The Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum is a terrific place for kids (of all ages) to learn amazing things about science, math and technology. Their vision is “to be the leader in imaginative and interactive learning experiences” and they bring technology, science and math to life in amazing ways.
Since 1978, when Cynthia Yao and team of energetic volunteers converted an old brick firehouse into the Hands-On Museum, it has offered an incredible array of exciting educational programs. The Museum offers nine specialized galleries with over 250 interactive exhibits. Whether the subject is nature, physics, health, math or something else, hands-on learning is fun for everyone.
The Hands-On Museum also offers marvelous special programs like the ability to host a birthday party or to participate in a Camp-In. Use this link to explore the array of special programs at the Hands-On Museum.
Here are some of the Museum’s regular, new and science exhibits (a partial list only – see the museum website for the complete details):
First Floor Concourse – Visitors love the “Building in a Building,” the tornado and the water table.
All About You – Learn amazing facts about the human body. Examine your own fitness, step into a full-size ambulance or check out X-rays.
World Around You – Climb a rock wall, enjoy a walk-on piano and the magnet exhibits.
Light and Optics – Learn about light and optics by playing the stringless Laser Harp.
Michigan Nature – In this Discovery Room you’ll discover Michigan’s native plans, flowers and animals through the interactive nature wall, a soundscape and samples of lake fish and geology.
Preschool Gallery – Designed for children 4 or younger, this gallery let’s kids
New Exhibits
Ferrofluid Magnetoscope by Michael Flynn – This exhibit employs a magnetic field to make three-dimensional patterns in ferrofluid — a special liquid holding evenly dispersed ferromagnetic particles dissolved in an organic solvent. Using handles to move the magnets up and down, visitors can watch the shape of the liquid change.
Chaos Chimes – These celebrate the intersection of art and science by using musical chimes to demonstrate chaos theory in mathematics. Designed by Roger Sonntag, an engineer, artist and science exhibit developer, Chaos Chimes are similar to traditional wind chimes but are feature a motorized mallet which sounds the chimes unpredictably.
Engineers On A Roll – Funded by Toyota Technical Center, this is a combined engineering lab, playscape and climber for preschoolers. Using bright colors and keeping kids constantly active, the Museum’s youngest visitors will enjoy directing, sorting, and experimenting with balls in motion.
Block Party – Hundreds of foam bricks are the building blocks to stimulate the imagination. The Block Party inspires creativity in architecture and construction. This new 1,600 square foot exhibit allows kids to imagine, build, and then knock it all down. Kids can work together on large structures and have a blast.
ViewSpace Exhibit from NASA – This is a unique exhibit which allows visitors to see the newest and the best-quality images from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope, its successor. ViewSpace uses current Internet feeds from the Space Telescope Science Institute. Daily updates include amazing visual explorations of astronomical subjects, updates from Mars Exploration Rovers, the Saturn orbiter and the Titan lander. It also introduces constellations, planets, deep sky objects, and much more.
The Egg of Columbus – This exhibit illustrates how AC electric motors work. For the 1893 World’s Fair, Nikola Tesla invented the Egg of Columbus, and this is certainly an electrifying exhibit not to be missed!
Bernoulli Blast at Pittsfield Branch of Library – An exhibit demonstrating Bernoulli’s Principle is on display at the Pittsfield branch of the Ann Arbor District Library. Designed exclusively for the library, this unique exhibit is over 15 feet tall and sends balls upwards on a column of air and then swirl down a steel sculpture to start once more.
Energy Exhibits
Waste 2 Watts – This exhibit demonstrates how environmentally friendly technology can make electricity from trash. This intriguing exhibit demonstrates how methane gas from landfills can be used for alternative energy which can hopefully reduce our need for other fuels.
Solar Collector
Partnering with a neighboring fire station, this exhibit explains the function of a solar hot water heater and monitors the input and output temperatures of the fire station's solar water heater.
The Hands-On Museum presents special programs each year including Hands on Holidays and Tech Twilight.
To see the current calendar of activities click here.
Here is the Hands-On Museum’s calendar:
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Monday: |
10 – 5 |
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Tuesday: |
9 – 5 |
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Wednesday: |
10 – 5 |
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Thursday: |
10 – 8 |
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Friday: |
10 – 5 |
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Saturday: |
10 – 5 |
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Sunday: |
12 – 5 |
Admission Prices: Members enter free; $10/person Ages 2 and Up; free for babies under two. ACM Reciprocal Program members visit free.
Explore becoming a member of the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum. Family memberships are $75 while the family-plus membership is $100.
For additional information, see the Hand-On Museum’s Facebook page.
The Ann Arbor Hands-on Museum stands as physical proof that the line, "if you build it, they will come" can become a reality.
