California Science Center

We visited the California Science Center because the day was much too hot for an outdoor trip to the zoo. It turned out to be an awesome place for children of all ages– including toddlers. There were a variety of toddler play areas, toys, puzzles, dominos, a pretend kitchen, and a treehouse, to name a few. My 19 month old son also enjoyed the airplanes that were on display. General admission is FREE! You also have the option of buying tickets to one of their IMAX movies and the Endeavor exhibit. Parking is $ 12 cash, but was a quick walk to the museum from our car, so it was convenient.
We came on a Saturday and it was not overcrowded. We had easy access to each exhibit and didn’t have to wait at all.
The food was pretty awful (we ordered a veggie pizza and nachos). I will still be returning on the regular because there are great learning opportunities for the little ones here. It’s a great experience for the price. I still can’t believe entry is free!

This places needs and update in a major way. Understandably it doesn’t have unlimited funds, but the place is definitely a bit dated as they still show informational videos that were shot in the 80s. Anyway, as you probably have read parking is 12 bucks, but I would suggest you save yourself the time and hassle of driving by taking the metro light rail that literally drops you off right across the center. Now to the good part, YOU HAVE TO PAY IF YOU WANT TO SEE SOMETHING GOOD! The price of admission to these special exhibitions is definitely worth it, but be sure to buy your tickets in advance or at the box office as they don’t sell them at the actual entrances to the paid exhibits.

Big place to explore and expand your mind!
The highlights were Endeavor and the other interesting aerospace-​related exhibits to see the human advancements in space exploration.
The Ecosystem exhibit was also very interactive and it was beautiful to see the different marine wildlife of Southern California.
There were some outdated exhibits but overall worth exploring!

Who doesn’t love the a California Science Center? There’s so much to do and see and it’s all based off of donations. The Imax, space shuttle and traveling exhibits are extra and tickets can be purchased outside.
Again, parking is $ 12 and I feel it is just a little high! I get it’s L.A., I’ve lived here all my life, But charging so Much for parking is a huge discouragement for families visiting these great educational places.
My granddaughters favorite part (and mine) is the newest addition of the aquarium downstairs. Touch tanks, up and close tanks, big tall tanks with ginormous fish that swim right in front of you… AWESOME! Just this section alone keeps our little one occupied for hours.
The Space Shuttle Endeavour just got a new external tank this weekend and has plans to be set upright in the future with this tank and two boosters. We did not see this paid exhibit today, But we did enjoy getting an up close sneak peak outside.
We also enjoy the rose gardens in between the science center and the Natural History Museum. There are outdoor benches and tables where you can enjoy a packed lunch.
Overall we love Exposition Park and all the museum’s in this walking area. Great for kids of all ages.

FREE, FREE, FREE!
So have you heard it’s free to enter this museum? Well if you haven’t I’m here to enlighten all of you out there hesitating to bring your kids! IT’S FREE!!!
Bring cash with you because parking is 12 bones and I’m sure the Elote man, the Hot Dog lady and the Paletero do not accept American Express! (You can find them near the Rose Garden)
As you enter your also going to want to buy your tickets to the IMAX Theater and the Endeavor. Then go and enjoy yourselves all while also getting some knowledge!
There is a food court in there if you get hungry and if you want to bring your own lunch there are some tables where you can sit and enjoy your meal!
Of course you have souvenirs for sale and some simulators you can ride for a fee but they do take plastic or cash!
TIP: You get a map at the entrance, USE IT! So you don’t miss any of the rooms or exhibits! Oh and WATCH YOUR KIDS!

Great museum with very cool interactive exhibits as well as spacious areas. The science center has plenty of parking as well as concessions for a snacks. The ticket box office is outside for 3d shows as well as the space shuttle and it was only $ 6 as the rest of the museum is free. It is great for kids and family’s and can take a few hours to see all it has to offer.

My son is just about 2 and we went today. I think I might wait a bit longer before heading back, mostly because he’s little and was getting trampled on by the hundreds if not thousands of elementary school students there on field trips. He’d get interested in an exhibit and end up getting pushed aside. Or we’d wait and they would take forever using an exhibit. Even when we were sitting down we were getting pushed! He’s also just too young to understand some of the cooler stuff, like the Endeavor shuttle.
I also thought parts of the museum were outdated or just pretty lacking. Like the little toddler play areas, forgot what they’re called… there weren’t so many toys, or sets of toys would be incomplete. The food court left a lot to be desired.
It’s free so that’s cool, but even so I’d rather pay the extra money and go to the natural history museum. Lots of outdoor space for him to run and play and he just gets more enjoyment out of what’s there.

I went to the California Science Center to check out the Space Shuttle Endeavour that had gone on a 12-​mile, 68-​hour journey along the streets of Los Angeles all the way from the Los Angeles International Airport in 2012.
The museum itself opens daily at 10am. I got to the Exposition Park early — did you know that they played host to 2 Olympiads here? Well, I didn’t, otherwise I’d have probably went further afield while waiting for the museum to open. Instead I headed over to the Exposition Park Rose Garden, which had recently reopened from their annual pruning back of the roses from January 1^st to March 15^th.
Okay, back to the science center…
Students everywhere! School trips galore! Parents with younglings too. I was seriously outnumbered.
Even though the California Science Center has free admission, I headed over to the Box Office outside cause I wanted (as previously mentioned) to see the Endeavour. Turns out that while the website states that Endeavour Timed Reservations are required Monday through Friday before 1:00pm and weekends and holidays all day, they weren’t being required the particular weekday morn that I was there. But I did pick up a $ 9.75 adult ticket to Journey to Space: The Exhibition, so it wasn’t completely a wasted trip.
The museum wasn’t huge. I got through everything within 3.5 hours. There were a few fee’d activities that you could opt for if you wished to pony up, such as a high wire bicycle and a climbing wall. Kids will love it as there were many interactive activities, including a touch pool.

The Science Center is Free to the public. However, if you want to check out the movie in IMAX or other movies, you have to pay extra. The main attraction is the Space Shuttle Endeavour. You can reserve online ($ 2 service fee). However, when I went they weren’t really checking on the times. You first go in on the Second Floor and a staff is there to give you a ticket (kind of like a raffle ticket — Admit One). You walk through a movie about the Ecosystem, then you go through an exhibit regarding the Endeavour. After that, you exit the exhibit and another staff tells you to go to the first floor again because that’s where the Endeavour is located in this hangar. I was utterly confused. They should’ve just put the exhibit and the Endeavour is one place.
The last staff takes your ticket so you can go into the hangar. When I first walked in, I was in awe with the site I saw. This plane that has been in space and the fact that I saw it fly by a couple years ago just made me speechless. I mean I was inches away from something that was in space!
I remember the day when the Endeavour was coming back «home.» A jumbo jet 747 flew it around Los Angeles, before landing in LAX. I was working at a clients site and went out when I heard it was making a head way around my area. I was waiting at the sidewalk when this guy pulled over with his car and started asking me for directions while I was trying to get a picture of the plane carrying the endeavor passing by. I didn’t want to be rude to the guy, but in my head I was like «Really? you’re going to ask me for directions, while this historic moment in my lifetime is about to happen? I’m going to see a plane that has been in space on top of another plane flying around LA and you’re trying to ask for directions???» I tried to give him the directions as quickly as possible and I actually got to see it but couldn’t get a good picture. I’m really not sure what happened to the picture.
Anyways, the funny thing is that this hangar has a gift shop. But I digress. I took a couple of minutes being in awe and taking pictures of the Endeavour and then I worked my way back to check out the rest of the Science Center.
It’s so interesting looking at all the different exhibits. Their main focus is to educate people about the Ecosystem. I mean they do have stuff about outer space and stuff but 80% of the things in the Center is about the environment. I personally like their Kelp Forest. It’s like a mini aquarium then you can check out the fishes/​things that live in the ocean and touch them! The only thing I didn’t like about the Science Center is that it’s not well kept. Some of things seems old and kind of broken. One of the exhibits had an error Windows message… haha

I have now been here approximately three times, twice with friends, and once with students. It has been worth it every time.
Their food court is very nice and has lots of open space. Their free exhibits are awesome. I especially like their exhibits on the different systems of the body. If you have some extra cash you should definitely go see the «Expedition» that is there as well. Their IMAX movies are okay, but kind of make me sleepy.
The best part? If you’re bored of science you can always go next door and check out the Natural History Museum.
The best part? It’s FREE. Parking costs money though, but I supposed they have to make money somehow.

3 words are all you need to know: SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR! It is so cool and I can’t wait for them to deliver o their plans for it. This is my son’s favorite place in LA! Tickets are cheap, I think $ 2 to get into see the shuttle. And there is so much of other stuff to see and experience for FREE!
It’s the perfect place to bring kids on that rare rainy day. Loads of discovery and learning here. The IMAX movies are quality. Fun, fun fun!

Loved California Science Center. So informative both for adults & children & even toddlers!!! They have discovery zones specifically for young toddlers with different animals, activities, books, etc.
We got to see endeavour. Definitely, a must see if you haven’t seen it before. There was a lady there who gave us so much information about the endeavour & its journey. She talked about the material it’s built with, etc.
We also saw some real capsules, rockets!!! It made me so curious that ever since our visit to CSC, I have been watching YouTube videos about space & shuttles.
Parking is $ 12 and they only accept cash. But there is plenty of parking space available & if you have an electric car, you get to charge it for free. The museum is donation based, you only have to pay for the special exhibit & the iMax theaters.
Definitely, will be going back. Loved it there.

To me, California Science Center is basically a giant playground for both adults and children.
Parking: $ 12 (cash only) to park at the Exposition Park. If you don’t care about all these homeless folks in the area, then there’s free street parking on S. Flower Dr. near the intersection of S. Flower Dr & W. 39^th St. (one block away from the Exposition Park).
Admission: General admission is free, but you’ll have to pay extra for IMAX shows ($ 8.50 per adult), special exhibit (e.g. Journey to Space exhibit), and the Space Shuttle Endeavour ($ 2 online service fee). On a side note, all narratives are written in both English and Spanish.
=== What can you do here ===
* IMAX theater: I watched Journey to Space in 3D (45-​minute film) and the visual effect was fairly impressive. By the way, IMAX ticket also includes admission to see the Endeavour.
* Special exhibit (3^rd floor, Journey to Space: The Exhibition): Pretty cool exhibition. You get a short 3-​minute intro film narrated by Neil deGrasse Tyson. You can step into a simulated orbiting space station (the International Space Station’s Destiny Module) and experience the rotating chamber yourself (WARNING: You might feel dizzy). There are various short videos that talk about how astronauts eat, sleep, and pee-​pee in space.
* Hurricane Simulator: You can pay $ 2 to experience 75 mph wind, Personally, why even bother paying $ 2 when you can just go visit Florida during summer /​fall and experience the actual hurricane for free.
* Creative World (3^rd floor, transportation): Learn about different aspects of transportation (design, fuel cell technology, etc)
* Creative World (2^nd floor, structures): There’s an earthquake simulation room and I had to wait nearly 10 minutes. While you are in the room, you’ll be watching this boring 10-​minute video taped back in 90’s and experience few pretty weak earthquakes. It wasn’t worth the wait at all.
* High wire bicycle (3^rd floor): $ 2 per ride & $ 5 per ride and photo to take home. Must be 4’4″ or taller with maximum weight of 200 lb.
* World of Life (2^nd floor): Learn about cells and how our body works. You’ll also find baby chicks here. Finally, this is where you’ll find the drunk driving simulator.
* Air and Space Exhibits (2^nd floor): Mini-​models for various probes, rovers, telescopes, and aircraft.
* Ecology Cliff Climb (2^nd floor): $ 3.50 per person ($ 1 off with IMAX ticket), Age 5 and up, minimum 38″ tall, and no more than 200 lb.
* Motion-​Based Simulator (2^nd floor): $ 5 per person and you have 6 different scenarios to choose from.
* Ecosystems (1^st floor & 2^nd floor): The section is separated into different zones (e.g. Forest Zone, River Zone, Island Zone, LA Zone, Extreme Zone, etc) and I highly recommend the Extreme Zone (especially the Poles). There’s a touch tank section where you get a closer look at starfish, sea urchins, and rays. I would avoid the touch tank section because most kids took too much time trying to touch some of these sea creatures.
* Kelp Forest Dive Show (Enter through 2^nd floor): 15-​minute show — 11:00 AM and 2:30 PM
* Samuel Oschin Pavilion (1^st floor — only accessible via 2^nd floor): This is where you get to see the Space Shuttle Endeavour. Before you see the actual shuttle, make sure to visit the Endeavour exhibition on the 2^nd floor FIRST.
===
You’ll have to spend an entire day in order to go through most of the exhibits and maximize your experience here. A great destination for kids and families, but ultimately kids rule this entire science center.

We went to the California Science Center by taking the Metro on the Expo Line to Expo Park/​USC stop, it stops across the way so super close and cheap! Metro is $ 1 for card, then $ 1.75 ea trip.
Ca Science Center is FREE, only $ 2 to see the Endeavour (Space Ship). I thought museum was just ok, it’s like the Exploratorium in SF for kids with some hands on activities. We didn’t see much of the museum, we had limited time.
I saw the mini aguarium in the Kelp Forest Exhibit. Rotting Exhibit was neat and gross.
Endeavour has like 2 galleries — lots of reading, watched a video of it coming to LA, then you go to another room to see it hanging, no getting on board — boo.
It’s worth a visit if you have kids or like science. They have food you can buy, or you can bring your own, there is a gift shop, and IMAX movies that cost extra.

I want to say this place is a solid 3 star but due to nostalgic feelings and the simple fact that it’s FREE I’ll be nice and give them the 4 stars.
From start to finish this place is easy to maneuver & again FREE you really can’t beat that despite whatever improvements I think need to be made. Parking is $ 12 and a few exhibits/​simulations inside the center require money, most are an additional $ 5 max.
The Pros: Science! It’s fair to say that you learn while your hear. No matter how many times I’ve been here there is always something that catches my eye. The exhibits themselves are easy to maneuver and I have to give them kudos they have plenty of staffing standing around to support and answer questions, I was impressed by that.
Also their IMAX theater is great, see my review for that specifically on my page.
For those with kids there is also a gift shop and a food court so all your needs can be met here in one place. The exhibits themselves don’t seem to change too much which is why I docked a star and overall feel this place falls more at a 3 – 4 star review.
Exhibits & Cleanliness: ok so I was surprised coming back as an adult that the exhibits & learning tools used are the same from when I came in grade school 15 years ago. Kinda scary. This place needs a face lift ASAP! So much has changed in 15 years and our kids intelligence/​software skills are way above what was presented here. If I was a kid attending in this day and age I would feel that this place was kind of lame. Again, for me it was nostalgic but overall a massive touch up needs to take place. Lots of dust & damage that can’t be overlooked from 15 + years of use.
Take it for what you will. It’s FREE and can keep you occupied for a few hours, it’s really a great little center with lots to do and experience.

Pro: Lots to do, free admission, friendly volunteers to help you out. Lunch was reasonable-​9 for a decent chicken burger and fries.
Con: 30 min wait just to get in the parking lot line at 930 on a Saturday only to be told «Sorry we’re full!» So plan on bringing 12.00 cash and drive around until you can find a lot that has a space. It’s a little hard to navigate and find an exit once you are in an exhibit, the floors are a little confusing as to where to look for what display. My eleven year old and I spent 3 hours and headed home, exhausted. We will take the Metrolink next time, parking is just a nightmare!

Endeavour is GREAT! You must see this! Very interesting!!!
Museum is good too, but I think it is more for kids.
Parking 12 $, CASH only.

The best things about this museum are free admission, the endeavor space shuttle and the nice big fish tank.
Other than that this museum is terribly laid out/​designed. It’s very hard to find your way around. Many of the exhibits in the museum are terribly dated from the 90’s. Everyone thought many of the exhibits were lame because of the dated 90’s tech and designs.
I wouldn’t mind paying like $ 5 admission to get things up to date.

A while back, I was fortunate enough to see the Endeavor make its way across the country and then from the airport in Los Angeles to the Exposition Park where it would be on permanent display. After finally getting a chance to visit the site in person was something to behold.
Right away, parking was $ 10, which I felt was a bit steep. However, entry to see the Endeavor was only two dollars per person, which I felt was reasonable. Otherwise, admission to enter the museum is free. The Science Center has several display areas with exhibits that change every once in a while. There is also an IMAX theater, which we did not pay to go see anything.
As far as the Endeavor goes, we saw everything from the shuttle facilities, artifacts that had been taken into space by the astronauts, as well as a simulator control panel to view things from the astronauts’ POV. There was a ten minute intro film showing the Endeavor as it arrived in Los Angeles to the task of getting the shuttle from the airport all the way to the facility in Exposition Park. From there, they’ll take you downstairs where you’ll walk across to the special building where the Endeavor is housed. Once I saw the shuttle, my mind was blown! Once there, you can view all of the exhibits around the shuttle as well as purchase souvenirs from the shop close by.
If you are interested in space science or the shuttle program at all, I would highly recommended visiting this museum.

FREE ADMISSION !!! Whaaaat? Really?
Yes, it’s true! I had to go and check it out — especially since I was invited for a birthday party! This cool LA girl wanted to celebrate her special day with friends at the California Science Center! It’s located across the street from the University of Southern California (USC). Wow! I feel so fortunate!
We parked in the lot for $ 10 in December 2015. (The fee has now increased to $ 12.) Right away, a real Air Force plane greets you as well as a gigantic lever at the entrance. This is all before you get into the building with the fabulous gift shop and café! If you want to see the IMAX movie and the Space Shuttle Endeavor, there is a small fee.
There are interactive displays about life in space, and Permanent Exhibits such as Ecosystems. The special Exhibits change and have been Cleopatra, The Dead Sea Scrolls, and Pompeii. If I went back, I would like to see the huge aquarium and walk through its tunnel!
The star of the show for me was the Space Shuttle Endeavor and the movie. Just being in the hangar with this amazing engineering creation was a humbling experience. (Please refer to my review of the Space Shuttle.) Inside the hangar, there is useful information about the other Space Shuttles with great photos and articles! Go and check it out!!!

I love the California Science Center. It is such a great family outing. Excellent learning experience for children and adults alike. And the best part about it is that it’s free!!!
You could easily spend the entire day at the CA Science Center, or just plan several visits and see the museum in parts.
Parking is easy and not too expensive. The museum is also accessible by metro.

LOVE this place. Such a great place for kids and adults to discover, learn and experience new ways of seeing and appreciating science. The place is packed with interactive exhibits, live demonstrations, innovative programs and awe-​inspiring films. The collection changes every so often so you won’t get bored… promise =)
Theres a beautiful 188,000-gallon tank aquarium & kelp forest in the Ecosystem rooms. There you can watch divers feed the fish and sharks twice a day! I love sitting there and staring at the leopard sharks and horn sharks. Takes me to a world i once lived …
O…and of course you know that the Endeavour sleeps there too right? Must go check out. After all, he’s orbited around Earth and back!

This review is just for the California Science Center. I reviewed the space shuttle in a separate rating. The California Science Center is located in Exposition Park in a unique building. It was probably one of the original buildings, but the rear façade has been remodeled into a modern look. Admission is a little weird with a combination of free and paid exhibits, but the space exhibits and IMAX are paid.
With the addition of the space shuttle, the museum has a lot of exhibits dealing with space. These are paid admission and worth the price. They have fun interactive displays about life in space that are fun for both kids and adults. It really shows how tough space can be. There are also some transportation and nature exhibits to help round out the experience.
The scale and nature of the center makes it a perfect place for school trips or families with school age children. Young kids probably will not get the science, but they may still appreciate the interactive displays. This museum is part of the excellent Exposition Park group, but it would stand on its own.

Das CSC bietet eine wirklich gute Naturwissenschaftliche Ausstellung die sich besonders auf die Raumfahrt konzentriert. Das Spaceshuttle Endeavour ist wirklich gigantisch und einen Besuch wert.
Es wird zur Zeit noch eine größere Ausstellung geplant in der das Shuttle mitsamt Boostern und externem Tank ausgestellt werden soll. Zusätzlich wird es noch eine große Flugzeughalle geben.
Für Familien ist das CSC wirklich klasse, da die Kleinen jede Menge selber ausprobieren können.
Das Essen in den angeschlossenen Restaurants ist, wie immer an solchen Locations, sehr teuer. Allerdings befinden sich ein paar Fastfood Läden in der Nähe.
Kann jedem, der sich für Raumfahrt, Naturwissenschaft und Technik interessiert einen Besuch absolut empfehlen.

Seit mehreren Jahren gehört für uns ein Besuch im CSC zum L.A. Besuch dazu.
Hier wird Naturwissenschaft sehr anschaulich präsentiert, so dass sowohl bei Kindern als auch Erwachsenen Interesse geweckt wird.
Es gibt mehrere (zum Teil wechselnde) Ausstellungen, die in verschiedenen Räumen untergebracht sind.
Der Eintritt zum Museum ist frei.
Zusätzlich gibt es ein Imax Theater. In diesem haben wir uns einen Film über Naturkatastrophen (Erdbeben, Vulkanausbrüche…) und die Vorhersagemöglichkeiten derselben angeschaut. Dafür zahlt man allerdings etwas, aber vor dem Hintergrund, dass der Film fast eine Stunde gedauert hat und auf einer riesigen Leinwand gezeigt wurde, fand ich den Preis völlig gerechtfertigt.
Das absolute Highlight des ganzen Museums ist natürlich die Halle mit dem Space Shuttle Endeavour, das seit Oktober 2012 dort ausgestellt wird. Interessant fand ich auch den Film, der zeigt, wie man das Shuttle die 12 Meilen durch die Stadt vom Flughafen ins Museum gebracht hat. Das war scheinbar teilweise Millimeterarbeit und für die Zuschauer ein Jahrhundertspektakel.
Wer in L.A. mit Kindern unterwegs ist, sollte unbedingt hierher kommen. Eine tolle und günstige Alternative zu den überfüllten Freizeitparks.

Das Science Center ist für alle, die sich für Raumfahrt, Technik und Natur interessieren, ein idealer Platz. Inbesondere für Familien bietet sich ein Besuch an, da es unglaublich viel für alle Altersstufen zu entdecken gibt und der Eintritt zudem kostenlos ist. Das Personal ist sehr freundlich.