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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 just minutes from downtown Portland, the Oregon Zoo is home to more than 2,000 animals, including elephants, polar bears, rare condors and more.
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.
Portland Retro Gaming Expo
This annual celebration of classic video and arcade games features expert panels, cosplay competitions, dozens of local and international exhibitors with rare finds, and a 30,000-square-foot “retrocade” with hundreds of games to play.
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 Science Pub: Measuring the Taste of Beer
Measuring the Taste of Beer dives into the science of assessing beer quality by examining it through the lens of the drinker. Explore the main beer ingredients and how the science behind those ingredients play a role in the sensory experience of the final product. This easy-to-follow talk uncaps the secrets behind what makes a…
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. There will be science demos, performances, DJs, artisan food and beverage vendors and more.
Journey to the Future
Join the Portland Art Museum for a cutting-edge workshop designed for families with kids ages 11+ who are curious about technology and eager to dive into the world of virtual reality. In this hands-on, collaborative program, discover what VR is all about and how to navigate its wonders. Using hands-on activities, participants will experiment with…
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…
OMSI Science Pub: Cosmology with the James Webb Space Telescope
The second phase of the golden age for modern cosmology began with the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope last year. The JWST has met and exceeded all its designed capabilities and provides a window back into the very beginning of the Universe. The JWST allows us to study the era of galaxy formation,…
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. There will be science demos, performances, DJs, 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. …
OMSI After Dark: Pickle It
Let the fermented feast begin. Learn how to make pickles, sauerkraut 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. There will be science demos, performances, DJs, artisan food and beverage vendors and more.
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…
Portland Regional Gem and Mineral Show
The Portland Regional Gem and Mineral Show, the largest local rock and mineral show in the Portland metro area, is presented each year by five regional non-profit clubs to promote lapidary arts, geology, paleontology, and mineralogy. Visit the show to learn from a variety of great exhibits and demonstrations. 40+ dealers selling rocks, minerals, fossils,…
Richard Dawkins
Settle in for an unforgettable evening with Richard Dawkins, the world-renowned evolutionary biologist, author, and public intellectual, as he embarks on a highly anticipated tour across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, starting September 2024. Renowned for his unapologetic advocacy of science and reason, Dawkins is celebrated for groundbreaking work…
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