Science Center of Iowa
Science center in downtown Des Moines with permanent exhibits, a Makers Studio and a planetarium. Open Wednesday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Ways to visit
Science Center exhibits (general admission) Open
- What you see
- Exhibitssciowa.org, 2026-11-05
- How
- Walk insciowa.org, 2026-11-05
- When
- MonTueWedThuFriSatSunWednesday to Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Monday and Tuesday. Open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on November 25, Christmas Eve and December 31. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, September 8-11 and October 16-17, 2026.Closed: Mondays, Tuesdays, Memorial Day, Labor Day, September 8-11 (fall closure week), October 16-17, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Daysciowa.org, 2026-11-05
- Booking
- Not required · online or on siteThe page recommends reserving tickets in advance online; it does not say they are required.Book ↗sciowa.org, 2026-11-05
- Cost
- PaidChildren 2-12: $16 · Adults 13-64: $20 · Seniors 65+: $16Children under 2 and members are free. $5 per person for households using SNAP, WIC or Medicaid (in-person purchase with photo ID and card). Planetarium shows and special exhibits are not priced on this page.sciowa.org, 2026-11-05
- Requirements
- Minimum age: 12+. Children 12 and under must be accompanied throughout the visit by someone 16 or older.
About
The Science Center of Iowa is in downtown Des Moines. Its permanent exhibits cover subjects such as earth science, motion, the sky and a makers studio, and it has a planetarium with a changing list of shows. It is open Wednesday to Sunday, with reduced hours before some holidays and a closure week in September. Schools and groups visit most spring and summer days and leave by 2 p.m.
Run by: Science Center of Iowa.
Getting there
401 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway, Des Moines, IA, 50309
Covered ramp parking is across the street from the main entrance, at 4th and Market Street.
The pin marks the site itself, not necessarily the entrance (41.58204, -93.62179). Apple Maps directions go to the street address instead. Show on our map · Google Maps · Apple Maps
Last checked 2026-11-05. Sources are listed below.
Sources
- sciowa.org/visit/planning-your-visit/hou… · official page · read 2026-11-05For: name; who runs it; Science Center exhibits (general admission): open or closed; Science Center exhibits (general admission): kind of visit; Science Center exhibits (general admission): days and hours; Science Center exhibits (general admission): booking; Science Center exhibits (general admission): cost; Science Center exhibits (general admission): requirements
- geocoding.geo.census.gov/geocoder/locations/onelineadd… · US Census Bureau geocoder · read 2026-11-05For: location
- sciowa.org/visit/planning-your-visit/dir… · official page · read 2026-11-05For: street address
- sciowa.org · official page · read 2026-11-05For: Science Center exhibits (general admission): what you see
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