DSNH

Daily Programs

Monday – Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Visit FAQs and Discounts

Admission

Children (3-17) $11.50
Adults $14.50
Seniors (60+) $12.50
Children (under 3) Free
DSNH Members are FREE
  Remember! Members must present ID with their membership card during every visit.

  • The Boonshoft Museum is committed to providing a safe environment for all guests; children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult (18+) at all times.
  • The Boonshoft Museum accepts cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AMEX, and personal checks with proper ID

‘Water’ you doing in June? 

Join the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery as we investigate the aquatic organisms who make a home living around the museum. This outdoor program will take place on-site at the Coovert Pond located next to the parking lot. Participants will help museum staff record the animals found within and around the pond.

During these programs, guests will be able to enter the water along with an educator to learn about macroinvertebrates and water quality! Participants can stay for part or the whole time-frame and these programs are free with museum admission. Spaces are limited so please REGISTER HERE or the button below.

When: We are offering three dates that you can attend this program. Each program is the same so you only need to attend one of them. June 15th, 16th, or 17th @ 1pm – 2pm

Where: Attendees will meet in the Education Lobby at 1:00pm. We will all walk out together to the onsite pond.

Preparation: please read the notes below to best prepare.

  • This program takes place entirely outdoors. We recommend sunscreen, hat, and towel to dry off.
  • Only attendees ages 6 and over will be able to enter the pond (up to knee level).
  • Please wear old closed toed shoes and clothes that can get wet, or bring a spare to change into.

Do Lab
11:30 Bag o’ Matter
3:30 Water Quality pH Test
Keeper Talk
2:30 Animal Encounter
Planetarium
11:00 One World, One Sky: Big Birds Adventure
12:00 Cosmic Colors
1:00 The Sky Tonight
2:00 Spacepark 360
3:00 Wonders of the Universe
Science Theater
1:30 Chemical Reactions
Toddler Exploration
10:00 Family Activity Baskets

For an overview of certain public programs we offer throughout the year,  Click To Visit our Public Programs Page 

Collection Encounter
2:00 Ohio’s State Fossil
Do Lab
3:30 Water Quality pH Test
Keeper Talk
2:30 Animal Encounter
Planetarium
12:00 One World, One Sky: Big Birds Adventure
1:00 Cosmic Colors
2:00 The Sky Tonight
3:00 Spacepark 360
4:00 Wonders of the Universe
Science Theater
11:30 Chemical Reactions
1:30 Amazing Science
Toddler Exploration
10:00 Family Activity Baskets

For an overview of certain public programs we offer throughout the year,  Click To Visit our Public Programs Page 

Do Lab
3:30 Water Quality pH test
Keeper Talk
2:30 Animal Encounter
Planetarium
1:00 One World, One Sky: Big Birds Adventure
2:00 The Sky Tonight
3:00 Spacepark 360
4:00 Wonders of the Universe

Science Theater
1:30 Amazing Science 

For an overview of certain public programs we offer throughout the year,  Click To Visit our Public Programs Page 

We are excited to announce our NEW laser show lineup!

Our laser shows are back and better than ever!

Every other weekend on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings beginning May 4th

$6 Members | $9 Non-Members

Summer STEM Camps 2023

Spend your Summer with the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery!

Camps run from June 5 – August 4 | Ages 5 – 13

Descriptions, Dates and Times are available on the Summer Camp page.

Looking for a creative way to support our Discovery Zoo? 

Adopt one of your favorite zoo residents for the coming year! 

Show your love for the animals, knowing that your support will provide the care and enrichment needed to keep them safe, happy, and healthy. 

Our Humble Beginnings

The Dayton Museum of Natural History began in 1893 as a part of the Dayton Public Library and Museum. Over the years, collections gathered by prominent Dayton citizens on their trips around the world were contributed to the museum. Local natural history collections were also contributed.

* The Dayton Society of Natural History is the parent organization of the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery and its sister organization, SunWatch Indian Village – a museum of the area’s 12th century Fort Ancient Native Americans.

Such a fun experience for the little ones!! Not only are allowed to just be kids and play, everything they touch is educational! We will definitely be coming back!
Alaina Robinson
Great place for kids and adults, lots of interesting and educational exhibits, hands-on activities for children of all ages. All in a beautiful setting with a planetarium, and even a live animal area.
Valerie Fidder
Had a great time here very clean and lots for kids to do!.
Destiny Jade

Some of our Sponsors

The Jesse and Caryl Philips Foundation
Kettering Family Philanthropies
Mr. and Mrs. Irvin G. Bieser, Jr.

The Berry Family Foundation 

Eco-Eatery

Our brand new Eco-Eatery is NOW OPEN! We are excited to announce that we've added an eco-friendly café to our second floor. Located right outside the Treehouse. Open daily!

Bieser Room of Wonder

A complete transformation of the Bieser Discovery Center has been completed on the first floor of the museum. The final step in a multi-year project to better display more artifacts from our 1.8 million object collection. Come and see what we have to offer!

The Bees have Returned

Honeybees are back at the Boonshoft! Thanks to a sponsorship from Scherzinger Pest Control, the observation beehive in the treehouse. Honeybees play an invaluable role in our lives through pollinating many agricultural crops and native plants.

Upgrades at SunWatch

We won the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Grant to help with a multi-year project that has begun the construction phase in 2022. Through a matching grant for capital improvements by the National Endowment for the Humanities, we are making some much needed updates to the SunWatch Interpretive Center!

It takes a village - and every little bit helps!

Every dollar we receive will go toward our NEH Matching Grant that will help us make SunWatch more accessible. This will allow us to engage and inspire even more families in our community by providing high-quality, interactive educational opportunities that enrich the lives of children and adults.

Send us a message

Please be specific about your inquiry.   Thank You