Science Center of Iowa, Science museum in Downtown Des Moines, United States
The Science Center of Iowa is a science museum in downtown Des Moines that offers interactive exhibits spread across multiple floors for visitors to explore. The building houses a planetarium about 50 feet (15 meters) across where astronomy shows and scientific presentations take place.
The facility was first founded in 1970 as a center for science education in the city. In 2005, it moved to a larger building and was able to expand its exhibits and programs significantly.
The center serves as a gathering place where school groups and families come together regularly to explore science in hands-on ways. The spaces are specifically designed so that people of different ages can experience scientific concepts directly.
Plan to spend time exploring all the floors as there is much to discover and the exhibits are self-explanatory. The facility is fully accessible for wheelchairs, and there are special quieter hours available for visitors with sensory sensitivities.
The planetarium uses advanced projection technology to show the sky in highly realistic ways, creating entirely new perspectives on outer space. This makes the astronomy shows an experience that feels genuinely different from what most visitors expect.
Location: Des Moines
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
Address: West Martin Luther King Junior Parkway
Opening Hours: Wednesday-Sunday 09:00-16:00
Phone: +15152746868
Website: https://sciowa.org
GPS coordinates: 41.58273,-93.62081
Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:49
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