The SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity, known locally as MOSAC, fills a restored early-1900s brick power station at 400 Jibboom St., on the Sacramento River just north of Old Sacramento. Families and school groups come for hands-on science exhibits, a domed planetarium, and STEAM programming built around energy, health, water, and space.
The museum reopened in November 2021 after a full renovation, and the building’s industrial bones still shape the visit. Tall windows, exposed brick, and soaring ceilings frame interactive galleries where kids test circuits, explore how the region’s water moves, and experiment with the physics of everyday life. The planetarium runs scheduled shows that sell out on busy days. MOSAC also offers after-school and summer programs that extend its exhibits into multi-day science learning for local students.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
Weekday afternoons are usually quieter than weekday mornings, when field trips arrive. Weekends and school holidays draw the biggest crowds. Buy timed tickets and planetarium seats online, and check current hours on the official site before you go. The city-run lot charges $6 per day. You can pay at the kiosk out front or through ParkMobile using location code 6848. Afterward, walk the riverfront Sacramento River Parkway or head about a mile south to Old Sacramento’s historic waterfront.
