Buffalo Museum of Science facts for kids
Buffalo Museum of Science, December 2009
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| Established | December 5, 1861 |
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| Location | Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
| Type | Science |
The Buffalo Museum of Science is a cool science museum in Buffalo, New York. It's located in Martin Luther King Jr. Park, not far from downtown. The museum building itself is historic. It was designed by August Esenwein and James A. Johnson. The museum officially opened its doors on January 19, 1929.
The museum's story began much earlier, in 1836. That's when the Buffalo Young Men's Association started collecting interesting exhibits. These collections were later given to the Buffalo Natural History Society, which was created in 1861. George W. Clinton was chosen as the Society's first president.
Today, the Buffalo Museum of Science has many exciting things to see. You can explore exhibits about animals, astronomy, and how technology works. There are also many other fun science topics to discover.
What Can You Explore at the Museum?
Interactive Science Studios for All Ages
The Buffalo Museum of Science has many interactive areas. These are called Science Studios. They let you get hands-on with different science topics.
Explorations: Fun for Younger Kids
Explorations is a special gallery for children aged two to seven. It's a very interactive space. The themes in this area change every month. This keeps things fresh and exciting for little learners.
Explore You: Discover Your Body's Science
The Explore You Science Studio is all about health and your body. This area was updated and reopened in March 2012. It's a hands-on exhibit where you can learn about healthy choices. You'll also explore different body systems, like your heart. The studio also covers medical technology and genetics. It even highlights research happening in Western New York.
Rethink Extinct: Learning About Life's Past
The Rethink Extinct Science Studio opened in March 2015. It replaced an older exhibit called the Extinction Gallery. This studio focuses on extinction throughout Earth's history. You'll learn about animals and plants that are now gone. It also covers species that are currently endangered.
The original Extinction Gallery had many fossils. It also featured cultural items related to extinct organisms. Some cool specimens included ancient birds and feathers. There was also the earliest known land plant. You could see a trilobite stuck in a seashell from almost 400 million years ago. The exhibit also had a cast of a Tyrannosaurus rex skull. Other replicas included Archaeopteryx, Triceratops horridus, Deinonychus antirrhopus, and Allosaurus fragilis. Many of these came from the museum's previous Dinosaurs and Co. area. You can also see a real Albertosaurus sarcophagus skeleton, nicknamed "Stanley," in the museum lobby.
Nano: Exploring the Tiny World
Nano is an interactive exhibit for families. It teaches you about nanoscale science, engineering, and technology. You can try hands-on activities. These show you the basics of nanoscience. You'll also see how it's used in the real world. The exhibit even looks at the important questions about this new technology.
More Exciting Science Studios
The museum has several other cool Science Studios. The Buffalo in Space Science Studio opened in 2017. The Artifacts Science Studio opened in March 2014. You can also visit the In Motion Science Studio, which opened in 2013. The Our Marvelous Earth Science Studio opened in 2012. Finally, the Bug Works Science Studio, opened in 2013, lets you explore the world of insects.
The museum started a big renovation project in 2010. The goal was to change old exhibits into interactive Science Studios. This project finished with the reopening of the Kellogg Observatory in July 2018.
Special Features at the Museum
Beyond the exhibits, the museum offers more. You can watch amazing films at the National Geographic 3D Cinema. If you get hungry, there's the Elements Café. And don't forget to check out the Curiosity Shop for souvenirs!
Images for kids
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Buffalo Museum of Science, December 2009
