Wonderful place to see God's creation. The beautiful animals are friendly and all around. The store…read morepart is great with things to buy from the past. The restaurant serves the old country food from years ago. I do wish they'd expand their menu some but it is still good. Lots of vendors on special days there as well.

Surprised at how well exhibited the museum is! It's a fairly large outdoor exhibit. If you're a…read moresenior, you might want to ho when it's cooler out. Highly recommended!

I will be first to say this place when we pulled in I doubted we would enjoy it. I saw a lot of…read morelittle kids and we had a 2nd grader with us. I guess I am spoiled with a hometown children's museum of play.. I am so glad we went in to give it a chance, the employees here are wonderful. Very welcoming. The exhibits are diverse and many hands on touch this or that ability. There were some dated videos of the Appalachian culture but honestly it gave it an appeal and definitely a time gone by. The exhibits and explanation of the Manhattan project were very interesting. All of us walked away learning a lot about oak ridge and that era around world war 2. We spent a good two hours in the museum and didn't read it all, we happened to be walking in right before a school group of 30 little kids and parents. Initially it was loud but there was enough space that we didn't have to be around all the chaos real little kids bring. Some of the exhibits were geared for smaller kids but our 2nd grader had no problem enjoying the experience. I mean who doesn't love a "doll house" that has two levels, For the price and exhibits I would suggest it to anyone especially if you have a history buff in your family.

What a fun find, and close to our new place! The building is unassuming and it looks like a much…read moresmaller space than it actually is. When we arrived, we parked in the free and easy lot and were greeted immediately. We saw that masks as of 10/15/21 are still required within the museum (and everyone we saw was properly wearing one, both kids and adults). After paying and being given a map, we began to explore, my kids initially complaining that they were bored (ugh.). We had begun with the cultural and historical exhibits, which showed cultural elements of different countries and a section on Appalachia, complete with replicas of log cabins and interactive screens showing the lifestyle. After we left this section, the kids perked up and really enjoyed the farm store/sorting produce, the fish aquarium, the outer space room with rocket, and the microscope to view differing hair follicles. We didn't realize we went upstairs to the bathrooms that we hadn't even seen half of the museum at that point! SO many things to explore, such as a water room with a flowing water track and boats, info on origins of Secret City, Girl Scout info, music room, rain forest, a bird's nest room, puppet room (not currently interactive due to COVID), and my kiddo's favorites: the model railroad area with working train tracks, and the kid/life size doll house room. We closed out the museum and were the last people there. Not the biggest or most interactive museum we have been to, but we still enjoyed it and are thrilled that it is close to home. We ended up buying a family membership before we left, which only cost $90 for a full year. If you buy same-day, you can roll in the entry fee you already paid toward the membership cost. And don't forget to stop by the city park next door when you're done. It's a good one and has a great hill to roll down.

Part history museum, science museum, and children's museum. There's a little something for everyone…read moreat the American Museum of Science & Energy. The museum tells the story of Oak Ridge's role in World War II and the top secret Manhattan Project. The way the museum is laid out tells the story in a chronological way where you'll begin by learning about how Oak Ridge came to be, its role in the war, and its role in nuclear research in the years since the hydrogen bomb was first dropped over Japan. Plan to spend about 2 hours here depending on how hands on you want to be. As you progress through the musuem it becomes more hands on and reminiscent of a children's museum where you can get hands on with science theories. The space has multiple exhibits, an introduction video, and gift shop. On certain days/times a bus tour is offered to the plant sites that will also include admission to the museum but I was not visiting on one of those days but would like to check it out if Im ever in the area on the right day.

Good history of science and technology. I actually learned the concept of what it takes to keep us…read moresafe and comfortable.

I want to say this has been one of the highlights of my family trip. When your 16 yo his 17 yo best…read morefriend and wife all agree on this fact it says something. As adults we have this tendency to say "if I knew then what I knew now, I'd have paid more attention in school!" Well here's your chance. This tiny aquarium will impart more knowledge in a short visit than you probably take in most months if you take advantage of it. The interns and owner (a former teacher) are committed to answering questions. The things they are studying and sharing are amazing. If you go in and you want to learn and ask questions this will be an experience you won't forget. Think of the best science teacher you ever had, having an opportunity to show the world what she loves to talk about... and that is what you have here. Do yourself a favor, go, enjoy and learn!!

We went awhile back to see Charlotte and were sorely disappointed. Hearing of her death today…read morereminded me I had forgotten to write a review. This location is privately run and not for educational purposes. More like going to a friends house to see their pets. Please consider going to an aquarium run by scientists for educational purposes.

David welcomed my wife and I to the Museum, gave us a mini tour and showed us a newspaper piece…read morefrom The Oregonian after seeing that I was coming from Portland, Oregon. It was nice to see his father in one of the old photos where he was a butcher for Y12 during the Manhattan Project. It was nice to see people from those days were still visiting and the generations after them as well. Definitely an interesting place to see for anyone passing by!

The visitor center is located in the Childen's Museum of Oak Ridge. To be honest, I was expecting…read moremore out of the visitor's center since a lot of the time there's a small associated museum or exhibits, but it was quite bare with only a small looping video. I liked the concept of the park in that you get to explore the community, but since the bus tour wasn't running with no plan or date when it would come back, it was hard to make a cohesive plan. I would say plan on visiting the K-25 history center + overlook and the American Museum of Science and Energy for sure, and then just wandering around the community looking at the placards. If you're into the stamps, there's a three part stamp (the rest of the parts are in Hanford, Washington and Los Alamos, New Mexico).

What a cool, locally-owned theater! They have snacks galore (and drinks/beer) and one theater space…read morewhich feels like a quaint, VIP experience. There is also merchandise specific to the theater and celebrating movie buff history. The ticket prices and concessions are affordable and the owner is super friendly. There is street parking as well as a lot directly behind the theater. Don't expect the new releases here, as they show a fun variety of independent films and old school favorites. Unique spot worth all of your attention and money!

Love the old school intimate feeling. They have so many snack options and movie selections. A…read moreMUST see!

This was a very informative museum and it had a lot of interesting artifacts. The volunteers were…read morevery knowledgeable. We went on a Saturday and they had to a rate of $8 but said it's usually $10. They offer first responder discounts. It looks small inside but I felt it was a very appropriate amount of things to see and do.

This is a smaller museum focused on the historical period during WWII and the life in the area at…read morethat time. It has a huge collection of photographs from that time. And the building was one of the buildings from that time. Lots of photos and many artifacts to look at. If your interested in the Oak Ridge history around WWII, this is your place.

The Art Center is a worthwhile visit. Galleries feature rotating exhibits of works by (mostly)…read moreregional artists and there are studios in active use for classes in pottery, painting, and other visual arts. The annual open show (a juried show that attracts high-quality work) and the annual camera club photo show (also judged professionally) are perennial local favorites in the galleries. The galleries are modest in size (this isn't the Knoxville Museum of Art, whose huge spaces seem like they were for large-scale works) and well-lighted. Admission is free, but the art center is a community nonprofit that always appreciates donations. The Art Center is easy for Oak Ridge visitors (and even residents) to overlook because it's not on a major street. It's not far away though -- in fact, it's only a short walk from sites like the American Museum of Science and Energy, the Oak Ridge Civic Center, and the Peace Bell (or you can drive, which is what most folks do). Operating hours are limited, so call ahead.

A beautiful day to take a brisk walk in the sunshine at this park. Plenty of adorable furry friends…read moreenjoy this park too. It is clean and it's full of history. What a nice place to explore.

This friendship bell was gifted to Oak Ridge from Japan as a sign of remembrance and peace between…read moreour two countries after the events of WWII and the Manhattan Project. Even those our connection has a dark history, the bell is meant to signify a brighter future. The bell itself is huge and very heavy, suspended in air with the ability for visitors to "ring" it. It is under a pavilion in the midst of Bissell Park, which has a great walking trail and a park/playground a short distance away behind the library. Worth a stop, in combination with the Children's Museum of OR, and the American Museum of Science and Energy, which both cover more history of the Manhattan Project and the creation of our small town.

Arrived for trivia on Sunday night but there was a private event that hadn't wrapped up yet. They…read morekept telling us trivia was still going to happen but I think they were just delaying us so we would continue to buy drinks. We left an hour after trivia was supposed to start and there was no movement that it was getting set up. Beer should be served in glassware not plastic.

Great venue, good beer selection, but the bartender lectured us about the evils of capitalism. Not…read morekidding, she was full-on woke and every attempt at light banter somehow ended in her scowling in disapproval. Near the end of our time there another bartender walked in as McKays (local used book/music/games store about to close after decades) came up and shouted, "fk that place." We never got an explanation as to why a used bookstore was also on the list of places we should hate. The place has a lot of promise, but they need to get rid of the scolds. We didn't go out on a Saturday for an impromptu lecture on morality.