Boonshoft Museum of Discovery

Took my 4 year old grandson during the week and he loved every second of it. While we went when a couple of field trips were taking place, we didnt feel overwhelmed and had the best time. We love the interactive spots to build, pretend, and explore. We will continue to come here.

I’ve been a member for a couple of years, and it’s disappointing to see how little attention has been given to the actual children’s exhibits. A significant amount of money was clearly spent renovating the entrance, while many of the kids’ areas feel neglected. Several rooms have very few usable items, and many of the toys and exhibits are visibly worn, broken, or missing. Puzzles, play food, cooking sets, veterinary toys, and similar hands-on materials are all in poor condition. I’ve raised these concerns with both staff and management multiple times over the past six months and was told that new items were “on order.” Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem accurate—basic replacement toys and exhibit materials shouldn’t take months to arrive. The lack of follow-through is frustrating, especially for a children’s museum. We’ve visited many other children’s museums and discovery centers, and this one has great potential. The space is there, but it needs better staffing and more consistent upkeep focused on children’s activities. There’s also a real opportunity to add more interactive exhibits that promote STEM learning and creativity. Too many rooms currently don’t spark imagination or sustained engagement. The 3-star rating is based on cleanliness, the animal exhibits, and reasonable membership pricing (including ASTC reciprocity). With better maintenance and a stronger focus on engaging, hands-on learning, this museum could be much better.