Boonshoft Museum of Discovery

The Boonshoft Museum of Discovery is a science museum in Dayton that combines exhibition galleries with a working planetarium and an on-site zoo. The facility spans multiple buildings where visitors move through different areas focused on natural history, astronomy, and living animal habitats.

The institution was founded in 1893 as the Dayton Museum of Natural History and took its current name in 1999 to honor a prominent local philanthropist. This change reflected the museum's evolution and expanded mission in the community.

This institution serves as a gathering place where families and students encounter science in hands-on ways rather than through textbooks alone. It shapes how visitors of all ages think about the natural world and their place within it.

The facility is designed with clear pathways and signage to help visitors navigate between the exhibition spaces, zoo, and planetarium. Arriving early in the day helps avoid crowds, particularly in the more popular animal viewing and astronomy sections.

The zoo maintains a living colony of naked mole rats, unusual creatures that draw attention from visitors seeking to observe their curious behavior. This collection allows guests to encounter one of nature's most peculiar mammals in a controlled setting.

Location: Ohio

Inception: 1893

Website: http://boonshoftmuseum.org

GPS coordinates: 39.78880,-84.20180

Latest update: December 8, 2025 20:03