainment in a single destination.

Cultural and Civic Role

As one of Oklahoma’s most visited museums, it plays a central role in promoting STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) education statewide. It also serves as a hub for innovation, encouraging creativity in both children and adults.

Visitor Experience

The museum is large and can easily fill an entire day, with both indoor and outdoor attractions.

Its design makes it engaging year-round, with summer camps and special seasonal programming.

The combination of science exhibits, live shows, and the planetarium ensures variety for repeat visitors.

Science Museum Oklahoma is both an educational powerhouse and a place of wonder, blending scientific discovery with creativity and fun, and standing as a key cultural landmark in Oklahoma City’s Adventure District.