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    Eugene Science Center

    3.3 (35 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Eugene Science Center Photos

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    Parking wasn't a problem for us since hardly anyone was parked in the lot.
    Cheri N.

    Passing through Eugene, Oregon we chose to stop here for a break in our long drive and for a place to let the kids stretch their legs. We arrived before opening and the parking lot was almost empty. Towards one side of the lot they have regular sized parking spots with a sign authorizing free overnight rest stop just in that one row of spaces. There were two different RVs in this area of about 24 parking spots. There was no designated RV parking here but we found a clear space along the side of the lot which was not blocking any traffic. As for the museum we were surprised how small and limited the exhibits were here. It was great for toddlers and young children but older children will quickly become bored here unless they get involved in the lab area or some specific point of interest. I did enjoy the exhibit on the eclipse but that was all. Maybe ok for ages 10 and under. A huge plus was that our admission was free since they are reciprocal members of our local science museum's membership network. For anyone who has a local science museum membership it pays to ask out of town museums about reciprocal benefits. They do not have food services on site but do have a charming gift shop with snacks and toys to purchase. Parking was free. We spent about 1.5 hour here and that was plenty of time for our 11, 8, and 4 year olds.

    Inside
    Chase M.

    Cool for what it is worth Price is cheap Place is small Kids have fun Free with passport program (we have omsi membership) for free it's a great way to let the kids run around and have fun. If visiting it's a worthy way to spend a few bucks and a few hours. Be warned, it's small, very small.

    Screw-Ball
    Chrystal F.

    We enjoy this place, yes its run down a bit and could benefit from being updated...but the star gazer shows are fun and my son loves to play here. Its a smaller place, but its safe for him to roam and learn, and he enjoys spending 1-2 hours just exploring. They rotate the exhibits and you can go to special events for free with a membership. We have a membership that pays for itself in just a few visits. For a rainy day or a super hot day, its a fun place to hide out!

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    2 years ago

    Yes, small but is worth supporting and bringing children here . My review needs to be 85 characters

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    13 years ago

    nothing fancy, but cheap and fun for toddlers.

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    Ask the Community - Eugene Science Center

    Review Highlights - Eugene Science Center

    This science center participates in the ASTC reciprocal program, so if you are a member of another science center your family will get in for free (check the website).

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    Lane County History Museum - Open though Nov. 2018 - "Toys! Historic Playthings from Lane County

    Lane County History Museum

    (7 reviews)

    When you walk in and go to the right corner, there's a tiny section over there about the Native…read moreAmericans who lived here before Westerners committed biopiracy and genocide. The first of about 10 informational photos says that the museum is trying to be more inclusive and aware of its history, but has all the photos of the Native Americans up a staircase you cant even access. And, it looks like most, if not all, of the photos were taken without this person's consent. It's very obvious that this section did not take any direction from a Native person, or do any research into considerations to be taken. How about mention of community efforts to reconstruct the Kalapuya dictionary? How about teaching about the agriculture they did here before colonization? How about teaching about Lane County's roles in the atrocities of residential schools? How about not putting the ONLY photos and mention of native people up in a corner you can't even access? How about showing examples of traditional dances done by Kalapuya and neighboring tribes? So f*ckin, daft, y'all. Do better. I understand that its a small museum, but you could at LEAST make the stairs available to view what you do have, even though its almost comical how obvious it is that these did not want their picture taken, or didn't know, like the blind woman standing outside her house- probably not knowing who tf was there or why. The Race for Change exhibit is phenomenal and takes up a very decent amount of space, that was awesome. The only reason I'm giving 3 stars instead of one is because of the effort put into the Race for Change exhibit, and the fiery and undeniable acknowledgments of KKK presence here in Eugene- which NEEDS to be taught about if our community wants to be a safe space.

    Went and enjoyed the museum by myself had a enjoyable time reading and looking at everything.read more

    Shelton-McMurphey-Johnson House - The view from the street

    Shelton-McMurphey-Johnson House

    (19 reviews)

    When you visit it, the Shelton-McMurphey-Johnson House comes alive with history. Here, you'll get…read moresome good insights into some strong women's lives. Tip: The stairs are steep so be aware; they're not recommended for small children or people with mobility issues. When you ascend to the attic, you'll find an impressive replica of the house, and also a nice collection of war memorabilia (Swords, flags, photos, medical instruments, etc.). We very much enjoyed learning more about the history of Eugene; the docents were both friendly and knowledgeable. The furnishings and architecture are from a different time and the tour was informative.

    Read a review from 3 years ago and it said it was only $6 to get in and guess what? It's still only…read more$6 to get in! The docent was a very kind and friendly lady who knew the most about Aida but knew something about all of them. I appreciate her honesty when we asked a wished didn't know she would tell us she was not sure but would offer a maybe because... or probably because.... She pointed out what pieces of furniture were original to the home and explained how the rest were donated. So much history! She said the last lady who owned the home was raised in the Campbell House Inn which is actually where we stayed! I didn't take a bunch of photos as I was enjoying the moment and listening to the docent tell us the history of the home. Also many other people have posted great photos here already so no point in being redundant. The docent said it is decorated for Christmas during the holidays and recommended to visit it if I'm the area during that time. The theme was weddings do when we visited as the docent explained that someone had donated a tremendous amount of wedding gowns to the museum.

    Historic Carousel & Museum - Carousel

    Historic Carousel & Museum

    (55 reviews)

    Oh, I loved this. My BFF lives in Salem, so I know they have a carousel since we've visited with…read morethem. But I don't even know how I found out Albany had a carousel a couple weeks ago and I'm really glad we did. It was worth the 50 minute drive from Eugene. We went on a Wednesday, because they have happy hour on Wednesdays from 3-4 p.m. (they close at 4). Rides were half off (usually $2 per ride token). Some of the concessions are half off as well which was nice! And don't sleep on the concession stand; it's got a great menu and it's reasonably priced. Since I was there with my toddler, an adult was required to ride with her to make sure she was secure (there are not restraints on the animals) and for that reason, the accompanying adult was free. My sister and I took turns on baby duty, though we did all go on at least once (so that used two tokens). And they do a free ride as the final ride, so we all had fun on that one too. This place is run by volunteer power. So thankful for them all so we can have a great time! The historic part of the carousel is that the mechanism is a Dentzel 1909 piece donated by the great-grandson of the founder of Dentzel Carousel Corporation and the National Carousel Association. The objective was to enchant people with the finest carousel in the world, and they may well have met the brief here. There is a menagerie of animals here and they are all beautiful. The outside animals are stationary, and the inner two rows are "jumpers" (they move up and down). The animals are all hand-carved. I think I heard on the video playing in the souvenir shop that the outer animals cost $10,000 and $7,500 for the jumpers, and they're worth it because of the beauty and labor expended. Downstairs there's a museum, which we didn't have an opportunity to visit this time. But I am really looking forward to checking it out. The gift shop (also volunteer-run) has some really nice items, from carousel-specific to more generic gift items. I just wish they had more for smaller children, because I wanted to buy a t-shirt for my toddler but had no luck. But there is a sticker for every one of the animals on the carousel! I bought a couple stickers for the two my daughter rode on. Each of the animals has names, too, which would have made my search easier but I managed. They have a few rooms for rent, so you can have parties or events here. You can also join as a member at one of several levels and get a variety of benefits, one of which is unlimited rides. I can imagine this would be a magical place for a birthday party. I really have to applaud the thought and care that went into creating this attraction. They have some fantastic events; their 21-and-older Derby Day event is sold out weeks in advance. They have weekly story time events, and if we're in Eugene when they happen we may drive up for it. There was a tea, and a Mother's Day event is planned (with a free ride for the moms!). They even have a weekly sensory friendly period, when the carousel runs quiet (yay for DE&I!). I really appreciate the focus on inclusivity here, from the aforementioned sensory days to weight inclusion. There's even a Tea-Rex dinosaur themed tea party coming up! They also give back to the community, such as their carving program for teens to learn the craft. It's simply wonderful. There's free street parking on the blocks around the carousel. Besides that, parking gets a little tricky so you'll want to consult their webpage to see what the parking options are. I cannot wait to visit again with my daughter for more fun rides and to explore the museum. (Review #2400, May 8, 2026.)

    Awesome lil museum that is so amazing! They carve each & every animal for the carousel! Each ride…read moreis $2 & you get the ride token from The gift shop or the ice cream Counter. Great staff! Everyone was so happy & helpful! Def a must see if you are in Albany.

    Thompson's Mills State Heritage Site

    Thompson's Mills State Heritage Site

    (13 reviews)

    Went to visit this historic mill, Thompson Mills Flour Mill. Definitely worth a visit and a short…read moreday trip from Portland. I never even knew this place existed until my wife happened to find it on the Oregon State Parks website. There's no signage from the highway or nearby local roads, so you really have to be intentionally looking for it--you won't just stumble upon it while driving through the countryside. It's tucked away just outside of Tangent/Corvallis, which makes it feel like a true hidden gem. The guided tour was excellent and incredibly informative. Our guide did a great job walking us through the history of the mill, how it operated, and the many roles it played over the years. They even turned on some of the equipment to demonstrate how things worked, which really brought the history to life. We learned about land rights issues, the origins of the nearby town of Shedd, and that the mill was originally called Boston Mills after its owner who was from Boston--at a time when Portland itself could have ended up being called Boston (remember the famous coin toss). Fascinating stuff. There are authentic items on display from the 1800s and early 1900s, which added to the immersive experience. The mill is no longer operational and is preserved strictly for historical purposes, but that's exactly what makes it such a worthwhile visit. If you enjoy Oregon history or unique off-the-beaten-path experiences, this place is absolutely worth checking out. In the Fall (October), they do cider pressing so I might have to go back.

    You won't find this site unless you do some research beforehand- you won't see any signage off the…read moreinterstate, and you wouldn't even know it exists unless you goof off on Google Maps like I do. It's a shame too because it's an interesting little place to stop off if you're driving along I-5; and the best part is that it is FREE. There is a standard museum area inside of the mill, but the highlight is going on a walking tour which takes you through areas you typically can't access (including the lower floor, with a very low ceiling that can feel claustrophobic.) The hosts were very friendly and informative, providing lots of detail on not just the history of this mill, but Oregon milling in general. A creek runs through the park and there is a small area to park and perhaps have a picnic; the grounds are very well maintained and I found it quite serene. There are also free restrooms, though I'm not sure if they lock them up at a certain time. This is a good place to stop on a long road trip if you need to stretch your legs a bit, or a local day trip to do something more on the peaceful side.

    Eugene Science Center - childrensmuseums - Updated May 2026

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