The whole family can enjoy a day of interactive fun and learning at the Arizona Science Center. Once a small community project, today the centre boasts an IMAX theatre, a planetarium, and over 300 exhibits all designed to educate, entertain, and inspire visitors of all ages to learn about science. The centre is located in the Heritage and Science Park in the heart of downtown Phoenix.
The centre is open every day with the exception of Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Special events change each month and range from events like ‘Summer Pestology’ to ‘Stories, Strollers, and Science Mondays’. The many exhibits are split into seven themed galleries and are spread out over four levels, ending with a Solar Terrace on the roof.
The Forces of Nature exhibit is dedicated to understanding the Earth. A five-minute presentation shows visitors what it is like inside a tornado, hurricane, volcanic eruption, monsoon, and wildfire. Lie down on a bed of nails or experiment with white light in the Get Charged Up Section. In the Learn All About Me exhibit, visitors can enter a giant working stomach or find out how heart surgery is performed. These are just a few of the hands-on experiences that the Arizona Science Center has to offer.
Or sit back at the planetarium, where you can take off into space to discover other planets or dive deep inside an atom. Another laid-back experience awaits in the IMAX theatre, where the huge screen offers extreme action. The shows are always changing, so it’s best to check the schedule before your visit to find out what’s playing. Live demonstrations, like Liquid Nitrogen and Great Balls of Fire, are routinely given by the staff, so don’t miss out on the fun! The Arizona Science Center also hosts special lectures aimed at families, as well as preschool programmes on Saturdays. Afterwards, children will even receive a take-home science kit.
