The Science Center of Iowa (SCI) is a 110,000-square-foot hands-on science museum on Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway in Downtown Des Moines. Families, school groups and curious adults come for its interactive exhibits, a 50-foot planetarium and live science demonstrations that turn abstract ideas into something you can touch, test and see.
SCI organizes its galleries into themed experience platforms packed with hands-on exhibits. Kids build, experiment and tinker their way through each one, while staff run live programs and demonstrations throughout the day. The planetarium dome is the anchor attraction, with immersive shows on stars, planets and deep space. SCI has also been known for large-format films, but programming changes, so check the current film and show schedule before you go. The center runs early-learning programs as well, which makes it a year-round resource for local families as well as a rainy-day pick for visitors (source: [SCI](https://www.sciowa.org/visit/planning-your-visit/)).
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
SCI opens 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, and is closed Monday and Tuesday. General admission is $15 (source: [SCI Hours and Admission](https://www.sciowa.org/visit/planning-your-visit/hours-and-admission/)). In spring and summer, school groups fill the floor, but most leave by 2:00 p.m., so weekday afternoons are usually calmer. Buy tickets and reserve planetarium times online, or call 515-274-6868 ext. 222 for help (source: [SCI Tickets](https://sciowa.ticketapp.org/portal/pid/9/product/53)). After your visit, you can walk to the Des Moines riverfront and downtown restaurants.
