Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)
OMG — OMSI is the coolest museum in town.
Margaret Seiler
Sitting on the Willamette River in Portland’s Central Eastside, this science museum is a must for any family to explore.
With a planetarium letting you and your little ones explore the stars, a giant-screen theater playing documentaries to Hollywood blockbusters, a retired navy submarine docked outside, traveling exhibits of all kinds, and “After Dark” events that pair science talk with beer and wine for the 21-and-over set, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry lures all ages.
But OMSI’s core fan base is still half-pints and STEM fans who can get their geek on and feel an earthquake, learn about physics in Turbine Hall, conduct experiments in interactive labs or watch storms form on a giant globe.
Questions About OMSI
When does OMSI open?
Sunday to Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Fall/Winter/Spring Hours:
Tuesday through Friday and Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Closed Mondays during the school year, except during school holidays.
For current hours please check OMSI’s website.
How much does it cost to go to OMSI?
Adult (14+) $19.00
Youth (3-13) $14.00
Senior (63+) $16.00
Children 3 years and under visit for free.
Ticket reservations are required for all ages.
There is an additional charge for touring the USS Blueback submarine ($8.50 per person) and Planetarium shows ($7.50 per person). Occasionally, there is an extra charge for a special exhibit.
Details are subject to change; please check OMSI’s website for current information.
Does OMSI offer discounted admission?
OMSI also participates in the Access for All program. Visitors with an EBT card may purchase up to four general admission tickets at $5 each. Show a valid, matching ID and your EBT card at the front desk.
Details are subject to change; please visit OMSI’s website for the most current information.
Where is OMSI?
Is there free parking at OMSI?
Visitors are encouraged to carpool or take public transportation. The Portland Streetcar’s Central Loop and MAX Light Rail Orange Line drop passengers a short walk from the OMSI’s front door.
With so much to see, many plan to spend a half or whole day at OMSI. You might be ready for a snack after all that fun, don’t worry. The renovated Theory Café takes museum fare to the next level, with goodies like oven-fired pizza, local beer sliders, and quinoa salad that can be enjoyed with Willamette River views. There’s even a tap list for adults! The Empirical Café, adjacent to the Empirical Theater, also serves snacks and drinks.
Just across the river from downtown, OMSI is easy to access by car, train, or bicycle. A wide sidewalk and well-marked pedestrian and bike lanes make the Hawthorne Bridge an easy stroll and the Portland Streetcar’s Central Loop and MAX Light Rail Orange Line drop passengers a short walk from the museum’s front door.
Family Fun
Portland keeps the whole family happy with these attractions and activities.
Oregon Zoo
Located near downtown Portland in Washington Park, the Oregon Zoo is home to more than 2,600 animals.
World Forestry Center Discovery Museum
Tree- and forest-lovers of all ages can learn about the importance of sustainability and experience a Portland icon at the World Forestry Center Discovery Museum, with exhibits on local and global forests.
Oaks Amusement Park
Offering carnival rides, midway games, a miniature golf course, a historic roller rink and more, Oaks Amusement Park has provided family fun since 1905.
Upcoming Science & Tech Events
Portland Festival of Cinema, Animation & Technology
Portland Festival of Cinema, Animation and Technology will screen over 110 films and animations from 23 countries. The event will include parties, panel presentations, and Q&A sessions with visiting filmmakers. Taking place in-person at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. The festival embraces cutting-edge technology and its role in modern filmmaking.
Sci-Fi Film Festival
For eight weeks this spring, OMSI’s 2024 Sci-Fi Film Festival will showcase over 40 of science fiction’s most memorable films on the Empirical Theater’s giant four-story screen. From genre classics such as 2001: A Space Odyssey to more recent favorites like Everything Everywhere All at Once, the festival’s offerings are sure to appeal to science…
Tyrannosaurs – Meet the Family
Tyrannosaurs – Meet the Family brings the latest tyrannosaur discoveries to life, overturning preconceptions about these ferocious predators. The exhibition explores the most feared and revered of all dinosaurs in new and different ways. The exhibition’s real and replica specimens are spectacular in scale and form and reveal some of the most significant discoveries…
OMSI After Dark: Garden Party
Get your cottagecore on as you explore the science of this beautiful planet we call home. OMSI After Dark is for the 21-and-over only crowd, where you can drink beer or wine and roam the museum with no kids around. We have science demos, performances, DJ’s, artisan food and beverage vendors and more.
OMSI Reel Science: Heceta Bank: Oregon’s Hidden Wonder
With Bill Pearcy, OSU; David Baker, OSU Productions; Annie Lindgren, PSU; Joe Liebezeit, Bird Alliance of Oregon, Kristen Forgrave, PSU; Lisa T. Ballance, OSU Hidden below the surface — 35 miles offshore from Cape Perpetua — there’s a submerged ecosystem that hugely impacts Oregon’s coastal habitats and the wildlife that call the ocean home. Heceta Bank:…
Star Wars Weekend at Washington Square
May the 4th Be With You: Star Wars Weekend at Washington Square. View Star Wars LEGO creations from PortLUG, meet LEGO Masters Season 4 Contestant Kelly Bartlett, experience a live LEGO building demonstration, Build a LEGO Spacecraft* and take it home with you, Meet members of the Cloud City Garrison (501st Legion) and Kashyyyk Base…
Archaeology Roadshow
The Archaeology Roadshow once again returns to Portland State University. Immerse yourself in the history and archaeology of Oregon through exhibits and hands-on activities hosted by archaeologists and heritage specialists from PSU, Tribes, museums, private and nonprofit organizations, and government agencies. The 2024 theme is the Archaeology of Food: try salmon, elk, or wappato and…
Bridge Tour
This downtown Portland walking tour will take participants around, across, under, and inside the unique and storied spans that shape the experience of those living and visiting Portland. The route will include several bridges (with specific spans TBA), and on one of those, the tour will plan to meet a Multnomah County bridge operator to…
Bitcoin is for Everyone
Bitcoin is for Everyone is a dynamic event dedicated to demystifying and exploring the world of Bitcoin. This gathering offers valuable insights, discussions, and networking opportunities. Engage with experts, share experiences, and be part of a community embracing the Bitcoin revolution. Open to all levels of interest and expertise. Set in the vibrant and progressive…
OMSI After Dark: Dinos
Straight out of the Cretaceous, come dig in at OMSI and check out dinosaurs, fossils, and more. OMSI After Dark is for the 21-and-over only crowd, where you can drink beer or wine and roam the museum with no kids around. We have science demos, performances, DJ’s, artisan food and beverage vendors and more.
OMSI After Dark: Blown Away
Explore all things explosive as OMSI blow the lid off the science behind blasts. OMSI After Dark is for the 21-and-over only crowd, where you can drink beer or wine and roam the museum with no kids around. We have science demos, performances, DJ’s, artisan food and beverage vendors and more.
Singu-Hilarity: A Stem Vaudeville Comedy Show
Do you love science? Do you love comedy? This show is for you. From a robotic stand-up comedian headliner to electronic music played on a novel instrument, this comedy variety show has everything needed to delight and entertain your inner nerd. Join a collision of the vaudevillian spirit of old with the technologies of modern-day. …
Geek Week PDX
The Worlds First City Wide Comic Con. The Geeks of Portland are uniting to bring you the worlds largest Pop Culture festival. Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Super Heroes and the Supernatural. Each quadrant of the city will be transformed into a new mythical realm. Cosplay, Film Festivals, Markets, Parties and Tournaments.
Rad Myco
The seventh biennial Rad Myco returns to the 40 acres of Brown Bottle Farm for a four-day family-friendly celebration of mushrooms, lichens, and the people who love them. Throughout the gathering, hundreds of naturalists, artists, and outdoor enthusiasts gather to watch fungi-inspired performances and learn from dozens of workshops and demonstrations. The farm’s barn…
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