A Mom’s Guide to McWane Science Center

McWane Science Center is truly a gift to all moms in the Birmingham area. At McWane, kids feel the excitement and thrill of a day at an amusement park, but they are actually discovering how our world works, using their creativity, and solving problems. My kids are always excited to go, and I am always thrilled to take them because McWane makes everything easy! Whether it’s raining cats and dogs, freezing cold, or burning hot outside, the temperature is just right inside for my kids to explore, play, and learn for hours. Parking is simple, healthy lunches are available on site, and there are amazing exhibits for everyone at any age.

Today I took my 5 year old son and 9 year old daughter to McWane Science Center, and they both had a blast exploring the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) exhibits! Come along with me to learn the details of our amazing day and lots of great mom tips. Don’t miss the bonus mom tips at the bottom of this post!

New for Summer 2026

Know before you go about these fun new things for summer 2026!

First, McWane will be open all seven days of the week starting May 25. Now families can enjoy the fun any day of the week through August 9. 

Next, animal lovers will want to visit the newest traveling exhibit called Survival of the Slowest. This special feature opens June 13 and will be open to visitors through January 4, 2027. Survival of the Slowest invites guests to meet a variety of live animals from around the world and discover how their unique adaptations help them survive in the wild. 

Big Things in the Lobby

Meet A Basilosaurus

First, we were not prepared to come face-to-face with a massive suspended Basilosaurus skeleton stretching overhead! More than just an eye-catching display, the exhibit brings Alabama’s rich fossil history to life through one of the most scientifically accurate Basilosaurus reconstructions ever created. Kids will be amazed by the enormous bones and the creature’s “sea monster” story, while parents will discover the fascinating role this fossil played in shaping both scientific discovery and Birmingham’s own history. This unforgettable centerpiece promises to spark curiosity and excitement from the moment families walk through the doors.

Vulcan Dream Machine

On the other side of the lobby, there is a huge marble run with balls racing and looping along a winding track with a miniature Vulcan statue. My 5 year old son was absolutely mesmerized by the Vulcan Dream Machine when we entered, which gave me time to check the educational program times on the nearby digital screens and make a plan for the day. This was also a great distraction later in the day while we waited on our yummy lunch to be prepared at the nearby Bean Sprouts Café.

Lower Level:: The World of Water

We started on the lower level, McWane Center’s World of Water, which is Birmingham’s only aquarium. My animal-loving daughter was thrilled to have a truly hands-on experience and to learn more about aquatic animals. The highlight of her day was safely touching the friendly sharks and stingrays, who seemed to enjoy soaking up all the love and attention. The exhibit also features local river and lake fish, as well as exotic ocean dwelling species. 

New! Terrrapin Nursery 

Get ready to meet some of Alabama’s tiniest conservation heroes at the new Terrapin Nursery inside McWane Science Center! This exciting new living exhibit gives families a rare behind-the-scenes look at how scientists and student researchers are helping save the Mississippi Diamondback Terrapin, one of the Gulf Coast’s most fascinating and important turtles. Kids will love spotting the adorable hatchlings with their tiny patterned shells and watching them swim, eat, and grow. Parents can discover how these remarkable reptiles help protect Alabama’s coastal marshes and wildlife. Created in partnership with the UAB Biology Department and Dr. Thane Wibbels’ lab, the Terrapin Nursery is more than an exhibit: it’s a real conservation effort in action.

Visitors will learn how threatened eggs are rescued, how hatchlings are carefully raised and monitored, and how the turtles are eventually released back into the wild stronger and healthier. Combining cute animals, hands-on science, and real-world conservation, the Terrapin Nursery offers an unforgettable experience that inspires curiosity, compassion, and a deeper connection to Alabama’s coastal ecosystems.

Mom Tips: 

• The sharks and sting rays in the touch tank get a 10-minute break at the beginning of each hour, but there are plenty of other fish to see on the floor while you wait.
• Help your youngest kids roll up their sleeves before experiencing the incredible touch tank.
• Staff will be nearby to instruct children on how to gently greet their aquatic friends.
• There are paper towels and hand sanitizer near the touch tank exit to keep little hands clean.
• Bring an extra pair of clothing for little ones just in case they get really wet at the touch tank. 

First Floor:: Science Quest and IMAX® Theater

On the first floor, McWane Science Center invites children to discover the place where science and fun collide. The Science Quest section is packed full of science disguised as fun! Exhibits include favorites like Bed of Nails, Bernoulli Fountain, Anti-Gravity Mirror, Height Checker, and Color Shadows. Kids like my son, who likes a little action, will love exhibits like Basketball: The Science of Swish, Tennis Ball Launcher, Giant Lever, Off to the Races, and Pulley Chair Lift.

Both of my children giggled and grinned in the Bubble Room, where kids and adults of all ages were busy creating bubbles of many shapes and sizes.

Also on the first level, The Rushton Theater is one of several spots at McWane that hosts science shows that will leave your little one amazed and in love with science! Don’t miss the Combustion Science Show or Lightning Strikes! program that showcases McWane’s very own Tesla coils. The daily schedule is posted online and on social media. 

The Workshop is a hands-on design and engineering workshop. Here kids can participate in fun programs like Lego Cars, Stomp Rockets, Racing Robots, and Zip Line Challenge. McWane offers these shows a couple times a week, so check the daily schedule on their online calendar to plan your visit.

IMAX® Dome Theater

My whole family loves the John W. Woods IMAX® Dome Theater, a 5 story tilted dome that will give you a revolutionary cinematic experience. This is the only IMAX® dome in the entire Southeast, and the experience makes you feel as if you are truly a part of the movie. The theater features kid-appropriate documentaries as well as blockbuster films. Check the IMAX® calendar to see what will be showing soon and purchase your tickets!

Mom Tips: 

• McWane Center members receive discounts on IMAX® movies and already low-priced concessions.
• An IMAX® show is a fun and exciting experience for kids on a hot or cold day, but it also makes for a great movie date. There are usually evening showings of new and popular movies on the weekends. Take advantage of having a babysitter, and stop by a downtown restaurant or ice cream shop before heading home.
• McWane knows how to do movies! Make your movie experience complete with a stop by the concessions stand for buttery popcorn or a box of candy.
• The best seats are right around the projector in the middle of the theater. This is also the best seat if a family member tends to get motion sickness.
• Exit out the top of the theater rather than the bottom.
• Follow @mcwanescience_imax on Instagram for the latest film features. 

Second Floor:: Hands On Favorites

Itty Bitty Magic City

My son could have spent the entire day in Itty Bitty Magic City. It is the ultimate play stop for young children in Birmingham. Young explorers 6 and under can dive into hands-on exhibits that spark curiosity and creativity through fun experiments and interactive displays that teach STEM concepts through playing and tinkering.

Our first stop was Main Street! The pretend grocery store and diner let my son take on grown-up roles—shopping for food, cooking lunch in the play stoves and ovens, and serving lunch to our family at the diner counter. At the vet office, my little animal lover stepped into the role of veterinarian, caring for plush pets and viewing real animal X-rays. In the auto repair area, my son become a junior mechanic, using kid-friendly tools to learn how cars work by fixing tires and checking engines. 

Further into Itty Bitty Magic City, he jumped at the chance to play on the huge climbing structure that was complete with slides designed to be safe for all ages and developmental levels.  Always one to love water play, his favorite section of Itty Bitty Magic City was the water play area, where he splashed, poured, built dams, and spun water wheels to learn about the science of water. For tiny tots, there is a gated Tot Spot that is perfect for crawlers and early walkers to explore and play safely.

Mom Tips:

• No need to rush out for potty breaks! There is a separate family restroom in Itty Bitty City with a changing table and a toddler-sized toilet. 
• A nursing room is available in Itty Bitty Magic City for moms and their little ones.
• The Itty Bitty Magic City closes 15 minutes before the rest of the museum to allow for cleaning and resetting.
• Bring a change of clothing for little ones. The McWane Center provides child sized waterproof aprons for the Water Play area, but if your children are like mine, they may still leave soaked after a long session of water fun!
• Older siblings may come in, but be sure that they are making space for the pint sized friends that the space is designed for. My daughter was allowed in, but at the entrance they kindly asked her not to climb on the play structure and reminded her to look out for smaller children.

Alabama Dinosaurs

At the Alabama Dinosaurs exhibit, my kids stepped back in time and explored a world where dinosaurs once roamed our state. While life-sized dinosaur skeletons towered overhead, my young paleontologists learned how fossils are formed and uncovered bones in the fossil dig pit.

In the Explore! Lab, my daughter enjoyed touching fossils, skeletons, and rare minerals as she explored geology, paleontology, anthropology, and zoology.

NatureScope

At NatureScope, the McWane Center partners with the Birmingham Audubon Society and allows children to view a large collection of Alabama birds, including a bald eagle, wild turkey, woodpeckers, and even a skull from the extinct dodo bird. In the cabin and demonstration stage, the whole family will enjoy learning about birds and bugs at the nature programs and live animal shows. While we were there, staff members brought out a live non-venomous Burmese Python and taught us about their habitat and food preferences. My daughter loved the chance to learn about and pet this scaly friend.

The High Cycle

Don’t leave the floor without stopping by The High Cycle, where physics allows thrill seekers 48 inches or taller and under 225 pounds to easily balance on a tightrope!

High Cycle Hours: these change seasonally so be sure to check before you go
Wednesday – Friday: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM and 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Sunday: 1:00- 3:00 PM

Third Floor:: Art + Tech Gallery

Don’t leave the McWane Center without visiting the third floor. Find special showcase exhibits that add the A in STEAM. Many of the special exhibits on this floor are for a limited time only and change throughout the year! 

Check McWane’s website to keep an eye on upcoming special exhibits your family will love.

Dining at McWane

After exploring non-stop, we all needed to take a break and refuel before someone became hangry. Whether you are in search of breakfast, lunch, or snacks, McWane makes it easy to fill little bellies with healthy choices (and maybe a treat or two!)

Bean Sprouts Café

The Bean Sprouts Café at the McWane Center has allergen-safe and gluten-friendly breakfast, lunch, and snacks that your kids will love. My son loved his Grilledzilla (grilled cheese, but more fun) and tots. Even the pickiest of eaters will have fun chowing down on the Spaceadilla (chicken quesadilla shaped like a space ship,) Googly Fruit Cup, and Pink Patootie smoothie. The menu includes coffee and lattes to give you the caffeine boost you need to keep up with your little ones. For lunch, they serve up delicious sandwiches, salads, and pizza to keep the adult crowd happy as well.

Bean Sprouts Café Hours
Wednesday- Friday 9:00 AM- 3:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM 
Sunday: 12:00 PM- 3:00 PM
Closed Monday and Tuesday

IMAX Concessions

Grab popcorn, candy, and a soda before your movie, or just for a snack.

Vending Machines

Grab a snack and take a quick breather in the vending area on the lower level.

Downtown Birmingham

Nearby food choices include Pizitz Food Hall, Paramount Food and Arcade, and Trattoria Zaza Italian food. Just a little further away are Chick-fil-A and Subway on 5th Avenue North.

Mom Tips:

• McWane members get a 10% discount at Bean Sprouts Café.
• No food or drink is allowed inside the Adventure Halls.
• As long as you keep your wristbands on, your family can come and go as you please! Leave the building for lunch and a nap, then return ready to explore a new floor. 

Parking

The McWane Center makes parking easy and safe with its parking deck attached to the museum. The entrance to the parking deck is on 2nd Avenue North, and parking is FREE for members! Non-members pay only $5 for parking. Toll machines at the exit accept pre-purchased tokens, debit and credit cards, or cash.

The City of Birmingham also has metered street parking near the McWane Center.  

Mom Tips:

• If you are not a member, purchase a token at the ticketing desk to make a quick exit from the parking deck.
• The parking deck vehicle height limit is 6 feet 8 inches.
• Street parking is free on weekends. 

Tickets 

Before purchasing your tickets at the ticketing counter, check out ticket prices for the Adventure Halls, IMAX theater, and Combo deals if you want to explore both. You will receive an arm band after purchasing your tickets. If you or your child has sensory issues wearing an arm band, ask for a sticker instead. 

Did You Know?

• Avoid time standing in line and purchase tickets online in advance.
• Kids younger than two years old are FREE.
• Teachers are FREE all year with school ID.
• From Armed Forces Day through Labor Day, military personnel and their families get in FREE through the Blue Star Museum program.
• Snap/EBT Card Holders receive a $3 ticket price for up to four family members.
• If you keep your arm band on, you can leave the museum and come back on the same day of ticket purchased. This lets you explore the rest of downtown too.
• While at the ticket counter, ask about these great amenities:
  • Lockers to rent
  • FREE wheelchairs
  • Kulture City Sensory Bags
  • Parking tokens
  • Museum maps 

Membership 

Being a McWane Center member is the way to go! The membership will pay for itself within only two visits to the museum, and members have a ton of great perks. Members receive FREE admission to Adventure Halls; FREE parking while available; and discounts at the Cool Stuff Store, IMAX, and Bean Sprouts Café. The museum hosts exclusive members-only events that the whole family will love. Members can also receive FREE or discounted admission to over 300 amazing science centers worldwide. 

Sensory Inclusive Initiative

The McWane Center partners with KultureCity to make everyone’s visit an inclusive experience and better serve children and adults with sensory processing needs. 

Sensory Bags

Sensory bags with fidget toys and headphones can be checked out at the Ticketing Counter and Security Desk. 

Quiet Spaces

McWane has designated several quiet areas throughout the Adventure Halls where there is less noise and activity. These areas are ideal for visitors who are overstimulated and need a quiet place to sit.

These areas are identified with signage and located in the following areas:

• Lower Level: Aquascape Theater
• Level 1: Sensory Room under the interior staircase. Ask the security guard for access to the room.
• Level 2: City Gallery
• Level 3: Art & Tech Gallery

Mom Tips:

• Use McWane Science Center’s Social Story to reduce anxiety for kids and teens with sensory sensitivities by walking kids through the steps of what will happen when they arrive at the museum and explore throughout the day.
• Look for Sensory Friendly signage throughout the McWane Center. 

A Few More Tips For Moms, From Moms:

• Plan for your visit by checking the hours of operation and holidays.
• Wear comfortable shoes.
• Donate to McWane to help them spread the love of STEM learning. McWane is a non-profit, and you can donate at places like the Coin Vortex and the World of Water donation box. Your donation allows McWane to serve title 1 schools through field trips and STEM outreaches.
• Look for digital signs at McWane. There is one in the lobby before ticketing and one on every floor of the Adventure Halls. When facing the signs, the left sign shows what is coming up in IMAX®. The middle sign displays McWane maps and the STEM program schedule. The right sign tells you about upcoming events, exhibits, and discounts.
• Bathrooms are on every floor across from the elevator in the Adventure Halls. Family bathrooms are located on the 1st and 3rd floors and in Itty Bitty Magic City. There is also a bathroom in the lobby near ticketing.
• Follow the McWane Center on Facebook and Instagram for the most up to date information. For behind the scenes peeks, check out McWane’s TikTok and Reels.
• Visit McWane’s YouTube channel for fun and educational science videos to allow your kids to continue learning at home.
• Sign up for McWane’s newsletter to receive monthly updates.
• Let The McWane Center plan your next birthday party. Choose your party theme, bring a cake, and allow McWane to do the rest!
• Become a member and keep your kids learning and playing all year long!

Every Little Detail

Sometimes I forget how fortunate we are to have the McWane Science Center here in our own great city of Birmingham. Not only is McWane providing an unforgettable experience for children, but they are also paying attention to every detail and doing everything with excellence.

It is easy to see that McWane prioritizes finding staff members who love both science and kids- they are all professional, knowledgable, and friendly. The staff keeps each level clean and all of the exhibits are well maintained. From parking and food to lockers and hand sanitizer, the McWane Science Center has thought of everything so that you can just show up and be a fun mom! 

My kids are already excited to go back and spend the day at McWane again. Make this an item on your Summer Bucket List. You’ll want to check it off again and again!