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

9:30am Toddler Exploration
Kid’s Park
11:00am – One World, One Sky; Big Birds Adventure
Caryl D. Philips Space Theater
11:30am Do Lab 
Do Lab
1:00pm – Earth, Moon, and Sun
Caryl D. Philips Space Theater
1:30pm Science on a Sphere
Science on a Sphere

2:00pm – Constellations
Caryl D. Philips Space Theater
2:30pm – Keeper Talk
Vet Hospital Stage
3:00pm – Spacepark 360
Caryl D. Philips Space Theater

3:30pm – Do Lab 
Do Lab

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

9:30am Toddler Exploration
Kid’s Park
11:00am – One World, One Sky; Big Birds Adventure
Caryl D. Philips Space Theater
11:30am Do Lab
Do Lab
1:00pm – Earth, Moon, and Sun
Caryl D. Philips Space Theater
1:30pm Science Theater
Science Theater
2:00pm – Constellations
Caryl D. Philips Space Theater
2:30pm – Keeper Talk
Vet Hospital Stage
3:00pm – Spacepark 360
Caryl D. Philips Space Theater

3:30pm – Do Lab
Do Lab

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

9:30am – Toddler Exploration
Kid’s Park
11:30am – Science Theater Program
Science Theater
12:00pm – One World, One Sky; Big Birds Adventure
Caryl D. Philips Space Theater
1:00pm – The Sky Tonight
Caryl D. Philips Space Theater
1:30pm – Science Theater Program 
Science Theater
2:00pmEarth, Moon, and Sun
Caryl D. Philips Space Theater
2:30pm – Keeper Talk
Vet Hospital Stage
3:00pm – Spacepark 360
Caryl D. Philips Space Theater
3:30pm – Do Lab 
Do Lab
4:00pm – The Secret Lives of Stars
Caryl D. Philips Space Theater

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

1:00pm – One World, One Sky; Big Birds Adventure
Caryl D. Philips Space Theater
1:30pm – Science Theater 
Science Theater
2:00pm – The Sky Tonight 
Caryl D. Philips Space Theater
2:30pm – Keeper Talk
Vet Hospital Stage
3:00pm – Spacepark 360 
Caryl D. Philips Space Theater
3:30pm – Do Lab
Do-Lab
4:00pm – The Secret Lives of Stars
Caryl D. Philips Space Theater

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

Schedule Change Notice
To better prepare for your fun visitor to the museum, please be aware of the schedule changes for public programs and shows taking place this month. 

March 9th and 23rd: The 9:30am Toddler Exploration and 11:30 Do Lab will be closed. 
March 22nd: The 3:30 Do Lab will be closed. 

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

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. 

Discoveries Gift Shop Hours


Monday – Saturday: 9:00a – 5:00p
Sunday:
12:00p – 5:00p 

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