Address: 1945 SE Water Ave
Pricing: $11 Adults, $9 Youth (3-13), $9 Seniors (63+)
Phone: (503) 797-4661
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 9:30 am—5:30 pm
How To Get There:
Located in east Portland off of Water Ave. Accessible from downtown by taking any of the bridges (Hawthorne, Morrision, or Burnside). Follow the signs for OMSI and Water Ave.
By public transit: Take any bus route that crosses the Hawthorne Bridge including Route #6, 14, or 33. Get off the Hawthorne Bridge stop and follow the signs to OMSI.
Parking:$2 for non-members
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OMSI: A fun adventure for kids of all ages
Mar 31, 2010
The Oregon Museum of Science & Industry (OMSI) will have kids clamoring for a return visit, and adults cracking a smile at everything they learn. Situated on the banks of the Willamette River, it is quite a scenic spot for a museum.
Founded in 1949, OMSI seems like it has been the cutting edge of science since its inception. It opened the Pacific Northwest’s first planetarium in 1950 and continues to further its mission of making “science exciting and relevant through exhibits, programs and experiences that are presented in an entertaining and participatory fashion.”
Current exhibits serve as examples of what OMSI has in store for you and your family. Space: A Journey to Our Future (Jan. 30-May 31, 2010) is a fabulous exhibit that gives you both the history of space exploration as well as a glimpse of where astronauts might go next.
For kids, interactive exhibits allow for a museum visit to turn from a chore into an adventure. OMSI features multiple different interactive exhibits such as the Turbine Hall, Life Science Hall, Earth Science Hall and the Science Playground. Each hall is an area for kids to learn about everything from the workings of the human body to the environment around us in a way that is fun and hands-on.
The highlight of OMSI is the submarine. For just $5.75, The U.S.S. Blueback can be explored and you can “peer through a periscope, touch a torpedo, and climb in a bunk in the crew's quarters.” The submarine was in service for over 31 years and has been seen in movies such as the Hunt for Red October and on TV programs like Hawaii Five-O. The submarine helps to cap a visit to OMSI and fully utilizes the museum’s location on the riverbank.
The versatility of OMSI makes it a pleasant excursion for people of all-ages. The OMNIMAX theater plays science-themed movies and documentaries on a large screen. If you are interested in subjects as varied as the Hubble Telescope or dinosaurs, be prepared to be amazed.
HelloPortland Tip: Do you love science, but feel museums can be overrun with kids? Try "OMSI After Dark." From 6pm-10pm, it allows adults (21+ only) to explore the museum as well as enjoy a special dinner and drinks menu. Check OMSI’s website for more details.
- by William Crane, Portland Reporter for HelloMetro
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William CraneWilliam Crane is an accomplished print and online journalist (http://www.william-crane.com) His work covers a variety of topics including features, local community news, sports, music, and political/social issues.
Graduating from Seattle University with a B.A. in Journalism, William's writing has appeared in a variety of different publications including the Stranger, Capitol Hill Times, the Skanner, Backfire Magazine, and the Internationalist.
