Explore the Museum | Science Museum Oklahoma

Beautiful Minds at Science Museum Oklahoma

Beautiful Minds – Dyslexia and the Creative Advantage

Dyslexia affects as much as 4% of the world's population and often goes undiagnosed. Although dyslexia is labeled as a learning disability, it can also be seen as a different way of thinking — it changes the way millions of people read and process information. Explore the successes of those who think and thought outside the box when faced with the challenges of dyslexial, see the art of contemporary artists who have dyslexia, learn about some of the tools and resources for diagnosis and pathways to success, and even get hands-on with brain games! “Beautiful Minds – Dyslexia and the Creative Advantage” is open through July 14, 2019.

Into the Fold: The Art and Science of Origami

Named a must-see museum exhibit by USA TODAY, "Into the Fold: The Art and Science of Origami" features the work of 30 origami artists from around the world, including many of the foremost origami artists of today, including physicist Robert J. Lang, wildlife biologist Bernie Peyton, professional artist Paul Jackson, and MIT computer science professor Erik Demaine and his father, computer scientist and MIT artist-in-residence Martin Demaine. Explore the art form's diverse styles, backgrounds and techniques as well as the unique applications for origami — from solving problems in the fields of robotics, medicine and space exploration to uses in fashion and architecture! "Into the Fold: The Art and Science of Origami" is open through Jan. 13, 2019.

CurioCity

Get lost in this bustling, 20,000-square-foot city! Pronounced like "curiosity," in CurioCity's eight whimsical neighborhoods children are exposed to science through a number of interactive activities that encourage learning through play. Whether it’s storytelling, navigating obstacles, playing instruments or balancing a tightrope, there are plenty of ways to explore. Enjoy your stay in CurioCity!

Kirkpatrick Planetarium

Stargaze in the comfort of our relaxing and inspirational Kirkpatrick Planetarium, where you’ll learn about a variety of celestial bodies including constellations, meteor showers, planets and galaxies — shows are included with general admission! Check out this week's shows and showtimes, and please note that the planetarium is closed for routine maintenance the first Monday of each month.

Light Minded

Step into the dark and explore the science of light! In Light Minded, experience the shocking beauty of the plasma tube, freeze time with the Shadow Stopper, marvel at the power of the Tesla Coil, see how strobe lights play on piano strings, snap your shadow in three colors, see your body's heat patterns in living color with an infrared camera, and much more. This brilliant gallery will leave you enlightened!

How People Make Things

Hard hats and work vests on! Inspired by the factory tours in the “Mister Rogers' Neighborhood” television series, “How People Make Things” gives guests the chance to get hands-on with manufacturing processes as well as to use real tools and machines to create interesting items. Weave through the exhibit and try cutting with hand tools and die cuts, explore different molding and vacuum tools, deform pennies and wire, assemble a trolley like the one in Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, and more. "How People Make Things" was developed by the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh for the Arkansas Discovery Network and is available at SMO through mid-March.

Science Floor

The Science Floor is the heart of the museum, with hundreds of activities to teach, entertain and astound our guests. Learn to drive on two wheels in the Segway Park, effortlessly move a 400-pound weight with the Resonant Pendulum, and much more! The Science Floor is all things science. Experience all the activities during your visit, and the chances of having a scientist in the family may increase dramatically!

Elemental Worlds

Head to smART Space and step inside Elemental Worlds to explore your creative side! In this multimedia interactive art installation you'll use digital drawing tools to decorate and color one of 12 animals that will come to life in the 220-degree simulated digital forest — escape into creativity and relax with binaural frequencies, dynamic lighting, atmospheric effects, and the sounds of nature. The world resets every 15 minutes, but you can jump in at any time.

Tinkering Garage

In the Tinkering Garage, explore how engineering, art and technology collide. This exhibit puts the “fun” in science fundamentals. See where your creativity takes you as you design, create, invent and experiment in this all-ages, hands-on workshop. Activities in the Tinkering Garage change monthly — the only limit is your imagination!

Destination Space

What is the only state that can claim astronaut participation in every phase of NASA’s space program? It's Oklahoma! Come explore Destination Space for an introduction to all things space and exploration. Here, you’ll train like the professionals do. After learning to work and live in space and blasting off on an actual mission in the Mercury Simulator, you’ll be on your way to becoming an official astronaut.

KidSpace

Designed for little hands and fresh minds, Kid Space proves that there is no such thing as being too young for science! Your little scientist can experiment at our water table, explore SMO's fire station, climb aboard a tractor, paint their face, and more in a safe and secure environment. Touch, play, learn and explore at stations and exhibits specifically targeted to engaging young minds.

Gardens

The Gardens at Science Museum Oklahoma are made up of native and Oklahoma-proven plants and include numerous gardens, an aquaculture and permaculture demonstrations, a hobby greenhouse, lawn games and garden-specific programming throughout the year like SMO's "What's Growing On?" program. Learn more about our gardens >>

Aviation

Fly through the evolution of aviation, from Leonardo da Vinci’s drawings to modern aircraft in this exhibit. Explore the history and artifacts of famed Oklahoma aviator Wiley Post as you view one of the nation’s premier collections of vintage aircraft. These life-sized artifacts will send your imagination soaring as you get up close and personal with 1946 Stinson Voyager and a mint condition Mong Sport, designed by Tulsa’s own Ralph Mong in the 1950s.

Mind Games

Is it real or just an illusion? Can your eyes really play tricks on you? Challenge the fine line between perception and reality as you explore a world of mind-blowing optical illusions in Mind Games. You won’t believe your eyes!

GadgetTrees

Wood you like to know a secret? You see a giant two-story tree house, a massive spiral slide, pulleys and other backyard staples — we see simple machines at work during play! Simple machines affect your life on a daily basis, whether you realize it or not. Hop on Bernoulli's Bicycle for a ride, make clouds shimmer with air cannons, see how high you can make a ball fly with force and air, and more — it's a learning experience you'll never forget.

Tiny Tracks

Step back in history to a time when the world rode the rails in Tiny Tracks. This exhibit features an M.G. Pinky Martin model train snaking through 1,000 square feet of town and countryside, a collection of railway artifacts, and the museum's fully-restored 1929 Pullman Parlor Car. Peer through the windows for a glimpse of how people traveled in style during the 20th century!

Eye on the Sky

Learn about Oklahoma's extreme weather, step into a tornado simulator, try your hand at being a weather forecaster in the Select a Sky weather studio, make cloud rings and fog, and beyond! Eye on the Sky will take you on a journey through the atmosphere.

Oceanarium

Look into the deep sea — what do you see? The museum's Oceanarium has more than 50 unique kinds of ocean life — you'll get an up-close look at the world under the sea from coral to clownfish, sea urchins to anemones, starfish to sea snails and beyond — all without the need for SCUBA gear. Can you find Nemo? What about Dory?

Big Game Theory

In Big Game Theory, explore large-scale versions of classic board games of strategy like chess and checkers, design patterns and play with light on SMO's oversized light bright, play with potential energy as you line up dominoes, explore engineering with giant Jenga, get hands-on with physics as you build an enormous catenary arch, and more. Big Game Theory is located on the museum's second floor.

Power Play

Test your speed, strength, stamina, balance, and reaction time as you explore the science of sport, human physiology, and the power of the human body! Power Play features several interactive elements and physical challenges including a rock wall, a two-person, 50-foot dash course, a tug of war and climbing wall, a vertical jump and more.

smART Space

Art and science each provide a way for exploring and deepening our understanding of the world around us. Innovative and creative, artists and scientists have inspired each other for millennia. Explore that interaction through smART Space! smART Space is located on the museum's second floor and overlooks the atrium. The gallery is committed to bringing Oklahomans a combination of art and science that isn't found anywhere else. Take an extra look — you never know what you might find.