Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
Categories: Amusement Parks, Local Flavor, Museums [Edit]
Neighborhood: Central Eastside1945 SE Water Ave
Portland, OR 97214 (503) 239-7804
- Good for Kids: Yes
30 Reviews for Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
This museum is really fascinating. I learned all about interesting fish in the amazon, built a dam and water way as well as played in the sand. Yes, I felt like a kid again! don't worry, I took along my goddaughter who is 7 so I had an excuse to do all the fun things.
The only thing I found a bit disturbing was the permanent display of fetus'. They have all these real babies that have been preserved and they show you devolpment each week of the pregnancy. Something about preserved babies just creeped me out.
They have an excellant gift shop, and ample parking. A good time was had by all!
We came here with five kids aged 3 to 14. Everyone had a great time! Here are the exhibits that my little kids would have spent an entire afternoon at if I didn't nudge them to move on.
- The 6-and-under room. Specifically, the 3 year old would have never left the giant sand area (with wonderful fine sand and lots of toys). The 5 year old really enjoyed the dark cave with flashlights and hollow tree. They both enjoyed the hands-on art/science lab.
NOTE: Unlike some museums, gentle older siblings are permitted in the preschool room. While we were there, all the older sibs were behaving very nicely.
- In the Turbine Room, the giant fan that blows dixie cups up toward the ceiling. The older kids liked this, too. They could cut the cups differently to see the effects on its propulsion. The little ones just picked up leftover cups and sent them soaring.
- The earthquake house. My little one thought it was better than a carousel and just kept pushing the 6.3 earthquake and groovin' to the music.
- The liquid smoke bubbles that pop in your hands
There was a lot we didn't get to experience, because we spent so much time at these stations. I love a good science museum. We would definitely come back.
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I think my expectations were too high, so OMSI seemed pretty run of the mill. I thought it would be more dynamic and that there'd be more going on, but it's still a cute little museum for younger kids. The turbine room is the coolest, fo sho.
Maybe it's just us but OMSI is a bit difficult to find. The signs leading one here are small and a bit confusing. Even my sis-in-law who grew up in Portland had difficulty in finding it.
Yes, it's true that OMSI is child-friendly; there's nothing wrong with that. In the old days the Exploratorium in SF was so "over my head" that I hated to go there and be reminded how stupid I am.
We go to OMSI each time we are in Portland. I love that they have so many interactive exhibits for young children. What better way to help them become future museum lovers?
We were there for the Dinosaurs from China exhibit. Fun and educational. Loved the growling! (See my photos)
The Senses exhibit was fun and entertaining. My sweet sis-in-law was sitting at the Aging booth, trying to discreetly take a peek at what her face was going to look like in 20 years. What she didn't realize is that one booth over was a big screen of her face for all to see. She gave up punching buttons to age each part of her face before I got to tell her about the big screen. Most adults were avoiding this booth but the little, kids loved it!
My hubby and teen son saw "Monsters of the Deep" in the IMAX theater.
I opted out. since I am not a fan of scary fish. They both were totally impressed and those monster fish even scared our big bad teen!
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My favorite museum in Portland. The kids like it too. We've had a family membership for at least five years. We probably come once a month, typically Sunday morning when it opens before the crowds arrive.
We've taken the sub tour numerous times (yes it is smelly!) and when the kids are a little older they may try the sleepover. They have had a good selection of touring exhibits (dinosaurs, Body Works, magic, the Amazon, Titanic, etc.), but we also like the standing exhibits. Every year they host a reptile show which is awesome. We probably spend equal time upstairs and downstairs. My kids are getting a little too old for the sand pit, etc. and are getting more interested in the IMAX movies. They freaked them out when they were little.
I still remember my first visit when I moved to Oregon. My company is a key sponsor and had the museum rented out for a private event one evening. I was blown away by the pregnancy exhibit. Then horrified when I realized all the fetuses were real and not fabricated.
The museum is right on the waterfront so you can take a walk from the museum along the water. It is also a popular take off spot for bike rides and the jet boat leaves from the submarine doc.
I am not thrilled with the food service here and they highly discourage bringing in your own food, which I find a little ridiculous. If you have a membership, you get 10% discount on purchases in the store (lots of interesting items) and food.
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Make a helicopter in the turbine room and fly it!
The turbine room has to be my favorite place by far. Oh, and my kids love it too :) I highly recommend getting an OMSI membership if you have small kids. The kids play area upstairs is an excellent spot to spend the wet winter weekends playing with toys, experimenting with art, crafts and music. My daughter loves the water and sand play areas.
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The "Laser Electrolyte: TRANCEnding Electronica" laser show at the OMSI planetarium was really cool!!!! Set to some great classic electronic dance music tracks. They should keep this up and have a different EDM set each month. Show runs about an hour.
Friday and Saturdays at 9:30pm until the end of December.
www.omsi.edu/visit/las...
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My third day in Portland and already I'm having the time of my life. This is a true family place and can be a date place if need be. The gal at the reception stand, Jasmine, was THE most informative person I've met. I've done customer service for years and never have I've seen or received the "WOW" effect that I got from her. Good Job Jasmine!
Me and a friend went here to check out the Bodyworks exhibit and what an exhibit that was! The artistic and scientific expression of every figure was just amazing. No words of mine can express what I saw......except for this one dude who was checking out the reproductive section of the woman lying on her back doing the bicycle. Its not that there's anything wrong with looking at the figure's parts, .....it was the way he stooped over to get a closer look, then quickly looked up around that bothered me and my friend. I couldn't help but laugh and talk bad stuff about him to her.
We also saw the Blueback submarine exhibit. It was used during WWII and is smaller than the larger Ohio class sub (for those who know subs). Sadly for us, someone ripped one in there and as you know, subs are airtight and there isn't much circulation. Eww......Too bad my camera was off because I couldn't get the priceless facial expression my friend made when she realized what had happened. While going through the tight, low ceiling halls, I noticed through one of the floor grills that someone put an "Energizer Bunny" where the sub's battery cells were meant to be. Very funny! But it was the most informative tour I've had in years. I commend all the men and women who serve in the subs for our country.
And lastly the physics room was totally fun. I found myself enjoying the earthquake room, making a pedal boat, and tinkering with a musical machine that mimicked the adorable sounds my friend's niece makes. I felt like a kid again. So much that I got into this rocket ship and foolishly, I hurt my neck rolling backwards out of the vertically placed space shuttle. Sigh.....otherwise great place for anyone of all ages.
Pricing is really fair, and parking was amazingly easy! Being from California, I guess everything here in Portland will be outstanding!
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It's a kid's museum for sure, but I went just to see the plastinated corpses in the Bodyworlds exhibit. As an ER nurse (and avowed zombie movie freak) there was no way I was passing up an opportunity to see this. Very cool. Bodies arranged in sporting positions-soccer, rugby, skateboarding, archery- all strategically dissected to see the inner organs.
WARNING- Not for the:
1. Weak of stomach.
2. Those easily shocked (or amused) by GENITALIA.
3. Vegans (a lot of meat on display, see warning #2)
I'll bet having to work there at night, alone, would be fun.
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The renovation from a few years back has propelled OMSI to a must see spot for all folks passing by in Oregon. Everything is enhanced, the buildings, the exhibits, the parking, and unfortunately the prices. For the science geek in all of us, there is something to be discovered here and is a great introduction to the interesting world around us presented in family fun fashion.
The Special Events here, exhibits and labs, laser shows, planetarium, and the super OMNIMAX (IMAX Theater) is a culmination of the best activities centered around any museum in the state. I came here as an adult after a brief visit as a kid and was virtually blown away as if I was 10 years old again. Body Worlds is the current exhibit and while it is virtually nation wide, its still worth checking out.
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OMSI is a very cool place, and I wish that I could have spent more time here during my one and only visit.
My plan is to go to medical school in the future, and so I was surprised when my Oregon-friends suggested we do something "doctor-ish." What on earth would we do besides crash an emergency room, or go try on white coats??
GO TO THE BODYWORLDS EXHIBIT AT OMSI, OF COURSE!!
Silly me, I should have known that Portland would have exactly what I need, as usual. The human body is a wonderful thing to explore, without all of that skin in the way. This was the ultimate anatomy learning tool I've encountered so far. I am so glad that I got to see this exhibit, because it is so fascinating . . . and so controversial, too!! I'd say that if you're someone who doesn't need to change the subject when someone says "cadaver," this exhibit is for you!
Okay, I know that this review is turning out to be more about the exhibit than the museum, but any museum that hosts a badass exhibit like this is bound to host other amazing things in the future! I've noticed that much of the museum is for children, so if you have kids, or want to act like a kid, this would probably be a fun weekend activity for you! Also, there is tons of parking, and the place is very clean, which is a plus.
Be warned: plastinated cadaver penises.
(I'm just saying.)
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OMSI is amazing. This place takes ten fold over any museum I visited in Seattle.
Great location...easy to find..tons of parking. HUGE. I went for the Bodies Exhibit...unfortunately it was a bit crowded. I had to wait two hours to get in and they were just corralling people up there. I wasn't to impressed with how I had to squish by people and wait in line to see each body part. I could have enjoyed this better but I shouldn't have gone on a Saturday afternoon. Bad idea right there.
What I really enjoyed was the display of fetuses from the age of 3 weeks to 9 months. I could literally see how the baby grows inside of the womb. This was awesome.
I also got to see a real digestive tract...some smoker lungs which were pitch black..and really NASTY.....lots of muscle tissue.....all the skeletons of each part of the body (hands, legs, feet, hips, etc.)
It was a nice time.
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OMSI, maybe a little kiddy-based overall, but I didn't come to see the museum as a whole but instead to see Body Worlds.
And cadavers in sporty positions I did see, and accompanying it came a weird feeling that was characterized by nausea, intellectual interest, mild awe and outright disgust. Educational though for sure.
It is sort of more expensive than I would have liked, but eh....worth it for sure.
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Oh I had such a blast here! Wandering in I first thought it might be a ho-hum experience, but if you check your pretentions at the door and dig up your childish indulgences and curiosities, you'll have a great time with all the hands-on experiments you can do here. Not only did I rediscover my old friend the bunsen burner (I have a somewhat pyromaniac past that saw more than a couple lab antics back in school), but I managed to devise an air-powered rapid-fire machine-gun using flexible tubing, air pumps and rubber balls... I've got a good 30 years on most of the kids in the lab room, and I was having a total blast running around. The thermal camera is also pretty fun, as was the tour of the '50s era US Navy Blueback submarine ( a very cool experience). IMAX was also worth checking out.
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OMSI is a great place to bring your kids and make them smarter.
Alas, though, OMSI is geared toward children, so if you're not chaperoning some young ones, you might breeze through the place. Nevertheless, there's plenty to check out. Don't miss the holograph laboratory and make sure you look through the microscope, it will blow your mind.
Also, the adjacent planetarium and IMAX theaters will keep adults entertained and occupied too. Not to mention the current gruesome and fascinating Bodyworlds exhibit (yikes!).
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OMSI is a neat place. It really is kid-centered, but you shouldn't let that deter you from joining in in the exibits and having some fun with science. The exibits are creative, and the staff is wonderful. I can't wait until my daughter is old enough to appreciate this place.
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for people from cities that have real museums this would most likely be considered a childrens museum. cant say i didnt have a good time there, but exhibits are clearly focused at the barely walking to 10yr old set. that makes me sound incredibly lame for enjoying it. anyhow, i saw yet another installment of body worlds here but they definitely didnt get the reception or gallery afforded in better museums across the country. a great place to take your kids if you have them, but i cant see myself returning unless something awesome happens there.
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Haven't been to OMSI since it was back by the zoo. On a recent visit, I decided to take my 3 year old nephew on a rainy day expecting he'd be too young for it. What a great surprise. Spent three hours in the science playground alone. It was perfect. If it wasn't about keeping my nephew playing and happy, I would have definitely been bored with the rest of the place.
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Having grown up in Oregon and Western Idaho, I'd heard about OMSI my entire life and always longed to go. When I finally made it, I was surprised by how inextensive the museum was. With a limited amount to see and do and almost all of it targeted at children younger than 15, this was one of those places you have to go to once.
I've spent my wad of cash here. Scratch that one off the list of things to do.
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OMSI is always a fascinating experience
I highly recommend this spot to bring kids for an afternoon of fun and adventure. It's way cooler than any museum that I ever went to growing up. I wouldn't call the exhibits overly entertaining for grown-ups but still very interesting. The best parts were the planetarium and the IMAX theater. It's not only fun to stare up at all the stars, but it always fascinating to learn about the consolations. The IMAX theater blows my mind every time. I actually have to close my eyes a few times whenever I see a show here because I've been known to get a bit of motion sickness! The movement is so real and lifelike and unlike other IMAX theaters, this screen soars goes over your head and beyond. This place is definitely worth a trip a year, especially if you have kids.
Tip: Check the website or paper for coupons or reduced times to go because the museum entrance is not cheap.
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This was the only bad decision we made on our trip to Portland. It's not a bad museum, just strictly for kids. Not the sort of place two adults should go if they really want to learn, it's way too immature. We went on a Wednesday morning and the place was swarming with school tours. It was too crowded.
The saving grace was the USS Blueback sub tour. It was really amazing to get to walk through this cramped boat and imagine guys living there for weeks at a time.
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I didn't like the museum. It is strictly for kids. So why four stars? The submarine tour! It was incredible. I was expecting a fast walk-through and limited views of the sub. Instead, I was in a small group led by a guide who used to be in the Navy. We sat down in the eating quarters and were shown all aspects of sub life. The whole tour was forty-five minutes and well worth the cost of the museum admission.
I didn't see the planetarium or IMAX films. Be warned that this place is like an expensive steakhouse: everything is ala carte!
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This place is for kids and a great place to bring visitors from out of town. My husband loves to bring the kids here. Every out-of-towner must go on the submarine tour. There are two main area for kids. There is the science playground for the 6 and younger. It is completely insane on the weekends. There is also hand sanitizer everywhere and I recommend using it frequently. Whenever we haven't we end up very sick. My friends with multiple children love coming to OMSI because the science playground is one big room, so when kids run around, you don't feel pulled in multiple locations. They also have a arts/craft area, where there is always play-doh or flubber on hand. There is also other exhibits designed more for older children and young adults at heart. The cafeteria is large and you can bring your own food.
OMSI would get 5 stars if it was priced better, but it is very expensive.
On a side note:
When weather is walk worthy, there is a great 3 mile loop you can take around the waterfront. you just park at OMSI and follow the waterfront path around the river and over the bridges. I usually stop in at OMSI first to wear the kids out and then let them sleep on the walk.
I've been going to OMSI since it was over next to the zoo. Now I take my own kids there. There is plenty for them to see and do. There are demonstrations of static electricity, magnetism, polarization, memorization, and aerodynamics The optical illusion section is fascinating. You'll think the carpet is alive.
There is the planetarium and laser shows, the OMNIMAX theater, and the USS Blueback submarine. There is usually a special exhibit that stays around for several months. Currently, its the Star Wars themed "Where Science Meets Imagination".
The only thing I find prohibitive is the pricing. They have a complicated scheme that is intended (in my opinion) to get you to buy a membership. But the irritating thing is even with a membership you still have to pay for quite a few things.
I like to come here with younger cousins or even friends who have never been to Portland. OMSI is one of those institutions that make Portland unique. Their new location (if anyone remembers the old location next to the zoo) is so perfect for the big crowds and it is nice to be close to the river.
I would recommend buying the special deluxe tickets for your first visit (includes IMAX movie and sub tour), but after a couple visits you may just want to check out the areas that interest you. I really like the laser light shows for those "there is nothing to do" nights.
Warning: OMSI is referred to as a single word (aumsey). Don't say each letter separately. My boyfriends mom asked me what O M S I was one day and I could not figure out what she was talking about. I just get so used to hearing it as a word, not an acronym. In my defense, she asked me early in the morning . . . I think . . .
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This was Portland's version of San Francisco's Exploratorium. I prefer the latter. Still, it was a great museum: tons of science exhibits.
Some of the exhibits I had objections to, as although clearly for children, definitely had an "agenda".
I'm fairly certain that if the spectrum of the right brain/left brain was a flat plateau, I'd be teetering off the edge of the right-brained side, convinced that all science and math is gobbledegook dreamed up by evil tyrants who just want to keep the artists from succeeding. However, I'm also aware that I could be alone in this sphere of ideas, and if you're even just a tad more even keel than I am, you will enjoy OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science & Industry, 1945 SE Water Ave. 97214). Although it is geared toward kids (and as a kid, I was always convinced that the Zoo--4001 SW Canyon Rd., 97221--was more fun), pretty much anyone who ever enjoyed a science class in school could find something to do at OMSI.
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OMSI is one of those places you could spend a whole day at. It's a great introduction to the scientific world for the little ones and even keeps teens and adults interested. Last time I went there they gave tours of a submarine and had an IMAX theater. This place is pretty sweet!
Science was my least favorite subject in high school, but the several hours I spent in this riverside facility were fascinating, possibly because I was accompanied by my friends' children, who were thrilled by the opportunity to touch everything in sight. The hands-on exhibits and interactive labs provide surprisingly engaging journeys into the past and future. The planetarium serves up multimedia astronomy with a digital projector that displays a field of ten thousand stars and simulates three-dimensional space travel, an IMAX theater makes science bigger than life, and the USS Blueback submarine is available for exploring. The gift shop allows curious kids to bring home, among other things, robots and dinosaurs, games and puzzles, miscroscopes to examine bugs, telescopes to search the skies, and chemistry sets to blow up the house. There's more than enough here to keep you occupied for the better part of one of the area's frequent rainy days.
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My teens love OMSI for the exhibits (especially the hands on stuff) and the submarine. The littles love the kid room and baby area. Sand, water, messy paints, and magnets what more could a kid need? Rubber boots and smocks are provided to help keep kids at least a little clean and dry. The baby area could use a little more enforcement keeping the bigger kids out and feet bare so that the babies can crawl and explore without getting gunk tracked on their rug. The theater is good for some films but action films (ie Harry Potter) is a little too overwhelming on that screen!! Some of the front area staff seem a little bored but the staff and volunteers at each exhibit are great, knowledgeable and there to help all visitors get the most out of their experience.
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