McWane Science Center

Sparking wonder and curiosity about our world through hands-on science experiences.

01/07/2024

Have you experienced the Questioneers exhibit at McWane Science Center yet?

Iggy Peck has one passion: architecture. He uses anything around the house and classroom to satisfy his insatiable passion for building. Build an arch made of pancakes or suspend a bridge made of wooden planks and shoe laces from the park to the island.

Questioneers of all ages can be an architect with Iggy Peck, Architect in the exhibit The Questioneers: Read. Question. Think. PLAY!

01/06/2024

🌟 Join us for a royally entertaining night at McWane Science Center's next 21+ event, Friday Nights @ McWane: A Night Out with Queen! 🎸👑

📅 When: January 19th, 7pm - 10pm
📍 Where: McWane Science Center

🎥 Immerse yourself in the magic of Queen with an exclusive IMAX showing of the iconic "Queen Rock Montreal" movie. 🎬

🎉 Explore the first floor of the museum with music themed science programming and demonstrations in Rushton Theater, bringing the legendary band's spirit to life! 🤘

💃 Enjoy beer, wine, or mixed drinks from the cash bar and dance the night away with the fantastic DJ Rod, spinning Queen hits and more! 🎶

🍸 Don't miss our cash bar featuring a selection of wines, beers, and mixed drinks to keep the celebration going. This 21+ event promises an unforgettable evening filled with science, music, and the spirit of Queen. Secure your spot now and let's rock this night out! 🎉👨‍🎤👩‍🎤

Cost: $15 event tickets, optional $10 add-on ticket for the Queen Rock Montreal IMAX movie.

🎟Tickets: https://mcwane.org/events/a-night-out-with-queen/

01/05/2024

Tot Spot Explorers is a program at McWane’s Itty Bitty Magic City for our youngest learners, up to 2 years. Every Friday at 10:30, join us to learn about the topic of the month.

January’s theme is weather! We will be discussing different types of weather each week, from wind, heat, rain, and cold/snow. We look forward to learning with you!

01/04/2024

Are you interested in a meaningful volunteer opportunity this summer? Do you have a passion for STEM and want to share it with others? Apply to the 2024 Summer Teen Program at McWane!

The McWane Volunteer Program is designed to allow passionate teens the opportunity to communicate STEM concepts with McWane visitors and Campers in an environment that emphasizes professional standards and growth.

6th-12th graders, apply here: https://mcwane.org/volunteer/

Applications close April 1st.

01/03/2024

Mysteries of Egypt returns to McWane Science Center's IMAX Dome next week! From January 10th to February 15th, we will be showing this classic documentary, remastered and optimized for IMAX Laser systems.

"Mysteries of Egypt transports audiences to a distant time and place by exploring the magnificent architectural feats, awe-inspiring legends and amazing history of the ancient Egyptian civilization. Re-live the discovery of the tomb and its prized possessions including King Tut’s mummy inside a coffin made of gold."

🎟Tickets: https://mcwane.org/imax-dome/

IMAX season presented by Regions.

12/31/2023

We will be closed tomorrow on New Years Day. We hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year!

12/29/2023

🎉New Year, New Discoveries!🎊

As one year ends, another will soon begin with new opportunities for adventure! This weekend we will be celebrating with special themed programs such as Out with a Bang, Tinker Shop: Making Noise, Design Challenge: Save the New Year, Let it Glow, and more! Programming is free with cost of admission.

January Happenings at McWane Science Center 12/28/2023

Step into a world of excitement and exploration this January at McWane Science Center!

January Happenings at McWane Science Center New Year, New Discoveries: Dive into January Excitement at McWane Science Center! New Year, New Discoveries: Dive into January Excitement at McWane Science Center! Step into a world of excitement and

12/27/2023

All aboard! The Magic of Model Trains is departing from McWane Science Center after December 31st. Don't miss out on this holiday classic!

12/25/2023

The holiday season is a very special time at McWane Science Center. While we're closed today and tomorrow, we hope that wherever you are, you're having a wonderful season, too!

12/24/2023

🎥🍿🍫🍬🍭Our IMAX Dome theater is open today for three showings of Wonka! Come grab something sweet from the concession stand and enjoy this deliciously charming film.

Pre-purchase your tickets here: https://mcwane.org/imax-dome

12/23/2023

We hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season! Our Adventure Halls will be closed from Sunday and will reopen Wednesday.

Our IMAX Dome theater will remain open on December 24th and will be showing Wonka at 1:30pm, 4:00pm, and 7:00pm. On December 25th and 26th, McWane will be closed.

12/22/2023

The LAST DAY to register for Homeschool Labs is December 29th, 2023! We have labs for students grades 1-12, occurring Wednesdays in January.

Learn more and register here: https://mcwane.org/learning/parents/homeschool-labs/

12/21/2023

🌎🌳☁️New exhibit coming in January!

Are you ready to explore our hanging planet through a different lens, immerse yourself in incredible ecosystems, and learn how the smallest of actions can have a big impact on our natural world? McWane Science Center is excited to announce the opening of Earth Matters: Rethink the Future in January 2024. This exhibit will allow you to dive deep into the science behind biodiversity, climate and carbon emissions and discover how we can innovate solutions for a more sustainable future.

12/20/2023

🎥🍿🎵🥂McWane's next 21+ event will be January 19th. Come enjoy A Night Out with Queen!

Join your friends at McWane Science Center at the Movie Nights @ McWane and “A Night Out with Queen” event! We are celebrating Queen’s Montreal Concert in our IMAX Dome Theater and excitement of science in our Level One Adventure Halls. Come for a night of fun and learning in this 21+ event. Cash Bar will be available, and DJ Rod will bring the magic of Queen to the dance floor. Add on a showing of the Montreal Concert in the theater. With that combination, if you are not already a superfan, you will ignite a love of Freddie and his band mates with a great time and amazing visual and audio presentation.

Reserve your tickets now at: https://mcwane.org/events/a-night-out-with-queen/

12/19/2023

Your construction crew—McWane Science Center and CraneWorks —are gearing up once again to bring Big Machines Day to Birmingham, Alabama. On February 24, 2024, visit McWane Science Center and build an incredible day of science, learning, and fun! Participation is included with the cost of admission.

12/18/2023

Last day to register for McWane Science Center's Winter Camps is this Wednesday, December 20th! We have limited openings in camps for 1st - 3rd and 4th - 6th grade, and one opening in our 4K - K camps.

Bring your curiosity and sense of wonder for hands-on, minds-on, science and fun! McWane camps offer further inquiry into science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) topics for children 4 to 13 years old. Campers learn about the deep oceans, journey into outer space, build robots, or spend time with our McWane animals.

Learn more and register at: https://mcwane.org/learning/parents/camps/

12/17/2023

Today is our last two showings of The Grinch (2018) in IMAX! The two shows will begin at 12:30pm and 2:30pm. Catch this holiday classic before it's gone for 2023 and get your tickets at the link in our bio!

And while you're here, meat the Grinch, himself! Today is the final Grinch Jingle Bell Party. Tickets can be purchased through the link in our bio.

12/16/2023

❄🎄🎉Tomorrow is your last chance to party with The Grinch at McWane in 2023!

It’s not a holiday event without the Grinch! This year, you’ll find him celebrating at McWane during the Jingle Bell Party and IMAX Movie event. Come celebrate with us at McWane Science Center where we will feature a full day of hands-on, family-friendly holiday activities, including: crafts, cookies and hot chocolate, dancing, photo ops with the Grinch, and an optional IMAX movie add-on.

Tickets are $8 in addition to museum admission. Movie tickets to The Grinch (2018) in IMAX are an additional $10 add on. Get your tickets now at: https://mcwane.org/events/the-grinchs-jingle-bell-party-2/

12/15/2023

🎟🎥🍿Weekend movie alert! Wonka is now playing at McWane Science Center's IMAX Dome!

Tickets available at: https://mcwane.org/imax-dome/

12/14/2023

🎵Come with me,
And you'll be,
In a world of science and invention!🎵

Indulge your senses at 🍫🍭🍬Sweet Science this weekend, a delectable weekend of taste exploration, food chemistry adventures, and a journey into the delicious science of candy! Discover the secrets behind your favorite treats and uncover the magic that makes W***y Wonka's world so sweet.

Programming included with cost of admission.

Photos from McWane Science Center's post 12/13/2023

🚀✈️Here's a peek at our new exhibit, The Questioneers: Read. Question. Think. PLAY!

Rosie Revere dreams of becoming a great engineer as she constructs countless inventions from odds and ends. Explore the properties of air, design a rocket, and see how far you can fly a paper airplane.

Questioneers of all ages can be an engineer with Rosie Revere, Engineer in the exhibit The Questioneers: Read. Question. Think. PLAY!

Learn more about this exhibit and plan your visit to McWane Science Center at: https://mcwane.org/explore/exhibits/special-exhibits/

Photos from McWane Science Center's post 12/12/2023

❄🎉We had a jolly good time at this year's Members Only Holiday Party! Thank you to everyone who came out to party, dance, drink lots of hot chocolate, and meet Santa.

A special thanks to our Education who facilitated an Engineering Design Challenge where participants used the engineering design process to solve problems with a budgeted set of supplies; Chemistry Makes Scents where participants investigate different scents and dive into the chemistry behind how we smell; and a Tinker Shop where participants use their creativity and tinkering skills to construct their own toys. And, as always, thank you to our wonderful team of volunteers who helped ensure that everyone had a merry time!

The party doesn't stop here, though! Become a member a McWane member and make memories year-round! Learn more about becoming a member at https://mcwane.org/become-a-member/

12/11/2023

Make this holiday season WONDERFUL by giving the gift of science! A McWane Science Center membership is the gift that gives all year round.

McWane members can enjoy these benefits, all year long:
🌟FREE admission to all four floors of the Adventure Halls for full year, including Itty Bitty Magic City
🌟FREE PARKING in McWane Science Center’s parking deck (when attending MSC events)
🌟20% DISCOUNT on sweet gear in our gift shop, the Cool Stuff Store
🌟10% DISCOUNT on hip, healthy food in the Bean Sprouts café
🌟FREE or DISCOUNTED ADMISSION to over 300 science centers worldwide (ASTC)
🌟DISCOUNTS on McWane Science Center camps and classes
🌟$1 OFF all guest admission tickets
🌟$1 OFF all IMAX feature-length movies
🌟$2 OFF IMAX Educational Documentaries

Head on over to our website to give the smartest gift in town!
https://mcwanesciencecenter.secure-cdn.na3.accessoticketing.com/packageList/keyword/Gift%20Memberships?queueittoken=e_mcwanesciencecenter~q_99f01927-872d-4e4c-985a-9b49353214c2~ts_1682956737~ce_true~rt_safetynet~h_591145ba301c9979bb6bab4218c9ef1affb7811e05a44b3ba732cf81e1bfa0d0

12/10/2023

The McWane Science Center Members Only Holiday Party is TONIGHT!

Dust off the Santa hats, elf ears, reindeer noses and of course, the ugly sweaters. Come on out tonight, December 10th, for all the jingling, mingling and sciencing that you can handle!

The museum will have extended hours so that our members can enjoy minimal crowds and a fun night reserved just for you! As a McWane Member (our special VIP), you may arrive at any time on Sunday and extend your stay until 7:30 pm. That's right - We'll be rockin' until 7:30 pm!!!

12/09/2023

Today is the first of our two Grinch Jingle Bell Parties!

It’s not a holiday event without the Grinch! This year, you’ll find him celebrating at McWane during the Jingle Bell Party and IMAX Movie event. Come celebrate with us at McWane Science Center where we will feature a full day of hands-on, family-friendly holiday activities, including: crafts, cookies and hot chocolate, dancing, photo ops with the Grinch, and an optional IMAX movie add-on.

Tickets are $8 in addition to museum admission. Movie tickets to The Grinch (2018) in IMAX are an additional $10 add on. Tickets can be pre-purchased here: https://mcwane.org/events/the-grinchs-jingle-bell-party/

Photos from McWane Science Center's post 12/08/2023

We had a blast at Birmingham Squadron's STEM Fest! We got to talk to so many classes and schools about how science is in our daily lives and the importance of STEM education!

12/07/2023
12/06/2023

🖥️ Join us at McWane Science Center as we celebrate Computer Science Education Week! 🌐 From space exploration to genomics to Al and machine learning to climate science, tech innovations have led to groundbreaking discoveries across numerous fields. This Computer Science Education Week, we'll dive into interactive programs that highlight the future, emphasizing the path to a more thoughtful and diverse digital world. Programming included with cost of admission.

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Sparking wonder and curiosity about our world through hands-on science

20 Year of McWane Science Center McWane Science Center’s mission is to “spark wonder and curiosity about our world through hands-on science.” To accomplish this mission, McWane Science Center combines unique assets to create hands-on, science-learning experiences parents and teachers value and kids love. McWane Science Center has welcomed millions of visitors since opening its doors. Explorers — from ages 1 to 100 — flock year-round to see, to hear, to touch and to experience the wonder of science in one of the South’s most unique venues. McWane Science Center has a number of permanent exhibits that are a regular part of the science education experience. These include Itty Bitty Magic City, Explore! Collections Center, Alabama Dinosaurs and Sea Monsters, NatureScope, Fox 6 Weather Lab, Science on a Sphere, High Cycle, World of Water Aquarium, Shark and Ray Touch Tank, and the John W. Woods IMAX Dome Theater. McWane Science Center does not just focus on science, we strive to inspire children through science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and we believe great STEM learning involves inquisition. Students are not learning through lecture at McWane Science Center; they are learning by doing, asking questions, creating their own hypothesis, testing and re-thinking their own ideas and beliefs. McWane Science Center is affiliated with the Association of Science-Technology Centers.

Videos (show all)

Mysteries of Egypt - at McWane Science Center's IMAX Dome January 10th
All aboard! The Magic of Model Trains is departing from McWane Science Center after December 31st. Don't miss out on thi...
See Wonka in IMAX today at McWane's IMAX Dome!
🎟🎥🍿Weekend movie alert! Wonka is now playing at McWane Science Center's IMAX Dome!Tickets available at: https://mcwane.o...
✨Sci Sparks✨ - Fictitious Forces: Fundamental Phenomena or Faulty Physics?
Wonka - Coming soon to McWane Science Center's IMAX Dome
Have you braved the High Cycle at McWane Science Center?
Sci Sparks - It's a Gas! In this episode, we show you how to make instant clouds and explore gas laws!
Happy 🇺🇲America Recycles Day!♻️McWane Science Center is proud to announce the Re(Sci)cle Initiative, a recycling program...
Don't miss your chance to see the next big MCU movie, The Marvels at McWane Science Center's IMAX Dome! The film will sh...
Experience the Taylor Swift Eras Tour film on the BIGGEST screen in Alabama! At McWane Science Center's IMAX Dome only N...
The Marvels at McWane's IMAX Dome

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Telephone

Address


200 19th Street N
Birmingham, AL
35203

Opening Hours

Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 12pm - 5pm

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