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Visiting the Museum of Science and Technology in Syracuse, NY

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When I’m traveling with my family, I’m always looking for fun spots to take my kids, so we were excited to have a chance to check out the Museum of Science and Technology in Syracuse, New York.

Known officially as the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology, but simply referred to as “MOST” by locals, this space offers a great chance for kids to play while learning about, you guessed it, science and technology. However, even though it’s geared toward kids, older kids as well as parents and guardians will find a lot to enjoy here as well.

MOST is located in the historic Syracuse Armory in the center of Armory Square. The museum first opened to the public as the Discovery Center in 1981 and moved into its current location and changed its name to The Museum of Science and Technology in 1992.

Exterior of MOST in Syracuse NY
MOST is housed in the historic Syracuse Armory.

The museum features 35,000 square feet of hands-on science and play activities on three floors, so there is a ton to explore here, which is why my family and I were so excited when we took the time to visit this spot.

We started our time in the large two-story space on the lower level of the museum. Here you’ll find a ton of play and learning opportunities including an indoor waterfall, a cave, a two-story playground, and much more to explore and enjoy.

A large brain at a play area at the Museum of Science and Technology in Syracuse New York
There are so many fun and unique learning and play areas here.

My kids favorite part of this space was the two-story playground dubbed the Science Playhouse. This was reminiscent of a large play space that you sometimes find at a fast food restaurant, but definitely of a super high quality. Kids can really have fun exploring this space, and my children especially enjoyed the two-story slide!

The Earth Sciences Discovery Cave was also a big hit for my family. This spot features not only a waterfall, but also a coral reef fish tank. You’ll also find signage and hands-on activities related to topics such as caves, fossils, climate change, and much more.

Science playhouse at MOST in Syracuse NY
The two-story playhouse was a bit hit with my family.

On the mezzanine above the lower level, there are more fun interactive learning spaces, some of which are geared a bit more towards older visitors since they cover more complex topics like computer memory and energy. It’s also a nice spot to stand if you are watching your kids play in the Science Playhouse as you can get a great view of them enjoying themselves from here.

The museum’s second large space is where you’ll find the main level displays. These are located off to the side of the lobby and are easy to miss if you aren’t looking for them.

Animatronic dinosaurs at the Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology in Syracuse New York
MOST is home to a collection of life-size animatronic dinosaurs.

This space is a large room that surrounds MOST’s theater, the National Grid ExploraDome. Here, you’ll find some large play areas including one with foam blocks, an art area, a small climbing wall, and some educational displays.

You’ll also find the popular Dino Zone in this space. This area features a collection of life-size animatronic dinosaurs on display. Kids that are really into dinosaurs will likely love this space, but even though a lot of effort was put into making them as life-like as possible, I found this space to be a bit lackluster.

Child climbing a rock wall at MOST in Syracuse NY
There is a lot of fun to be had at MOST.

All that being said, my family and I had a really fun time at the Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology in Syracuse. The space is incredibly well done, and there are a lot of fun and unique things to check out. Even having been to other similar spots in the Finger Lakes and beyond (like the Strong Museum in Rochester and the Sciencenter in Ithaca), this is definitely a fun spot for kids to play while learning about science and technology.

Definitely add this to your list of things to do in Syracuse if you are exploring the area with kids.

Looking for even more spots to visit nearby? Check out the best waterfalls near Syracuse, the Erie Canal Museum, and Green Lakes State Park.


Museum of Science and Technology

Hours: Thursday-Sunday: 9:30a-5p

Cost: Adults: $14, Kids: $12

Website: MOST.org

Address: 500 S Franklin St
Syracuse, NY 13202

 

See map below for other area attractions.


 


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