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The Tech Museum
Categories: Arts & Entertainment Cinema Arts & Entertainment Museums Event Planning & Services Venues & Event Spaces Cinema, Museums, Venues & Event Spaces [Edit]
201 S Market StSan Jose, CA 95113
(408) 294-8324
Now Playing:
Arabia, Born To Be Wild IMAX, The Magic of Flight, Tornado Alley
Showtimes on RottenTomatoes.com
Announcement
New After Hours. First Wednesday of the month.
Guests 21 and older enjoy science, technology, entertainment and cocktails together.
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 10 am - 5 pm
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
302 reviews for The Tech Museum
Review Highlights
"The body worlds exhibit was very interesting."
(in 44 reviews)
"Plus, the IMAX theater here rocks."
(in 28 reviews)
"Best Pacific Rim adventure: Earthquake simulator."
(in 16 reviews)
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302 reviews in English
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Review from dina s.
Concord, CA
2/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Note- my trip to the Tech Museum was during a company party, not during regular hours.
This is a pretty neat space with lots of different exhibits to explore. The main entrace is located on the second floor and there is one floor below and one above. Some of the exhibits are more geared toward children, but many are adult-friendly, too. We especially liked the giant Google Earth exhibit.
This seems like a fun place to go with a family. -
Review from Golda R.
2/4/2012
My husband and I finally checked this place out after a brief visit to the San Jose Museum of Art. It so happened to be a free day for BofA card members and my husband was able to get in for free. I on the other hand had to be charged $10 for my admission (not bad). To make the most of our visit, we also decided to do the IMAX theater. Let me just say we had a lot of fun!
I can't even begin to describe the IMAX theater. We saw an animal documentary called "Born to be Wild" and we both felt like we were among them. The screen is not your typical flat screen, but instead you view from the concavity of the dome. We didn't realize until the movie started that the screen was going to encompass the entire dome. It engaged our peripherals so much, which is why we both felt like we were there with the animals.
The exhibits are also really fun. We saw several couples like us, but majority were families with little children. I think this place is great for kids who are 5 and above. It can get pretty techy, but there are tons of hands-on displays to engage your children. I could see myself getting an annual pass here when my kids come of age.Listed in: Things to do - Bay Area, Family Fun
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Review from Audrey C.
Los Altos, CA
1/19/2012
The Tech is a fun, interactive, science museum. I remember going to The Tech as a child, even when it was still called The Garage. There were always interesting exhibits to observe or participate in.
While some of those fun aspects of the original Tech Museum are still in their current museum, it is definitely not as fun as I recall it being. I would recommend this as a place to visit for children or for adults who have never been.
One of the highlights that I did enjoy was the Google Liquid Galaxy exhibit. Using their Google Earth and making it 3D, you are able to navigate the earth in a nearly 360 degree room. It was fun to use the joystick to navigate and find our homes.
On the plus side, we did receive free tickets to the special exhibit, Ingenious Innovations: Islamic Science Rediscovered. -
Review from Fannie S.
1/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is pretty fun. And it is huge. And everything is definitely on a large scale. Prices are reasonable, for adults, children, and if you bring a student ID, it's even cheaper. And they only charge a few dollars more for IMAX feature.
Earthquake exhibit, definitely a must-do! Robots = awesome...when they are working.
Displays were nice and interesting. I especially appreciated all of the NASA stuff.
Tech store, chock full of wonderful gifts, and I especially loved the "Come to the Dork Side, we have Pi (symbol)" tee.
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What I don't like about this place: It's 2012 now. The last update must have taken place about 20 years ago. Now the 1990s was not that long ago, but if you use some of the computers, mice, etc...you'll see what I mean. It's a TECH museum, you should display your videos on newer screens, with new technological accessories. I mean, really, a 1990s arcade button and this huge cue ball sized stationary mouse?!? (I'm not talking about the items BEHIND the glass.)
Free exhibit to "Ingenious Innovations Islamic Science Rediscovered" was okay. Everything is beautiful, full of history but... it was crowded. As in there is limited space for the displays, in a very large area! I was rather intrigued by Al-Jazari's Elephant Clock, using water technology.
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Overall, I'll come back, if they start updating this place a bit more. -
Review from Sue Ellen E.
Santa Clara, CA
12/29/2011
The Tech is not among my favorite museums. I found it rather boring. It could be so much better. But, since I'm not doing my own tech museum, I'm glad this one is here for others to enjoy. The staff are certainly very nice here.
The main reason we went was for IMAX's Ghosts of the Abyss. It's James Cameron's intimate, personal look at the wreckage of Titanic. As a film, it was intense and heartbreaking. If you haven't seen it and want to see what interested Cameron about the doomed ship, minus the hokey love story of his blockbuster movie, check it out. But bring tissue! For anyone to not be affected -- especially when shown pictures of the babies and young children who perished -- they must either be all studied out and have heard/seen it all before, or they're not paying attention. Also, it was cool to see that the topic means a lot to Cameron and how determined he was to follow his heart and find out as much as he could about something he depicted in his movie. I'd never thought much of the director; had always heard he's an ass, but I respect when people care about past events.
For an environment in which to view a film, we disliked it. The IMAX here is totally cramped and uncomfortable. It's easily the worst theater viewing experience I've ever had. My neck hurt the whole time. I just wanted to go home, even though the movie truly deserved the largeness of the screen. Wouldn't return here no matter what happened to be playing (check their site for current listing).Listed in: Movie Venues
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Review from crystal v.
San Jose, CA
1/22/2012 Purchased a Yelp Deal
When I found out that Yelp! had gotten The Body Exhibit deals I jumped on the opportunity! (The little nerd in me squealed! lol) The museum hasn't changed much from when I went last which was probably about five years ago. Parking in downtown is pretty hard to find, especially in the Cesar Chavez area. We gave in and payed to park in the hourly lot across the street ($$). After the Body Exhibit, we went into the museum to check it out and it felt like time stood still. I feel like they need a face lift. The only thing interesting was the earthquake stimulator. Mehs, I can't find another reason to go again.
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Review from Ann L.
Updated - 12/27/2011 1 photo
FREE exhibit to "Ingenious Innovations Islamic Science Rediscovered" now thru 2/26/12 doesn't mean it's worth going!
Since I was in the area anyways decided to check it out. Had to get a ticket even though it's FREE. Line was a bit long for me, but moved.
Gotta go out the building & around the corner where it's showing. Guy scanned my ticket. No photos allowed because if anyone saw it they really wouldn't want to go.
Mostly about who invented what & when. Some things for the kids & adults to play with.
Not impressed. Took about 20 minutes to see it all pretty quickly, too boring to stay for very long.3 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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12/18/2010
We went to The Tech Museum in SJ to see Body World Vital. We went to the last Body World & liked it… Read more »
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Review from Steph V.
12/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
You don't have to be a kid to like this place. There's something for everyone and although it's not the best (in terms of upkeep and new exhibits), I can tell from my last visit that they're trying to change that. Here's my favorite parts of the Tech:
+ Earthquake exhibit: You can experience several major earthquakes, ground shaking and all, in this exhibit. Wait for the SF one, it's a trip
+ Robot drawing: A computer takes your picture and a robot arm grabs a pen and piece of paper and draws you.
+ IMAX: The one I saw just recently is called "Born to be Wild" about orphan orangutans and orphan baby elephants. It was a beautiful story :)
+ Tech store: They have a lot of whacky gifts for kids and adults that test your mind and make you smile (dolls and costumes and books, oh my!)
+ New exhibits seasonally: Like Body Worlds! That was awesome!!
If I were a kid, I'd think this place is huge. As an adult, you're really only there for like 45 min and it can get boring if you've gone through all the exhibits. If you have kids, I recommend taking them here for either a tour of the museum or for a IMAX movie. Either way, the Tech is a SJ staple. -
Review from Ellie F.
12/3/2011
We love the Tech.
I won a membership this past year, and we used it to the hilt. Member parties, Night at the Museum, guest lectures, special exhibits (Body Worlds - YES), IMAX movies... we've really gotten use out of it. So much so, that we'll be purchasing our own membership next year.
The staff has always been helpful and courteous, the museum and theatre are always clean, the store is fun, and the exhibits themselves are interactive and interesting.
Take your kids - there's plenty to do. Make sure to use your Tech Tag (bar code on your ticket) so the visit can follow you all the way home. Online you can access pictures from the thermal camera, 360 picture, art you make on touch screens, and be reminded of exhibits you check in at.
I repeat - we love the Tech. -
Review from Micki S.
San Jose, CA
1/21/2012
My kids and I visited the Islamic Science exhibit today, because it was free. Worth a visit, although we were satisfied we had seen enough after 45 minutes. My third-graders liked best the short walkway with armrails to guide their arms into flapping like a bird in flight; it was fun and we almost felt like we had learned the true secret to flying.
It's good that the exhibit was free, because the Tech usually has a bad practice of charging even members a sizable extra fee for the big exhibit du jour. The regular museum was charging admission fees today and we didn't go. IMAX also costs extra. Although a couple years ago we were members of the museum, our experience is that the museum is actually pretty boring on a 2nd or subsequent visit. Plan your one visit in a lifetime accordingly!
Out of towners who want to immerse themselves in Silicon Valley Tech should skip this museum and try the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, the Intel Museum in Santa Clara (which should be better known!), and -- if they are lucky enough to have a guide -- consider making a pilgrimage to Palo Alto to the birthplace of Silicon Valley (Google "HP the Garage"). -
Review from Paul C.
Palo Alto, CA
1/16/2012
My kids go here once or twice a year, and they always love it. We tend to forget the place is even here in Silicon Valley, but it is worth a visit. If you love tech and science, then this is the place.
The exhibits are fun and engaging for the kids. And it is nice to stroll in the Caesar Chavez park right across the street.
If you can, catch a movie at the IMAX. Overall, this place is a must-see in Silicon Valley and they need visitors, so make it an outing.
Cheers -
Review from Marcy K.
10/27/2011
Spent some time in northern CA recently and decided to check out the Tech Museum. There are different price levels, some with IMAX, some with special exhibits, and then the "base" price. The cashiers were a bit inattentive, but we were able to purchase the basic package.
A section in which kids demonstrated their experiments was interesting, but the sound levels were uneven. With all "speaking" at once, it was hard to concentrate. I also believe some of the presentations didn't match the equipment in front of the screen, and some of the apparatus was broken.
The most intriguing sections were the exploration ones about earthquakes and space. In the earthquake area, you can step on an earthquake platform and feel earthquakes of different magnitudes. One with an 8.2 sent some kids flying. The music area was also impressive, and I was able to push blue domes and write my own tune. I also enjoyed the robotics section, especially where you typed your name and had the robot retrieve the letters and arrange them in order.
There were several experiments that I would have been interested in trying, but there was no one available to show me what to do. The instructions weren't self-explanatory.
The restrooms were dirty and the whole museum seemed "tired." It needs some cleaning and upgrading.
We spent about 2 hours here but am sure we missed a lot of the exhibits. Unfortunately, we came at about 12 and became part of a class trip of about 20 buses of school children who were yelling and jumping about. Not so much supervision. Way too noisy for me. Note to self: Get to this place after about 2:30. -
Review from Anjali V.
11/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
***Disclaimer***
The opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily state or reflect the views of any particular school's/districts, group members or anyone affiliated.
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Wow, I encountered one of the rudest women I ever met in my life and I'm sad to report she works for at this particular venue. What's worse, I was at work at the time or rather I should say, we were on a field trip. You see, I'm a teacher and we came here on a recent school trip. I work in special education.
The lady made egregious comments about my students loudly to me I can only assume since nobody else was around and she was staring directly at me with this disgusted look on her face. Never in all the years of my work have I ever encountered such behavior. Especially an "elderly" indvidual who you'd think would have more common sense not to mention tolerance.
Although this doesn't have much to do with the museum except for the fact that they employe this woman, I still feel something needed to be said. My hope is that some HR person will read this and maybe one day, the employee's at this place will have to undergo sensitivity training and review discrimination laws.
The museum itself is a pretty cool place to take kids who are older than 6 in my opinion. Younger than that, I think it's hard to grasp many of the concepts being shown. However, it's a good way to introduce one to science and get them interested.
Lastly, the IMAX movie was great. The kids loved it. Sound quality was perfect (though a little too loud for some ^_^ ) I would come back again because over all, the museum is still a good learning experience and my kids have had a lot of good memories the last two times I've visited. -
Review from Suzi H.
San Jose, CA
10/21/2011
It's been years since I've been to the Tech Museum proper, but I've attended a couple of their special exhibits and consistently, I'm underwhelmed.
The current exhibit, "Islamic Science Rediscovered", costs $16.99 with a student discount. (Normal adult admission is $18.99) I visited about a week after the exhibit opened, and the place was empty. My friend and I were the only visitors the entire time we were there. So, if you don't like crowds, maybe this is something you want to see. Trust me, though, you don't need to bother.
For $17 or $19, I would expect more than a single room exhibit. The nine displays are arranged in circle, each focused on an theme like "Water Control", "Mathematics", "Medicine" and so on. There were some cool things at the exhibits - wooden models of different inventions, magnetic boards where kids can try making geometric patterns with colored shapes, and even trivia games based on the lives of famous Muslim explorers. But it took us less than an hour to see everything, even allowing time to take notes for a class.
I assume this must be a traveling exhibition, because some of the displays were really beat up, most noticeably the props for "make your own geometric shape" and "build an arch!" I wouldn't expect that kind of wear and tear from a show that just opened.
$17 for an hour's so-so entertainment? That's pretty weak. If we had wanted to visit the rest of the Tech Museum or see an IMAX movie, we would have had to shell out even more money. Pfft. I'd much rather go somewhere else.
Previous exhibits I've attended are also consistently overpriced. The Star Trek exhibition back in 2010 was $25 per person and contained a few sets, a few costumes and very little interactive exhibits, unless you were willing to pay even more money for a staff member to take a picture of you.
Bottom line: The Tech gets some interesting special exhibitions in, but they're totally overpriced for the content provided. -
Review from Jennifer C.
Millbrae, CA
10/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came two times in the past 3 years for field trips. I think overall, this place is average. We end up spending the last hour bored and in the gift shop (of course this is the best place/attraction for kids). We attended some of the classes they offered about electronics/magnets/etc. and the other class attended one on earthquakes. The kids enjoyed both, but I felt it wasn't too ....FUN. You can tell who is a teacher and who isn't. The classes needed to be more lively and entertaining instead of sitting at a table. The hands-on is of course the biggest plus but overall, I wouldn't want to come back.
The other attractions and hands-on experiments around the museum are pretty fun. You can finish it in an hour or less unless you really read and try to understand each. For students, it was too much reading with no guidance.
Tech..bleck. -
Review from Lisa T.
Mountain View, CA
11/7/2011
I went here after several years of not going because I felt that my child was too young for a lot of exhibits. I brought my 16 year old nephew and he was digging the interactive exhibits, which were a lot of fun, even to me. I even became a member because I think my kid is old enough now and I had to take my nephew back for a second visit to see everything.
It was tough to find the roller coaster creator and we finally did, but I thought previously there were more options. The earthquake simulator was interesting, but it only moved side to side, no up and down for a real simulation. We also enjoyed the genetics area & the green products area.
It seemed that there are a lot of big empty areas that could have used some more displays, but maybe it works when there are docents with student field trips. We went during the middle of the week, just after school had started, so it was pretty empty. -
Review from Melanie B.
Santa Clara, CA
Great field trip place! This place doesn't charge if you're a Title 1 school. Also, they will reimburse part of your transportation fee if you're a Title 1 school.
We saw the Volcano IMAX and the kids enjoyed it. I also got a teacher's pass that will allow me to watch all the IMAX movies for half the price. -
Review from Matt L.
San Jose, CA
1/5/2012 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Fun museum. I've been coming here for years and love their interactive displays. The Imax theater is also very impressive.
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Review from Devon M.
San Jose, CA
11/3/2011
Finally made it back to the tech after many years (I actually volunteered there for a few years after it first opened) and was sadly let down. I went with a group of two other people to check out the Tech After Dark program as I have been blown away by a similar type of program at the Academy of Sciences and the Exploratorium.
However I was not impressed, unlike "Nightlife" at the academy of sciences in San Francisco, this event was a ghost town and it felt very thrown together. There were no live DJs playing music, many of the exhibits were "offline" or areas were closed completely (might be doing some upgrades, I haven't been in a while) and the exhibits that were open felt out dated and tired. I mean this is a silicon valley icon, I was not expecting to be underwhelmed.
As my friend pointed out, there was more impressive technology in my iPhone 4S and we spent most of our time sipping on drinks while coming up with funny things to ask Siri.
Activity wise the star gazing on the roof was probably one of the most interesting parts, however due to SJ's light pollution it was hard to see much beyond the brightest of stars.
Now the one positive thing was that the bars, while a bit over priced did not skimp on the alcohol. All of our drinks were made with premium spirits and given an extra shot on top, I couldn't complain.
All in all no real plans to go back, maybe check out an IMAX movie sometime but even that is no longer really unique to the Tech as they are popping up all over the place now. As a place that I even had the pleasure of volunteering at I was really hoping to have a better experience then I did, oh well! -
Review from Ms M.
Los Angeles, CA
8/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
If you can find parking, evade the crowds and the silicon valley helicopter parents who work the interactive exhibits for their spawn, then this is the most wonderful place- I like the emphasis on innovation and invention. Good hands on exhibits and hall of fame downstairs.
The exhibits are well designed and presented. It is so great to go to a Science Museum where the science isn't "dumbed" down to the lowest common denominator. There is something for everyone from your 4year old to your father inlaw with the doctorate in system engineering.
Also my favorite, absolute favorite are the retired engineers that work here during the week. One spent 20 minutes with our son explaining the etching process of semi-conductors and purification of silicon. He, as well as others of this amazing type, shared their passion for science and invention. My son had recently studied Edison, so the connection made was great. We love the emphasis on contemporary innovation. There are marvelous exhibits that demonstrate how new technology is impacting the lives of people in remote and poverty stricken nations, as opposed to the dotcom billionaires and the all mighty dollar. The curation in presenting the SF Bay Area's role in technology is very well illustrated. The tucked away homage to Hewlett and Packard's garage near the restaurant is not only humbling, but inspiring to the nature of invention and working together with a common vision.
I just wish that the rest of their staff were as well read and as passionate about science. Though I would guess that it would be hard to find museum staff with that degree of knowledge that would work at this sort of instutuion rather than in a start- up. We have had equally terrible experiences with college age employees who seem more interested in policing and talking to each other than sharing any degree of enthusiasm for what this museum offers.
Tips:
Park in the Convention Centre Parking lot and validate your ticket at the info booth.
Leave for lunch- the noise here is unbearable, plus you owe it to yourself to stroll in the eternal City of Beige for a much need sensory break.
Come during week in the late weeks of August and September- the museum is ghostly quiet and you'll have the whole place to yourself. -
Review from Teresa C.
San Francisco, CA
12/19/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Came here when they had their Body Expo exhibit. I was expecting a much bigger exhibit, but it was still interesting. I am quite impressed with the rest of the museum. I've never been to a museum that has such a focus on technology. It also has exhibits appropriate for children. Wished I had more time here!
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Review from Desmond C.
San Jose, CA
8/4/2011
Don't expect this to be the Nightlife at the Academy of Sciences in San Francisco.
+ CLEANLINESS: 3/5
+ SERVICE: 2/5
+ DRINKS: 2/5
This review is for the After Hours event that they host for people 21+ on the first Wednesday of every month. I didn't have high expectations before going here, but I wanted to check it out because I've never been to the Tech Museum.
The first encounter with the lady at the door was very pleasant. She was really cool and pretty much just checked our id's before we can go inside. The next encounter was a complete 180. Our large group had called in for a quote for a group discount and got it confirmed. However, once we got to the counter, they said that they can't validate the group discount because it doesn't include "Special Events." Apparently the employees haven't been trained or updated on the prices because it clearly states it on the After Hours website that the group discount applies. So, we just stood inside waiting aimlessly before our friend got the page to load on her phone to show the employee. Plus, this event really isn't that special.
Once we got in, there was a dance floor at the very end. I'm not sure if anyone even danced. Then they had all the board games downstairs. The most interesting game was the oversized jenga. That was definitely the most popular one. They also have an oversized connect-four game. Other than games, there wasn't much to do. Most of the museum was closed except for the floor adjacent to the game room.
To my surprise, Yelp had a table inside! (I would have totally checked-in if Blackberry had that option on their App... Unless they already do, and I just don't know about it.).
This event is more of a one-time thing for people who are curious about this event. -
Review from Patrick B.
Palo Alto, CA
12/15/2011
Had a wonderful company event at the Tech and the place looked amazing at night. The staff were helpful, friendly, and the made for a fun night.
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Review from Phoenix G.
Mountain View, CA
11/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
who knew a bunch of 20-somethings could have so much fun at a museum?
we had so much fun we lost track of time and some of our group was almost late for the concert they were going to afterward!
we didn't get to see the main exhibit... so when you go make sure you give yourself more than 3 hours to check the whole place out, 4 hours if you're gonna go see an imax movie...
the museum is laid out over 3 stories. so make sure you don't forget to go in the basement! there is a lot of cool space stuff down there!
most of the exhibits are targeted toward kids... but if you're a kid at heart then you will find they are targeted to you too! -
Review from Nick A.
Fremont, CA
10/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place would be great for kids I'm sure, and I have fond memories of coming here when it first opened and I was a lot younger. Unfortunately it has not aged well - many of the exhibits are laughably out of date technologically. Kids probably wouldn't notice at all, but for anyone over 16, it will likely get boring quickly.
I went here to check out their event for post-kid audiences, nightlife. It was...ok. It wasn't bad, they had plenty to do and you could freely roam the museum and see the exhibits if you wanted, as well as dance, grab an expensive cocktail, and play with giant jenga blocks.
However, nothing there was particularly amazing or noteworthy - it was just an ok geeky organized event.
Their retro games corner was pretty lackluster, and the games provided were mainstream party games like apples to apples that most people already own (or know someone who does).
We enjoyed our time there but didn't find a strong incentive to come back. -
Review from Holly G.
San Francisco, CA
8/6/2011
I've read quite a few negative comments & feedbacks about the staff at this museum, but I really underestimated how bad it was going be until I encountered them firsthand.
First of all, downtown SJ where most of museums are located is not the easiest place to drive around (this coming from someone who has lived in downtown SF and NYC), the reason being lack of clear signage. Once we finally found the museum, we stationed the car at the 5 min loading zone and decided to find out where the best parking lot/garage would be.
I walked into the museum and immediately found 2 employees standing in front of the IMAX booth; however, they were engaged in a deep conversation ... one of them had her back towards me and was literally hiding the other employee from making an eye contact. Being aware of the ticking clock, I left them to continue their discussion and moved on to the concession stand. Again there were 2 employees, one helping a customer and the other replenishing the shelves. The employee who was restocking seemed to be stressed out by my presence, and when I approached her, she immediately spouted, "I'll be right with you!"
I doubted she had any intention of getting back to me as she was engrossed in replenishing the sugar bombs. So, I moved on to the ticket counter, where 2 employees sat despondently, but finally, I was able to get the information I needed ... or so I thought. When we got to the parking garage for which the staff had informed me the museum would validate, it had a big sign in the front that said, "We do not accept parking validation from Tech Museum". Safe to say, we did not return to the museum.
Note to self ... next time, check out the website for parking in SJ downtown http://www.sjdowntownp...Comment from Elizabeth W. of The Tech Museum 8/11/2011
Hi Holly, Thank you for sharing details about your recent… More » -
Review from Mary rose F.
Las Vegas, NV
7/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
WHY: It is a great place to bring the entire family for an enjoyable and knowledgeable time!
WHERE: South Market Street in San Jose!
WHEN: 10am-5pm.
WHAT: On every vacation trip, I love stopping and taking advantage of local museums!! I added this one to my agenda because I also wanted my nieces and nephews in on the fun! =D
This is a fairly small museum, but it sure was stimulating! We were definitely rolling deep (my friend and I, my cousin & his wife, and 5 kids). WE CAME THERE ON A MISSION, WE CAME THERE HUNGRY, WE CAME THERE FOR KNOWLEDGE! Haha.
There were many different exhibits. My favorite one was the genetics exhibit!! There was a bunch of lab desks where you are able to grow your own bacteria and see it glow!! My niece and were lab partners. I read the information while she performed it =). I was so proud! Lol
Another exhibit that became a hit was the arm wrestling around the world! I definitely need to work on my arms, because I found out then and there that my arms are weaklings! Lol. You were able to either arm wrestle against whoever you wanted, or a random person around the world who was on the machine as well. Pretty darn cool!
I can probably go on and on about each and every one exhibit, but I think I will cut it short so that you are not reading a novel. Lol. I loved the fact that they had a bunch of action-filled exhibits, allowing you to DO something. It for sure excited myself as well as my nieces & nephews!!
So, in the end... WE CAME, WE SAW, AND WE CONQUERED! =DListed in: Knowledge is POWER
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Review from Brad C.
9/20/2011
Three levels of open space but only worth visiting the top floor.
The building itself is ok in a post modern introverted old department store kind of way with an escalator atrium underneath the signature dome.
Downstairs was borderline terribly under designed for little kids and yet somehow uninteresting for older kids. No designated eating space or area to run around in for little kids and shoddy oversimplified exhibits for the older ones.
If you must go skip straight to the 3rd floor upstairs, awesome.
Interactive Adobe design space and silicon valley chip exhibit. African innovations for underdeveloped nations. Kinetic and AI potential with a little genetic sequencing thrown in.
For out of towners be sure to check your hometown memberships. Free Tickets! with our OMSI reciprocation was really great and stretched the vacation dollars. -
Review from Ingrid L.
Los Angeles, CA
9/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
I used to have a membership to the Tech Museum when I was in middle school. My BF and I had been in the bay for a week now, bored out of our minds so I thought I would bring him here to kill a couple of hours.
Got this link from another Yelp user http://www.sjdowntownp...\
Parked on the San Matteo/2nd st parking lot which takes Tech Museum validation. It is $5 with validation. You can also go get validated at the restaurants and stuff but you would need to repark every 2 hours.
Admission was $9 with a student discount. You can also go get a discounted ticket if you show your SJ library card if you want to see the IMAX movies as well. They put something on their site about how you can ask for an even more discounted ticket if you have trouble affording tickets which I thought was pretty cool.
About 75% of the exhibits were the same ones they had almost 6 years ago so I got bored pretty quickly. My bf seemed to enjoy it. -
Review from Anna K.
Milpitas, CA
6/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
I had the pleasure of chaperoning my daughter's kindergarten class field trip to the Tech Museum. They had a lot of interesting exhibits. The kids had fun scanning their cards at exhibits we visited and touching/playing with exhibits they were allowed to.
The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. The museum is really clean and a cool place all around to go to. -
Review from Ray C.
9/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
#Subjective:
I presented to the museum for the first time today, and it was quite enjoyable. This place is extremely interactive, and very dynamic. Rooms are shaped and colored differently from each other. Using your admission ticket as a kind of "progress memory card," in which you can access later online when you get home, makes it a pretty good incentive for kids to do more things here.
#Objective:
-Main level (entrance): Gift shop, [italian] restaurant, ticket box for IMAX theater, large conference space for special events/exhibits. There's a large 2-story Rube Goldberg machine outside of the back doors.
-Upstairs: Started off with basics of how microchips, semiconductors are made. There are interactive stations on basic computer programming logic (boolean), and a pretty fun "machine" that will run the program you write. Learn about DNA and heredity with games on evolution, videos on oddly placed screens, etc. Other biology related exhibits here, also. The robots in the atrium can spell your name out in blocks, and you draw a picture. Next to it there's a 360 panorama camera that'll snap a photo every minute or so. Scan your ticket, access that picture online later.
-Downstairs: Earthquake simulator!! go into this mock room and experience a number of major earthquakes throughout history, see how they felt. Lots of interactive physics and energy usage demonstrations. Space exploration stuff, too.
#Impression:
Kids can definitely have a blast here, and learn a lot in the process. Some exhibits and their construction may seem a little outdated now. Compare yourself on how it stacks up to the Exploratorium.
#Plan:
Return to museum again in the near future, maybe when they have the 21+ After Hours event. -
Review from le s.
San Jose, CA
1/13/2012 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Excellent! I have taken my sons to this museum on a number of occasions and we have always had a fantastic time. The staff there are helpful and the facility ensures that children, of all ages, are educated and entertained.
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Review from H P.
Brentwood, CA
1/8/2012
Honestly, this "museum" should have had a warning somewhere that says "KIDS ONLY".... because my 22 y.o. boyfriend and I (23) did NOT enjoy this museum at all. Basically all the exhibits are for kids and were not interesting to us in the least bit. Good thing we got one admission ticket for free (Bank of America discount), otherwise we may have asked for our money back. Waste of time!! :(
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Review from Lori E.
San Francisco, CA
12/31/2011
The IMAX dome is a very cool experience. We watched Under the Sea. The Tech store has a lot of neat science related toys and books. Other than that I found it boring for the adults and kids, although our 6 yr old just liked the fact that you could touch things. Very disappointed as this is a huge space with a lot of potential. Really misses the mark. We should have gone to the Children's Museum instead.
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Review from William S.
Sunnyvale, CA
8/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
The Tech Museum is awesome! While it seems to be generally aimed at kids, the kids-at-heart will have an awesome time as well! (I'm just a big kid!)
The special exhibits are generally aimed at adults (Star Trek, Body Worlds, Etc.) and are always very entertaining and informative.
The IMAX dome is AWESOME!! You feel like you're right in the middle of the action (don't sit on the lower levels though, you will miss stuff!) The IMAX theater hosts special opening-night parties for some blockbuster releases on occasion and those are always tons of fun.
Last but not least, the museum is 'growing up' the first Wednesday of every month by offering the Tech Museum After Hours over 21 events. The bars pour very friendly drinks and the entertainment is fantastic!! -
Review from Mandie T.
San Jose, CA
7/2/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal 1 Check-in Here
This review is for the Body Worlds exhibit that was features at this museum. I purhased the yelp deal, which was two tickets to the Body Worlds exhibit and admission to the rest of the Tech Museum.
I was very psyched to see this exhibit. I saw a previous showing a few years back as well, and loved it. Call me weird, but I find the human body to be simply amazing. And to have the chance to see it on display like this, I couldn't pass up this second chance. The exhibit is very large with many different bodies, bones, nerves, organs, pictures to look at. There's information on each item to read. There's also an audio tour, if you so wish. What I really enjoy about this exhibit is that it is never too crowded and very orderly.
As for the rest of the museum...let down! Upon exiting Body Worlds with our lovely souvenirs and what not, we decided to explore the rest of the museum. I will say that it was nice to see that they have added quite a bit of exhibits, and there are activities for a variety of age groups (young and old alike). What drove me crazy was how crowded the museum was! It was ridiculous! There were lines to try almost every exhibit. I don't mean 2-3 people either. There were as much as 12 people waiting for an exhibit, and people saving spots for groups. My poor daughter couldn't stand the wait. We strolled the museum in hopes of finding more things for her to get her hands on and try. We found a few exhibits, literally 2, she didn't have to wait for. Everything else was so crowded, we both became frustrated and left for lunch.
But at least we were ableto enjoy what we came for: Body Worlds. The Tech Museum itself is a let down due to the amount of people they allow in. They should seriously have some kind of crowd control or people to organize the more popular hands-on exhibits.
5 stars to Body Worlds. 3 to the Tech Museum. 4 to average it out. -
Review from Sean M.
San Jose, CA
6/12/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I have been here only a few times. And each time has been with differe t age group kids. I must admit, I'd kinda like to go solo so I could check everything out myself. There are plenty of things to do here. Tons to get your hands on. Plenty of manipulatives, gadgets, "experimentations", explorative things. You could stay a decent chunk of the day (if not all day) if you wanted to really see and check it all out thoroughly.
Even though all age levels (4-100) would be entertained here, I'd say the best target range would be 8-13. Older kids would be put off by the younger ones, and the younger kids (while having fun banging on things and playing with them) would not quite understand most things.
The place is three floors, the main floor being more for the IMAX, store, hall, etc. I'd plan on at least one hour per upper and lower floor.
The Tech also boasts a pretty awesome IMAX theatre. With ticket purchase to Tech you get one IMAX ticket(pretty cool IMO). They play lots of great documentaries on earth, space, etc. Fun to geek out on. Great chance for break from Tech action too.
People that work there aren't really the nicest, but they're not mean either. Just kinda there. I know at some learning places like this(a recent one I went to was the Monterey Aquarium), the staff really has a passion, an enthusiasm about the place and kids. Here, not as much.
The museum is downtown which means parkings not fun or cheap, but if you don't mind walking a few blocks it's not too bad. There's also good food options since it's downtown, or eat in the cafe there.
Overall if you haven't been definitely go! Great experience for kids. Affordable, and the passes are very reasonable too. It does get quite packed at peak times(weekends) so be prepared. -
Review from Eva H.
5/13/2011 5 photos
For the "Tech Museum" in the heart of Silicon Valley- this was pretty low-tech....
i came here for a day of nerdy-fun but found it only mildly amusing. My boyfrd pointed out the tracking ball of the computers didn't even work properly.
some cool things we did find and enjoy
- the jet-pack "ride"
- the e-quake stimulator
- the robot that draws your portrait and you get to keep it
- the video, tiltable maze
- the robot that spells stuff with play blocks
- the touch screens where you can make your own art and it shows up on a screen
The staff while looking really really bored, were really nice when you did show interest in trying something.
I'm sure some of my CS and engineering friends would come here and chuckle and crack jokes about the *History* of Tech Museum.... -
Review from Darrel D.
Castro Valley, CA
11/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was here today, and had an absolute blast. Currently, this museum is displaying technological/science exhibits which are interactive (it's really cool-trust me). A lot of people brought their kids, and the types of exhibits I saw are perfect for kids 4 years of age and older. Also, I checked out the domed IMAX-the film about Arabia. This film was fantastic as it explored over 2,000 years of history, the music was great, and the video was very colorful/artistic. If going to see films at the domed IMAX, be sure to sit in the top rows in order to avoid dizziness during fast moving scenes/zoom-ins. A bonus is that the restroom was spotless, and that the staff are friendly, and considerate.
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Review from Adrienne H.
Palo Alto, CA
9/10/2011
I came here for an alumni event and after the event we got to explore the museum. I was really impressed! Its not a huge museum, but for its size, its really great. I was surprised & really pleased by how many exhibits were both interactive and engaging to me as an adult with a science undergrad degree (I thought way more than at the Exploratorium, which honestly really bored me). I found a lot of them really unique and not the typical stuff you see in every science museum. On the top floor, there were exhibits about microchip design, robots and computer graphics, with a focus on Silicon Valley and the role this area played in those innovations, which I thought was really cool. They were explained at a level that an elementary schooler could understand, but were still very interesting to me. There was also a genetics area, including an area where you could do a lab experiment to insert a jellyfish protein into a bacterium, using pipettes and petri dishes and everything!! I've never seen anything like that in a science museum. There was also a surgery display where they showed you how laparoscopic surgery works & you got to control the endoscope. I thought that was pretty cool too.
The downstairs is "exploration" themed and has areas about space exploration (complete with a jet pack chair you can sit in & move around in, and a Mars rover you can control) and underwater exploration (with underwater robot you can control). There's also an earthquake area where you can look inside a real seismometer and go on the "earthquake platform" to feel earthquakes of different magnitudes.
I was also impressed by how tech savvy the museum was (I guess that shouldn't be a big surprise). At many stations you could scan your ticket and then go to a website later to view photos they took, results of experiments you did, etc. I thought that was really awesome.
We had our admission paid by the event, but I think I would have been very satisfied even paying full price ($12). That's not too much more than the price of a movie these days. We spent about 2 hours there and I thought that was pretty adequate, but I was also not bored when we left. If you have kids or you want to see any of the IMAX or special exhibits, I think you could definitely spend a half day or more. The size of this museum is certainly not on par with the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago (the museum by which I judge all science museums), but the actual exhibits themselves were just as interesting & engaging as I recall the ones at the MS&I being. I would definitely return.
