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General Category => Off the Record => Topic started by: Savonarola on July 26, 2013, 04:23:07 PM

Title: What is the best Science! museum?
Post by: Savonarola on July 26, 2013, 04:23:07 PM
I'm curious as to what people on this forum would consider the best science museum.

My personal favorite is the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, Illinois.  It's comprehensive enough that even an engineer can learn something; well maintained so that the hands on displays work, and the principles behind the exhibits are clearly explained.

My favorite museum of Natural History is The American Museum of Natural History.  They still have displays on the savages (though they can't call them that anymore) and an entire floor of dinosaurs.

My favorite aquarium is the Lisbon Oceanarium.  It's comprehensive, vast, and (if you can get away from the screaming Portuguese children) tranquil.

My favorite history of science museum is the Museo Galileo in Florence.  That has an impressive collection of artifacts.
Title: Re: What is the best Science! museum?
Post by: Admiral Yi on July 26, 2013, 04:24:50 PM
Chicago rocks.
Title: Re: What is the best Science! museum?
Post by: mongers on July 26, 2013, 04:33:28 PM
IMHO you shouldn't talk in terms of what's the best museum of a particular type or that one's better than another; I think their effects are cumulative.
Title: Re: What is the best Science! museum?
Post by: garbon on July 26, 2013, 04:58:33 PM
I'm not that big of a fan of science museums.
Title: Re: What is the best Science! museum?
Post by: Savonarola on July 26, 2013, 05:56:18 PM
Quote from: mongers on July 26, 2013, 04:33:28 PM
IMHO you should talk in terms of what's the best museum of particular type or that one's better than another; I think their effects are cumulative.

That's a fascinating point, Mongers.  What do you think is the best museum in the four categories I listed in my initial post (Science and Technology, Natural History, Aquarium and History of Science)?  Why do you think your are better than other museums?
Title: Re: What is the best Science! museum?
Post by: Ed Anger on July 26, 2013, 06:03:00 PM
Creationist musuem in Kentucky.
Title: Re: What is the best Science! museum?
Post by: mongers on July 26, 2013, 06:03:37 PM
Quote from: Savonarola on July 26, 2013, 05:56:18 PM
Quote from: mongers on July 26, 2013, 04:33:28 PM
IMHO you should talk in terms of what's the best museum of particular type or that one's better than another; I think their effects are cumulative.

That's a fascinating point, Mongers.  What do you think is the best museum in the four categories I listed in my initial post (Science and Technology, Natural History, Aquarium and History of Science)?  Why do you think your are better than other museums?

I don't honest thinks I've been to enough museums to say, though I should be getting a few more under my belt next summer.   :)
Title: Re: What is the best Science! museum?
Post by: Admiral Yi on July 26, 2013, 06:15:22 PM
 ^_^
Title: Re: What is the best Science! museum?
Post by: derspiess on July 26, 2013, 06:32:58 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on July 26, 2013, 06:03:00 PM
Creationist musuem in Kentucky.

Seconded!

They actually have pretty cool billboards, FWIW.
Title: Re: What is the best Science! museum?
Post by: Ed Anger on July 26, 2013, 07:47:30 PM
To be serious, Chicago and Indy have some rockin' museums for kids. I like the one in Dayton, as it is small, my feet don't hurt walking in it and the Planetarium plays planet caravan.

Which fucking rocks.
Title: Re: What is the best Science! museum?
Post by: derspiess on July 26, 2013, 07:50:06 PM
The COSI museum in Columbus is pretty good.  And the children's museum at the Hall of Justice, erm, Union Terminal is pretty decent.  Kind of expensive to do everything there, though.
Title: Re: What is the best Science! museum?
Post by: Ed Anger on July 26, 2013, 07:54:51 PM
And of course there is the national musuem of the Air Force, which has both v-2 rockets and Bock's Car.

Boner-riffic.
Title: Re: What is the best Science! museum?
Post by: Caliga on July 26, 2013, 08:14:06 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on July 26, 2013, 07:47:30 PM
To be serious, Chicago and Indy have some rockin' museums for kids.
Princesca is at the one in Indy this weekend, in fact.
Title: Re: What is the best Science! museum?
Post by: katmai on July 26, 2013, 08:53:02 PM
Balboa Park in San Diego has a bunch of fun ones, my favorite would be the
Air & Space
Title: Re: What is the best Science! museum?
Post by: The Larch on July 27, 2013, 04:27:08 AM
The Natural History Museum in London runs circles around any other natural history museum in the world.
Title: Re: What is the best Science! museum?
Post by: Lucidor on July 27, 2013, 07:06:18 AM
The Berlin museum of Technology isn't half bad either. With German preconceptions about the patience of the visitors, the tour takes 5-7 hours depending on the level of sign reading.

Some automatic looms, with a form of hole-punch-cards made of wood from the 19th century blew me away.

Some V2 rockets and aviation stuff too.
Title: Re: What is the best Science! museum?
Post by: Savonarola on July 27, 2013, 05:41:53 PM
CB and I went to the Kennedy Space Center Today.  There's a new exhibit featuring the Atlantis that is very well done.  (Though it is kind of sad, since that means the shuttle is now part of history like the Saturn V and the Launch Control Center from the Gemini era.)  KSC has a good introduction to the history and science of space flight.  I think the Astronaut Hall of Fame (also in Titusville) does a better idea of putting the history of space flight in the context of the eras in which it occurred. 

KSC is $50 to visit (a bargain as compared to Disneyworld, but still) and has gift shops everywhere (tour operators joke that Florida law requires one to exit through the gift shop.)

Title: Re: What is the best Science! museum?
Post by: Admiral Yi on July 27, 2013, 05:54:09 PM
For $50 I would want to drive the gigantic rocket transporter and see what happens when I floor it.

Do you know if they charge to sit and watch a launch?
Title: Re: What is the best Science! museum?
Post by: Scipio on July 27, 2013, 05:57:46 PM
Dayton Air Force Museum.  Also, Chicago S&I, Henry Ford, and Smithsonian Air & Space.  National Art Museum in DC is pretty good.  Imperial War Museum, Scottish National Royal Portrait Gallery, and Trinity College Dublin.
Title: Re: What is the best Science! museum?
Post by: CountDeMoney on July 27, 2013, 06:01:41 PM
Quote from: Savonarola on July 27, 2013, 05:41:53 PM
CB and I went to the Kennedy Space Center Today.  There's a new exhibit featuring the Atlantis that is very well done.  (Though it is kind of sad, since that means the shuttle is now part of history like the Saturn V and the Launch Control Center from the Gemini era.)  KSC has a good introduction to the history and science of space flight.  I think the Astronaut Hall of Fame (also in Titusville) does a better idea of putting the history of space flight in the context of the eras in which it occurred. 

KSC is $50 to visit (a bargain as compared to Disneyworld, but still) and has gift shops everywhere (tour operators joke that Florida law requires one to exit through the gift shop.)

Yeah, KSC is an awesome place to visit.  Did you did the Shuttle Launch Experience ride?  Did you ride out to the Apollo/Saturn V Center a well?
Title: Re: What is the best Science! museum?
Post by: Savonarola on July 27, 2013, 06:03:39 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on July 27, 2013, 05:54:09 PM
For $50 I would want to drive the gigantic rocket transporter and see what happens when I floor it.

Do you know if they charge to sit and watch a launch?

It's included with general admission.
Title: Re: What is the best Science! museum?
Post by: Savonarola on July 27, 2013, 06:41:13 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on July 27, 2013, 06:01:41 PM

Yeah, KSC is an awesome place to visit.  Did you did the Shuttle Launch Experience ride?  Did you ride out to the Apollo/Saturn V Center a well?

I haven't done the Shuttle Launch Experience Ride yet.  I had been to the Apollo/Saturn V launch control center before; that is amazing.
Title: Re: What is the best Science! museum?
Post by: Barrister on July 28, 2013, 10:49:36 PM
Royal Tyrell Museum in Drumheller.  Jam pack full of dinosaur fossils and interactive displays.  Creationists can suck it!

http://www.tyrrellmuseum.com/