Frequently Asked Questions

• Admission tickets are good for the entire day of your visit. You can arrive/depart at any time, regardless of the timeslot you selected.
• Tickets are valid only for the date specified.
• Any date showing a SOLD OUT message means that we have reached our building capacity and additional tickets are not available. Please choose another day to visit.
• Science Center Members are encouraged to reserve (free) tickets online before visiting.

To ensure the safety, comfort, and enjoyment of all visitors to the Connecticut Science Center, please review our visitor policies

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Air Quality: You can breathe easy knowing that The Connecticut Science Center’s state-of-the-art systems keep our air fresh and clean.On a daily basis, approximately 20-30% of the air in our building is newly introduced outside air 24 x 7. 250 best-in-class air filters clean all the circulated air and trap 95% of pollutants.

Cleaning & Sanitizing: Our team constantly cleans and sanitizes touchable surfaces to reduce the transmission of bacteria and viruses.Try our iCleanse device sanitizers in Science Alley and on each bridge to keep your phone virus-free. Sanitizing wipes and hand sanitizer are available throughout the building.

Touchless Amenities: Touchless amenities like hand-sanitization stations, sinks, paper towel dispensers, and toilets help reduce contamination risk.

The Connecticut Science Center provides hand sanitizer dispensers on every floor as a convenience for our guests. Sanitizers are filled with the recommended germ-killing products. While hand sanitizer is an accepted germ-cleaning method, health officials strongly encourage hand washing with soap and water as is the most effective way to limit the spread of germs. Restrooms are plentiful and conveniently located on every floor and in every exhibition gallery.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• If you have flu-like symptoms, stay home

No. Face masks are not currently required.

We have many interactive exhibits that are just the right size for Connecticut Science Center visitors under 7 years old. Our youngest visitors can build their own Tiny Town with soft, super-sized blocks in our KidSpace gallery; touch down in a lunar lander and explore the surface of the moon at Moonwalk in our Exploring Space gallery; and crawl through the forest to see creatures up close at Critter Corner in our River of Life gallery. These new hands-on experiences are FREE with a Connecticut Science Center Membership or the purchase of General Admission. Kids under 3 are FREE!

The Science Center has a Subway on-site in addition to vending machines and assorted snacks available from our Gift Shop.

Yes, bag lunches and food from outside vendors are permitted. However, please note that no food or beverages (other than water) may be consumed inside our exhibit galleries. Therefore, guests are strongly encouraged to bring refillable water bottles.

Yes. There are tables located on the Lobby Level specifically designated for families who bring their own food. These tables are available on a first come, first served basis.

There is ample, convenient parking in a garage directly below the Connecticut Science Center. You need only to park your car and take the elevator to the Lobby Level to enter the Science Center. There is an hourly fee to park in the garage. The Connecticut Science Center neither owns nor operates the parking garage. Parking is not included in the cost of admission, or Membership.

Members receive $5 flat-rate parking in our garage when they visit the Science Center, during normal operating hours only. To take advantage of the special parking rate, Members MUST obtain a special parking sticker from our Ticketing Counter when they check in for their visit. Members who do not get the Member parking sticker will be charged the regular parking rate when they exit. The $5 Parking rate can only be used in conjunction with a Science Center visit and on the days and during the hours the Science Center is open. Members utilizing the parking benefit must exit the garage by 5PM. Any Member caught abusing the parking benefit will have their reduced-price parking privilege revoked and could face possible Membership termination.

Yes. There is bike parking in the parking garage on Level G1, right outside the garage by the fuel cell on Grove Street, and on the plaza at the rear entrance of the building.

The Connecticut Science Center strictly prohibits possessing or using dangerous weapons* on the premises, including those concealed on one’s person or carried in bags. This policy applies to all who enter the premises, including visitors, guests, staff, and contract workers. A license to carry a weapon does not supersede this policy. Bags may be searched at the discretion of Safety/Security personnel. Law Enforcement, with proper identification, are exempt from this policy. If any weapons are observed, please notify Science Center Security.

*Dangerous weapons include, but are not limited to, firearms, explosives, knives or other cutting instruments, facsimiles of weapons, and other objects that might be considered dangerous or that could cause harm, including harm to exhibits.

Yes, Members of the Connecticut Science Center can enjoy many different rotating reciprocals with some of our local partner museums. Our Members can also take advantage of the ASTC Passport Program, with exclusive perks, including FREE GENERAL ADMISSION to a wide range of participating science centers and museums throughout the country (90+ miles from your home residence and the museum you belong to). Learn more about these benefits on our Membership pages.

On a bright sunny Saturday or Sunday! We tend to get many visitors during rainy days, so if you would like more “elbow” room to explore each exhibit with your family we would encourage you to come on a beautiful sunny weekend day. Also, the Science Center welcomes thousands of school groups each year and they tend to come during the week between 9AM – 2PM during the school year. If you and your family came later in the afternoon, you would likely have plenty of time and space to enjoy your visit together.

No. We never had a facility in West Hartford. The museum in West Hartford is an entirely separate institution that still continues to serve audiences of small children. The Connecticut Science Center opened for the first time in 2009 and serves children and families of all ages.

The Connecticut Science Center is Accessible to all visitors.

• Our exhibits include elements that attempt to reach as many learning styles, levels of interest, and physical needs as possible through use of audios, visuals, closed captions on videos, tactile components, and personal interactions with Connecticut Science Center team members in the galleries.
• For those who need it, there is a passenger drop off and pick up area in front of the building at the Columbus Boulevard entrance. There are also a limited number of wheelchairs for use on a first come, first served basis which can be obtained at the Security desk.
• Seating and benches are located throughout the facility for your comfort and convenience.
• Licensed guide and service dogs are welcome in the facility.
• Infrared Assistive Listening Devices for theater presentations (available upon request.)
• Exhibit display panels are positioned for comfortable viewing from a wheel chair.
• If you need any assistance operating an exhibit, or have any questions while visiting the Science Center, please ask any team member (identifiable by uniform shirt and ID badge) and they’ll be most happy to assist you.

The Science Center is committed to bringing the best experience possible for all of our guests. The theater is currently equipped with an Ultra Phonic® assisted listening system for the hearing impaired. We hope to install new technology that will allow for closed captioning with 3D movies in the near future.

Our theater uses state of the art 3D glasses for premium viewing experience. The glasses are collected after each movie and sanitized after each use.

If you would like to see one of our fantastic 3D movies, you will need to purchase a Combo ticket which will give you both General Admission to all the exhibit galleries plus one movie of your choice. The General Admission ticket alone does not include a movie.

Yes. When you purchase day tickets, you can upgrade them to a year-long membership before you leave. The value of your General Admission tickets from that day can be applied towards the membership level you choose. However, the number of tickets used for the upgrade cannot exceed the membership level (e.g., 4 General Admission tickets can be applied towards a 4-Person Membership). Please note that add-ons are not eligible for trade-up, and only one receipt can be used for the upgrade. The upgrade must be completed onsite on the same day before you leave.

For the safety of your child, children under the age of 16 should be accompanied by an adult at all times. Parents and guardians are solely responsible for supervising their own children. The Connecticut Science Center is not responsible for any unsupervised children. The Connecticut Science Center has the right to refuse entry to unsupervised children.

We strongly encourage the use of baby slings or carriers as alternatives to strollers. The interactive nature of our exhibit galleries does not easily accommodate oversize, side by side double seated, or jogging strollers. There is also very limited stroller parking. If you must use a stroller, please consider using a smaller, lightweight “umbrella” stroller. We do not have any strollers available for lending or rentals.

Mothers are welcome to nurse anywhere they would like to at the Connecticut Science Center. There are plenty of benches and seating in all of the exhibit galleries and public spaces for your comfort and convenience. If a mother would prefer an area with a little more privacy, please stop by the Security desk in the Lobby for access to the First Aid room which is available on a first come, first served basis.

Yes. If you believe you lost an item while visiting the Connecticut Science Center, please contact our Security Desk by calling (860) 520-2155. Lost items will be held for 10 days. The Connecticut Science Center is not responsible for any lost, stolen or damaged items or personal property. If you require medical attention while you are at the Connecticut Science Center, please inform any Science Center staff member who will get you the appropriate assistance. If you need simple First Aid (band-aid, ice pack, etc…) you can also stop by the Security Desk on the Lobby Level. The officers there will happily assist you.

Yes. There are a limited number of coin operated lockers available on a first come, first served basis on the Lobby Level.

Visitors are welcome to take photographs and videos of their friends & family enjoying themselves at the Connecticut Science Center as long as it is for non-commercial use only. Commercial productions are required to obtain prior, written permission from the Connecticut Science Center Marketing Department.

The use of any cigarettes, tobacco, tobacco products, or electronic cigarettes, are prohibited inside the building and within 25 feet of the building. If you make the decision to smoke, you must be at least 25 feet away from the building and use proper receptacles outside