A great time for families interested in science. We had a fun few hours on a Sunday here and were able to complete the scavenger hunt and see the planetarium in 2 1/2 hours. The staff really seem to care about educating the patrons. It is so refreshing to see such a positive attitude. The venue is a bit small but they have many rooms to keep young children occupied. I think about 5 to 10 is about the best ages for this trip.

A fun little interactive museum. Great for kids or kids at ️. I had fun exploring the exhibits and played as much as any kid there. Definitely worth a visit and I cant wait to see what they do with their new location next year.

Good place for a field trip. My daughter had a great time. We will definitely be back.

Super fun here. We stumbled on to the center by looking for things to do with our 2 year old.The center is probably better suited for older kids but that didnt phase our little guy. He enjoyed the dinosaur exhibits and the digging for bonessection. The rubber dirt was a great choice and kept him nice and clean.He really loved the minerals section. The florecence section really caught his eye. It was cool even for the adults to see how the different compounds reacted to that wavelength.The space center in the back send super cool, but that caught his eye the least as it was more reading and building and hes not quite there yet.He really loved the animals and the sensory station where you can touch the animal furs (all sourced from animals that passed naturally I was told).Really love this and Im looking forward to getting the premier membership. You get access to do the museums nationwide! For less than 100$the who family (2 adults and 3 kids) can have access to museums not only in Sacramento area, but the Bay and beyond!

A hidden gem. Activities for children of all ages. I cant wait to go back!

Powerhouse Science Center. Is a great place to take your family. My son loves this place!!!! I like that the exhibits are always changing. A year membership for 2 Adults and up to 3 kids is only $60 thats not bad for a whole year.

This is a great, inexpensive museum with frequently changing exhibits. The Powerhouse Science Center is big enough to inspire hours of play and curiosity, yet small enough that you can literally sit and watch your kid if your energy is low. I particularly enjoy exhibit describing the stages of life on this planet. Eg. Cambrian, Silurian. etc. Pictured below are some gemstones they had an display for a while. I believe theyre still there.

Small on the inside but we were here based on museum passport. Our membership is at the Cube in Orange County and we got membership because we knew there was going to be kids museums in the Sacramento area we wanted to visit while with families.My 3 and 9 month old had a good time playing with other kids. Story time pertained to science and the animals was fun to watch. Rare to have animals at a science museum. They had fun being entertained with just the simple to understand displays.

Wow! So much to experience in a compact space. They covered all of our science bases in this one facility, from earth, fossils, space and more. We even had the pleasure of visiting their STEM room and had it been open earlier we would have hung out there. I love that they had games for the kids to play together and discovery stations that gave them a chance to cooperate. Wish it was closer to home.

I had a great time, Im a little too old for this place, but I definitely recommend for families! There is lots of information to learn about animals, rocks, fossils, and space! Theres even a planetarium that had a fantastic and very enthusiastic presenter. So many hands on events for kids and a beautiful outside area with plenty of little critters!

I participated in a 1st grade field trip to the planetarium. The show was fun and informative; the kids enjoyed the experience. However, the Q&A portion of the event made me aware the staff is either uninformed on the basics of science or cannot answer the simplest of questions on the spot. If it wasnt for the fact the audience was a class of 1st graders, Im sure someone would have challenged quite a few of the answers given.

Love it. They have cool classes for kids 7 - 12years.

A cool little museum, mostly for kids. Worthwhile for the price. The space section was AWESOME, but again, kind of small. The animals section was TINY, and the planetarium show was a bit too short. Overall, Id say take your kids for the activities, otherwise wait until they open their new center.

Hadnt been there since the kids were in elementary and Junior High School. It was great seeing some of the things I remembered and some of the things that I didnt. Now that we have phones that are used to take pictures, so being able to take pictures of the exhibits was great and putting myself in those pictures was also great. It was just a fun day for me.

Think of it as a condensed version of a normal science museum, appropriate for 4-8 yr olds. My daughter enjoyed the time there. Many sections are closed off for groups, which I feel is a bummer.

Havent been here since 8th grade! So happy that this place is still here! #space

This amazing space is wonderful for children (looking forward to new Powerhouse coming soon). It never gets old because many of the exhibits are refreshed with new hands-on activities (such as digging for dinosaur fossils!)

Educational area was very hands on, great for kids of all ages to explore and learn. We went during winter break, it was very quiet except for 1 birthday party.The planetarium experience has declined over the years, Ive been many times on field trips and it used to be an informational, interactive, experience. Now its short, narrative is rapid, and very elementary explanation of our solar system and a couple of constellations. I was so shocked it was over in 15 minutes. That was supposed to be the highlight of our trip, as they only do the presentations 2x a day.

Love this place! It only gets 4 stars because its small. In the near future it will change locations and be closer to the Sacramento Rail Yards. Im excited for that!This is a great place to take the kids at any time during the week. They do a good job on having hands on activities for the kids. I particularly like their design lab where kids can explore through trial and error different subjects like robotics, suspension bridges, earthquakes, and aerodynamics.Keep it up Prepare Science Center!

Great, fun and fascinating place to take children. Lots of hands on activities. Fun and education all bundled in one.

The science museum was lots of fun and interactive learning. The planetarium was amazing!!! The gentleman, David, really knew his stuff and I learned so much. It was fantastic.

Really fun and educational. The staff is nice. Very fun experience and I hope I can go again soon!!

This place is great!!! I am telling everyone I meet to go there.. staff is knowledgeable, high energy & fun.. A little jewel in the heart of the city..

Nice place for kids to explore and enjoy the science, technology, nature. Several exhibits that kids can get hands-on and learn. I liked the NASA stall where we can wear a dummy space suite and get some pics. There is an attached planetorium that conduct multiple shows. Several dinosaur exhibits around the open space that kids can enjoy.

Please see the pictures before you come, the best hits is lunch time so you can attend the lab and planetarium, other than that there are interactive tools for a simulation.

5th grade mission to mars field trip was an amazing one. Both parents and kids enjoyed this one.

Small but good for a couple of hours with the kids. Planetarium show is good and included in the price of admission. New facility is going to be 5 times the size.

Lots of fun hands on experience for youth and adults. Science, animals, weekend STEM activities, planetarium shows, dinosaurs! Outdoor trail and amphitheater, picnic tables and nice area for a couple hours with friends. Beware of the surrounding neighborhood and lock all doors and dont leave and valuables in the car. Facility is gated but no outdoor security. Quality museum for the family.

Its good for the space. Could do with an expansion and more activities for kids

Great spot to spend some time with kids.Especially in the planetarium they provide nice presentation

Outstanding Science Center the grandkids loved it its been two weeks and theyre still talking about it

Small but very nice. Very kid friendly.

We took our 3 children there, they are 5, 7 & 9. My son loves anything Science (my oldest), so he had a blast. So did my girls. They explored everything and they especially loved the rocket ship. They pretended they were in space and had a blast. When we came into the building, the kids got a task sheet and a pencil. So they were kept busy looking at stations and writing down the answers to the questions. We all learned something new that day. This wasnt really a place for us to spend a full day. We stayed maybe 2 hours. Theres also a planetarium that is included with your ticket

We had a blast! My four year old got to be hands on with molecular structure, the development of land mass, digging for dinosaur bones and what fossils feel like, building space-worthy containers, and so much more. I hope they will be able to expand on their animal/nature exhibits because that holds some really great potential!

Wonderful hands-on learning facility! The Challenger Mission experience is phenomenal. The admission prices are very reasonable and the outside picnic area is quite nice and you can do a self-guided tour. Cant wait till they open their new location near downtown in 2021.

Fantastic time spent! Great for young kids, so many hands on activities and the planetarium show was informative in a kids-friendly way.

I went to the museum during free museum day. The exhibits were fascinating and very informative. I loved every minute I was there. The employees were very helpful and cheerful of the customer presence. I would definitely visit again!

We attended a planetarium showing. The docent was very knowledgeable and did a fabulous job leading the experience.

We love the Powerhouse Science Center. It is a great place to spend a couple of hours indoors. Lots of neat exhibits and everything is hands on. Staff is always friendly and welcoming. I definitely recommend for families with kids.

Great place for kids and families, plan plenty of time to get your hands into everything.

Got to go here for my birthday, it was really fun and very hands on. Theres lot of interesting things you can do there. The planetarium was probably my favorite part its gery traditional and it really transports you to another world!

Small but great fun! Awesome little planetarium, perfect for kids! Outside has cool stuff to explore and a great picnic area.

Great place to take the kids to learn and have fun, had to fight the kids to go home.

A little small but packed with fun.

Old school science center. Lots of school age kids.

Not much to do or see but granddaughter seemed to like it. Good place to kill time with the kids

Best place ever, my kid has a blast here evey single time. She loves all the exhibits, even if shes seen them before, and they usually change it up as well so caregivers dont tire out. She loves the TY animals in the gift shop, and visiting the live animals. Diana & Richard are so nice and great with kids. She lists them amongst her friends. Her favorite planetarium presenter is Ford. Its a great place to go for people who may not have a lot of funds for a day trip as they offer free admission as well for BofA customers on the first full weekend of every month. Parking is free onsite and is plentiful. Activities outdoor as well as indoor. Lots of hands on science and engineering activities for kids. Picnic tables and shade available outdoor for picnics, or purchase food inside for a modest price. We had my childs birthday there this year, as well as having a membership, and it was one of the best things we have ever purchased for her as its used often.

Pretty small. The stuff they have is cool, but the kids can be through it in under 30 minutes

Awesome little place to spend a couple hours. Always learn something new. Great hands on activities for the kids, and the adults. Theres also out door space for those that need to run :)

My 5 year old son had a blast. Loved the plantorium. Nice exhibits. He loved dressing up as a astronaut

Small and wonderful place for kids and adults. Science oriented. New and larger museum will be built in 2 years on the Sacramento river shores near Old Town Sacramento. In the meantime its well worth a visit for science lovers of all kinds.

Great place to take the kids to visit, attend a class, or for a field trip. Very engaged staff.

My grandchildren loved calling each other over to see the next cool exhibit.

Interesting and entertaining. My nephew loved every bit. My niece on the other hand - not so much. She might be too old for it though.

Fun for the whole Family.Always something new to learn.Never knew squids had bones :-o

This place is small but nice and friendly. The planetarium lasts about twenty minutes.

My 8 year old grandson enjoyed it. I found it sparse, underfunded, and dreary.

This is a really nice educational museum Center. But for some reason being a child going and now as an adult going it seems way too small literally we went in and stayed about less than 30 minutes which for the price I feel is very short. There was a very small room with a few insects rabbits and tortoises then a small area to learn about earth I know this center has been open for many years and might not have the correct funding I really support places like this that teach children about the world we live in I hope they are able to add more to this place it was a Little disappointment but for the simple fact that I hope they remain in business and expand in giving them a 5 Star

Perfect little spot to take the little ones without all the fanfare of a larger facility!

Fun and awesome place for the whole family! We will be coming back in December when the dinosaur exhibit comes back :) My son loved it here. We also bought a triceratops dinosaur toy which was only $4!! We definitely will be back!

The fact that adults have to pay for this is absurd. The kids enjoyed it but they did all the available activities in 45 minutes. I guess you can feel good that your money is helping to fund a new location. Hopefully it will be something worth going to.

The last time we were here my son was much younger. Hes almost 13 but loves science so we decided to try it again for his field study. Seriously impressed. We were still in and out in 30 minutes but the science side kept him entertained. His favorite exhibit was making balls float. They also had an air hockey table with planets for pucks. And an interactive sand landscape exhibit where he used a peddle to make it rain and dry it up. Cant wait for the bigger version coming in 2020.

A fun museum for adults and kids alike. The planetarium show is a nice touch and it’s definitely a enjoyable way to spend a rainy afternoon.

Great place for the little ones. There are scientific activities, a planetarium half dome, play area, big wooded yard. Recommended.

I took my 9 year old nephew to the Challenger Space Mission simulation and we both had a blast. They have a Mission Control room and a separate space shuttle room. Both rooms have stations for teams to work mission assignments. Mission Control & the shuttle staff need to work together to accomplish the mission. It is geared towards 5th grade but it looked like the parents were having just as much fun. I know I was. I am taking my nephew to the next event so we can work a different station. I an to go on every Mission until I have worked every station. Worth every penny.

Quite small, but well done and friendly. Enjoyable balance of indoor and outdoor activity. Really enjoyed the planetarium and the guide(employee.) Kept everything simple enough for children, rather than dazzling.

We took our 8 year old and his very shy six year old cousin. The older kids there sort of ran roughshod over our niece, but the boy was happy with the exhibits. There isnt much here, but what is offered was well kept, and seemed new.

Great place to take kids. Clean outdoor and indoor learning experience.

This place is great...kids will have fun!!

Wonderful place of learning. I bring my students here every year for the Planetarium show as well as the self-guided museum.

Love this place! I have been bringing my 5th graders here for years, and they love it! I know high schoolers that come back and ask me if we still go on this trip! It is a must for 5th grade!

Not worth the visit and pricey. Not even my kids enjoyed the place.

Super supportive to their customers!

Nice little science museum for kids. They have a permanent animal collection that gets interspersed with an exhibit theme. The main hall gets the other exhibit. Although we did not go to this time they also have a planetarium and a special class for mission control.

Awesome learning center, they made my sons birthday party so easy. I highly recommend this place.

Love this place, much to explore!

We went here one weekend and they had a power outage. The outage was expected to last more than an hour, so they gave us a voucher for a free family entrance within the next month. We went back and had a great time, including the planetarium. The only reason this doesnt get 5 stars is because it is kind of small. I love that its heavily space themed! The small area with the animals in it is cute, and my kid liked it a good deal.

Fun times were had in the cardboard room!!

The my field trip was great probe was very fun.

A bit out dated but the new facility is coming

Our family loves going here. It looks small but theyre is lots to see and do. Their are live animals to see. Kids can discover and learn about food. They can play in a kitchen. There are areas to teach them about health and a chance to play Doctor. Children 4 and older can go to the Planetarium. There are some great experiences outside as well.

Slightly rundown; still entertaining and educational for kids, but very compartmentalized and structured oddly. There was no natural flow to the exhibits.

Expand your mind.....with science

Great place for kids to learn, explore & engage with hands on science fun..Good friendly staff too.And the space ice cream sandwiches in the gift shop are a must!

Great place to go for the entire family. I used to go when this place was called the Discovery Museum. Lots of fun interactive activities for everyone. Recently I went for the solar eclipse event! It was great to be part of something that may only come once in a lifetime.

This is an awesome hands on place for kids. The planetarium is a must see.

Cool museum with interesting exhibits. Great for science fanatics.

The hands on exhibits are so fun! The planetarium show is simple, but cute. Great place for kids of all ages.

UPDATED: Since I first reviewed this, they have made some significant upgrades, including a push towards more interactive exhibits, stronger education program including staff that have been friendlier with kids.The dress-up spaceship is gone, but replaced with better stuff, IMO. My kids are now older and they found plenty to be interested in, especially on the day we went with some special activities (including a Planetarium show).Below is my original review:Its extremely small and there are NO windows; our 3 under-7 kids like about 3 exhibits. More exhibits with text and pictures, but few with interesting hands-on stuff. The dress-up spaceship is our kids favorite exhibit. We are members since the price of membership wasnt much more than two visits worth for our family, but I would recommend Lodis World of Wonders museum (which our membership gets us into) over this. The staff member on duty both times weve gone has been short and not particularly excited about us, even though almost nobody else was there. (About 3 families would make this place crowded.) They have plans to move to a new facility. Lets hope they can make the exhibits better, too.

Good place for science related stuff. Not too big of a place when we were there compared to other interactive science centers.

Hands on learning science experiments and natural nature. Small building, but lots to see and do inside. Plus, live animals and bugs to see!

Took the 11 year old nephew who had a great, hands-on time for three hours (all indoor). They have explore, look, and build exhibits--plus a planetarium show and outdoor trails & playground as well.

Great field trip. Learned a lot about the atars4

Very cool place to visit and take the kids. Very friendly staff.

This place is amaaaaazing, but I would suggest for the smaller kids because my 10 year old wasnt as interested, unless your kids are really into astrology and such. Shoot! I had fun than my 10-year old.

Nice staff clean and interesting place

Pretty cool our favorite part was with the kinetic sand.

Our kids loved it here. They are 2 and 7, and there was stuff for both age groups. We will definitely go back.

Fantastic, interactive place to take your children. Quite frankly if I didnt look like a weirdo, I would go by myself, and really check out what activities they really offer. When youre with children, reading about and enjoying exhibits, is futile. Job well done, price reasonable, knowledgeable and kind staff. Bravo!

The planetarium was small, but it was a good experience...