DSNH

Hours/Admission Cost

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 (3-12) $12.00
Adults $15.00
Seniors (60+) $13.00
Children (2 and under) 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

Science Festival | Saturday November 18

Our last FREE Super Science Saturday of the year! Join us for additional programming throughout the museum. We will also have community partners in the Main Exhibit Hall to celebrate all things science.

Do Lab
10:00 - Water Quality: pH Test
3:30 - Water Quality: pH Test
Keeper Talk
11:00 - Animal Encounter
2:30 - Animal Encounter
4:00 - Otter Talk

Planetarium
12:00 - One World, One Sky
1:00 - Live: The Sky Tonight
2:00 - SpacePark 360
3:00 - Dinosaurs: A Story of Survival
4:00 - Constellations
Science Theater
11:30 - Amazing Science
1:30 - Amazing Science

Outdoor Adventure | November 12, 17, 19

Join us for this guided exploration through our very own Werthner Woods for a sensory themed hike.  This program is geared toward our young explorers, ages 5-8, embarking on their first hike, but all ages are welcome! Young participants will also receive their very own field notebook to track their observations! Participants can stay for part or the whole time-frame and these programs are free with museum admission.

When: November 12, 17, and 19 from 1:00pm to approximately 1:30pm, depending on how much fun we are having!

Where: Attendees will meet at the picnic tables just outside the Education Lobby at 1:00pm. We will depart from there.

Preparation: please read the notes below to best prepare.

  • The trail is unpaved and there can be obstructions, so those with limited mobility please use your discretion.
  • Please no strollers.
  • Please wear sturdy shoes and appropriate clothes for the weather. We will run the program as long as there is no severe weather.

November Daily Programs Schedule

Monday

Do Lab
2:00 – Bag O’ Matter
Keeper Talk
2:30 – Animal Encounter
4:00 – Otter Talk

Planetarium
10:00 – One World One Sky
1:00 – Constellations
3:00 – Dinosaurs: A Story of
Survival
Science Theater
12:00 – Amazing Science
Toddler Exploration
11:00 – Dino-Themed Activities

Tues - Fri

Do Lab
2:00 – Bag O’ Matter
Keeper Talk
2:30 – Animal Encounter
4:00 – Otter Talk

Planetarium
10:00 – One World One Sky 
1:00 – Live: The Sky Tonight
3:00 – Dinosaurs: A Story of
Survival
Science Theater
12:00 – Amazing Science 
Toddler Exploration
11:00 – Dino-Themed Activities

Saturday

Do Lab
11:00 – Bag O’ Matter

Keeper Talk
2:30 – Animal Encounter
4:00 – Otter Talk

Planetarium
10:00 – One World One Sky
1:00 – Live: The Sky Tonight
3:00 – Dinosaurs: A Story of
Survival
Science Theater
12:00 – Amazing Science
2:00 – Combustion

Sunday

Do Lab
3:30 – Bag O’ Matter
Keeper Talk
2:30 – Animal Encounter
4:00 – Otter Talk

Planetarium
1:00 – One World, One Sky
2:00 – Live: The Sky Tonight
3:00 – SpacePark 360
4:00 – Dinosaurs: A Story of Survival

Science Theater
1:30 – Combustion 

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.