Welcome to the Science Center

Located inside University Mall in Carbondale, Illinois for over 25 years

The Science Center is a hands-on children’s museum. We are a regular destination for camps, field trips and birthday parties!

Our facility is dedicated to the awareness and exploration of hands-on learning for children ages infant-teens. We’re happy to see you taking an interest in everything the Science Center has to offer!

Hours

Monday: CLOSED – Campers only.
Tuesday: CLOSED – Campers only.
Wednesday: 11:00am -5:00pm – FREE DAY.
Thursday: 11:00am -5:00pm
Friday: 11:00am -5:00pm
Saturday: 11:00am -5:00pm
Sunday: NOON-5:00pm

Our Mission

“To nourish and preserve each child’s innate curiosity through hands-on, inquiry-based exploration”

The Science Center is a member of the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) and features reciprocal memberships with over 380 other museums across the country.

* THE Science Center is a recognized 501(c)3 Not-for-Profit organization and is made possible by the generous contributions of our community members.

The Science Center is an excellent place to host your child's birthday! The staff is fabulous and the activates are engaging.

This place is really cool! The Science Center has something for everyone. They have tons of hands on STEM/STEAM exhibits. They even have a place for kids to climb and slide. They have lots of live animals with knowledgeable staff. My kids favorites are the fossil dig, the shadow wall, and the pneumatic tubes. Ty the manger is super nice and definitely has a passion for what he does. They are reasonably priced for the experience. And it is a great way to spend an afternoon in Carbondale. Visited on Weekend - Wait time: No wait.

wow first time and 3 hours were not enough time definitely coming back so much to keep the kids mind going great for adults too and very educational at the same time was great

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!! We had my daughters 4th birthday here and the experience was outstanding from the moment we booked it till the last minute of the party. Very nice and explained everything over the phone no how having a party there works. Any question I had leading up to the party they answered for me with no issues! Even the smallest gestures, like bringing a cart out to our car to greet us to help bring in all of our items was very thoughtful. The party room had plenty of tables to sit at and to hold presents and food. Also a plus that the room comes with a fridge! They were kind, helpful, helped keep us on schedule, great with the kids, and generally seemed happy to have us there. (Unlike some kid places that seemed to be annoyed you chose their location for a party). 2 hour party room, activity choice for the children, free play in the museum, and they help clean up. What more could you possibly ask for?!

What an amazing place!!! Super fun and exciting for the kids. I thought the people working there were so nice and understanding of children's needs. Visited on Weekday - Wait time: No wait - Reservation recommended: No

This is a great spot for kids and adults alike. They have EVERYTHING from dinosaurs to planets, it's such a great learning experience as well. So many hands-on little things such as building structures, games, and etc!

See What People Are Raving About:

The Science Center is an excellent place to host your child’s birthday! The staff is fabulous and the activities are engaging.

wow first time and 3 hours were not enough time 😂 definitely coming back so much to keep the kids minds going great for adults too and very educational at the same time was great

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!
We had my daughters 4th birthday here and the experience was outstanding from the moment we booked it till the last minute of the party. Very nice and explained everything over the phone on how having a party there works. Any question I had leading up to the party they answered for me with no issues! Even the smallest gestures , like bringing a cart out to our car to greet us to help bring in all of our items was very thoughtful. The party room had plenty of tables to sit at and to hold presents and food. Also a plus that the room comes with a fridge! They were kind, helpful, helped keep us on schedule, great with the kids, and generally seemed happy to have us there. (Unlike some kid places that seemed to be annoyed you chose their location for a party) . 2 hour party room, activity choice for the children, free play in the museum , and they help clean up. What more could you possibly ask for?!

What an amazing place!!! Super fun and exciting for the kids. I thought the people working there were so nice and understanding of children’s needs.
Visited on Weekday - Wait time: No wait - Reservation recommended: No

This is a great spot for kids and adults alike. They have EVERYTHING from dinosaurs to planets, it’s such a great learning experience as well. So many hands-on little things such as building structures, games, and etc!

Admission & Membership

General Admission

$ 7.50 per person

• Infants 2 & Under are Free.
• We offer our Military and Senior Citizen discounts!

Come See Us Today

Best Deal!

Membership

$ 100 a year

• Covers Entry for One Full Year.
• Free entry for up to 8 family members.
• Discounts on Birthday Parties, Camps, GUNO, and More!.

Learn More

History of The Science Center Carbondale, IL

We were originally incorporated in 1992 and opened our doors two years later. Our overall goal was to encourage and inspire children to develop a natural curiosity and exploration through hands-on experience. We currently have over 65 exhibits and can expect around 70,000 visitors annually.