Arizona Science Center Reviews and Photos, Phoenix

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Arizona Science Center

March 31, 2008
Rated 5 of 5 by weeblewobble46 from Marietta, Georgia

This is a "Hands ON" type of museum. There are several areas set up for you to experiment and observe others doing their own experiments. We had the most fun in the area devoted to the human body and the one devoted to building (both on the main floor). We had a great time building, leveling, creating and connecting in the building section.

The "Titanic" exhibit was also there during our visit. It cost extra, but was worth it. Everyone is given a "boarding pass" as they enter. It bears the name of one of the actual passengers and you can check the roster at the end of the exhibit to see if "you" survived the sinking. The one thing that surprised me the most was that the majority of the spectators were SILENT through the whole exhibit. If there was any talking, it was done in hushed whispers. The somber tone and the quality of the artifacts made you realize the enormity of this disaster. It was amazing to see the sumptuous surroundings of the first class stateroom. It cost the equivilent of over $25 thousand of today's dollars to have a first class berth. That is steep in anyone's book.

There is also a "Heritage Square" outside that has several shops and re-creations from the turn of the century.

This is a very worthwhile trip. Parking is available in a garage next to the Science Museum and cost about $10. Get your ticket validated when you pay your entrance fee and the parking fee is reduced.

From journal Phoenix Flora

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AZ Science Centerr—BodyWorlds 3

June 28, 2007
Rated 5 of 5 by nmagann from Ventura, California

Most people have seen Cirque de Soleil in person or an excerpt on public broadcasting television. While not entertaining in the same sense, trying to explain BodyWorld 3 is equally difficult. Cirque or a ballet needs to be seen. Unfortunately, but understandably, photography was not permitted. Crowds, glare from showcases, dim lighting, and minimal wiggle room would have made it impossible.

Facts

Gun Von Hagens developed a method for preserving real human bodies and individual organs. For years, the medical industry utilized his works for training. Donors, whose identity remains private, provide displays of diseased and healthy body parts.

Exhibits

Most fascinating are the complete bodies in motion. Informative signs direct people to notice the muscles in an arm at the side versus the ones in the arm that is poised to throw a football, for example. There are examples of male athletes kicking a soccer ball to female gymnasts. A man on a horse shows the procedure has been used on animals. The anatomy is completely intact and therefore graphic.

An individual organ such a lung may be displayed in transparent slices. A head was sliced vertically and another horizontally with tiny labels on different parts. The intestine was stretched to full length and encased in a flat plastic case.

Suffice it to say, this has been a very controversial exhibit.

Methods

In the last room was a short video explaining the preservation processes, which number several, the length of time it takes, and how positioning every fiber correctly is accomplished. At the very least, you have to marvel at the work involved. Different types of fluid require different types of dehydrating and preservation methods. This can include replacement of fluids first by acetone then a polymer solution.

See it?

Who should see this? I heard the children muttering things like ‘gross’ so you might want to consider the maturity of a child you might bring. According to the write up, the average time spent wondering around was 90 minutes. I spent three hours, but those with children spent less than one. Personally, I would have liked to have had those three hours without the crowds. I found it to be quite fascinating. Anyone with an illness or relative with a disease would really benefit from this. Athletes would find the muscles of full bodies in motion fascinating. Celebrities that have been impressed by it include Jennifer Aniston, Gabby Reese, Demi Moore, and Andre Agassi.

This touring exhibit sells out quickly even though ticket times are in 15-minute increments. Once inside the exhibit, there were no time constraints, nor viewing line to follow, being so crowded you would find it difficult to "cut in" to see a display. Therefore, most people followed a line of sorts and passed by those of us gawking longer. Over the weekend it was open 24hrs and I can see why.

www.bodyworlds.com/en.html

From journal Wild Phoenix

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Arizona Science Museum

January 11, 2005
Rated 5 of 5 by monkeys from White Plains, New York

The Arizona Science Museum was a blast not only for the kids, but also for the adults. The Science Center is huge and definitely deserves a few hours to fully enjoy it all. There are roughly four floors, with anything and everything you can imagine. They had exhibits on senses, space, natural phenomenons, the human body, psychology, etc. The exhibits were informative, hands-on, and computerized, and they varied with each room. The planetarium was absolutely fabulous. The guide who took us to Mars during the planetarium show was friendly and extremely knowledgeable.

Here is the web address for the Science Center: http://www.azscience.org/

From journal Southern Arizona

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Arizona Science Museum

May 13, 2004
Rated 5 of 5 by wwwman from Bradenton, Florida

Some adults might be ashamed of going if they have no kids in tow for the Arizona Science Center was created primarily with the instruction of the youngest generations in mind. But it is also loads of fun for adults, all this conveniently located in Phoenix’s Downtown.

In this large facility you'll find state-of-the-art interactive exhibits covering a variety of topics from the development of the human body to coping with living in the desert (something of consequence for the inhabitants of Arizona!) with examples of how the Native Indians managed what today seems an incredible feat to us, if we are not provided with air conditioning and buckets of cold water. However, it is not the topics (I personally found most of them really boring in my schooldays…) so much as the individual displays that make this museum fun. Then there are interesting sections on animals and the mechanics of their moves. Also for those biology junkies there is a huge ant farm, explaining just about everything: from how ants can carry such weights to what the hierarchy of their society looks like. How about bringing your kid before he has his natural science exam?

In addition, there’s a virtual reality game that puts you inside a video game, a massive truck tire weighing almost four tons, a flight simulator (try yourself out as a real Top Gun!), and a cloud maker. The ever-popular soap-bubble play area – ok, ok, maybe this one’s mainly for the kids! - is housed on a terrace on the museum's roof, as is a star-gazing area. In addition to the many exhibits, the science center includes a planetarium featuring both night sky and laser shows and a large-screen theater, though you will have to purchase additional tickets to visit these attractions.

The prices are $8/adult, $6/children 4-12, and free of charge for children under 4 years old. You can buy combined tickets for the museum, the planetarium, and the film theatre, saving on prices. There are also temporary shows changing every quarter of the year.

From journal Phoenix Days

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Arizona Science Center

June 19, 2003
Rated 4 of 5 by azprincess from Chandler, Arizona

The AZ Science Center is one of our all-time family favorites. The kids enjoy the hands-on exhibits and always seem to find new things each time we visit.

During our last trip in March, the kids emptied grandpa's wallet of pennies with the penny-flattening machine. They also enjoyed the interactive video/light exhibit and the musical instrument room. The adults' favorite things included the gyro-bike in which the guest rides a bicycle around in a loop-de-loop (wear closed-toed shoes, there is a height restriction). Don't skip the fourth floor, where I rode a Segway scooter, my own personal favorite.

Tip: Be warned that on hot summer days or days coinciding with school vacations, the museum will be packed and you may have to wait in a long line at the entrance.

Arizona Science Center.

From journal Family Fun in Phoenix!