As a birthday surprise, we took my science loving granddaughter M. to the California Science Center in Los Angeles California. What I didn’t realize as we entered the museum was that I would be equally fascinated and intrigued by the fabulous exhibits housed there!
We bee-lined straight to the Endeavor Space-shuttle exhibit because we knew it would soon be crowded and we wanted to really take our time looking over the amazing exhibits. Endeavour, launched in 1992, successfully completed 25 missions into space, including the first service mission to the Hubble Space Telescope, as well as the first mission to add a U.S. component to the International Space Station.
A few of the exhibits showed how life is lived on the shuttle and space station. Of course we had to find out how they eat and go to the bathroom. What kid (and adult) wouldn’t be intrigued with that info! We viewed personal items used by the astronauts and even saw a re-creation of the computer laden control room that guided the shuttles.
A few of the exhibits showed how life is lived on the shuttle and space station. Of course we had to find out how they eat and go to the bathroom. What kid (and adult) wouldn’t be intrigued with that info! We viewed personal items used by the astronauts and even saw a re-creation of the computer laden control room that guided the shuttles.
After checking out the space-life exhibits, we boarded the “flight simulator” for a pretend flight to the space station to make repairs. The simulator rocks, rumbles and tilts in full simulation of the flight. Pretty cool!
Finally we entered the huge hangar room where the space shuttle Endeavor hangs from the ceiling. It was impressive (Sperm Whale sized) and we took our time looking at the hundreds of tiny heat-shield tiles that protected the shuttle surface, the giant engines that propelled the shuttle and the American insignias that graced its sides. Just looking at this amazing piece of American scientific engineering made me proud knowing what an accomplishment the space shuttle was for human-kind.
The Humans in Space Exhibit also contains some amazing early space capsules:
*Apollo-Soyuz Command Module that docked with a soviet space craft
*Gemini II Capsule flown in 1966
*Mercury Redstone2 Capsule which contained one of the first primates sent into space
*Apollo-Soyuz Command Module that docked with a soviet space craft
*Gemini II Capsule flown in 1966
*Mercury Redstone2 Capsule which contained one of the first primates sent into space
Suitably awed, we ventured off to explore the rest of the science center. Exploring ecosystems first, we stepped into the first of what are called the “zones”. The “Forest Zone” was full of tanks displaying the riotous variety of sea plants and animals in a kelp forest. Some pretty creepy animals like the eels and sea cucumbers live alongside beauties like jelly-fish, sea stars and coral. Some of the most beautiful were also extremely strange looking!
You can even create an interactive tidal flow and watch the inhabitants of the tidal pool react!
A glass tunnel allowed us to feel like we were standing in the ocean with schools of fish reflecting against the light and small sharks gliding gracefully over our heads.
Hands-on exhibits allowed M. to explore making waves and investigating how hard it is for a sea creature inside an exoskeleton and animals like anemones to catch food.
And Yes one of the "zones" also taught us about Tree Ring Dating! No Kelp Forest here!
We also had to e!xplore the “Rot Room” which I found disgusting, but all the kids loved it! Exhibits of maggots, blow-flies, cock-roaches and rotting carcasses were fascinating for the young ones. It was all about the cycle of life.
The “Extreme Zone” housed one of my favorites, showing the ecosystem of the Arctic zone. The displays which held clothing typical to arctic Native Americans, arctic ice, whale blubber, polar bear fur and penguin info all help kids understand how humans and animals survive in the cold arctic environment.
We also checked out the “desert zone” where they have an exhibit showing how flash floods work including a real rushing canyon flood every ten minutes!
We also checked out the “desert zone” where they have an exhibit showing how flash floods work including a real rushing canyon flood every ten minutes!
The science exhibits where you investigate how the physical environment works were M’s favorites. They are interactive exhibits, where you can learn about sound waves, wind, infrared heat, clouds, and lots of other amazingly interesting things. We had a blast! This museum is everything a science-loving granddaughter could want in a birthday outing.
The museum also offers an IMAX Theater with changing science related films. Be sure to check out the permanent exhibition and temporary exhibitions schedule before you go! The California Science Center is a great family museum!
Photo courtesy of https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaScienceCenter
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