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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
ChemFest | October 14 & 15
Our annual Chem Fest is almost upon us! Sponsored by the American Chemical Society, this event will include special chemistry activities and is included with the price of admission. The theme for National Chemistry Week is The Healing Power of Chemistry, and we will offer various activity tables for visitors of all ages to engage with. Explore how thermometers work, bandages, hot and cold packs, UV light, and a special Do Lab exploring acids and bases. Join us for some hands-on, fun science.
October Daily Programs Schedule
Monday
Do Lab
11:00 – Bag O’ Matter
2:00 – Polymer Time
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
Tues - Fri
Do Lab
11:00 – Bag O’ Matter
2:00 – Polymer Time
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
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 – It’s a Gas
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 – It’s a Gas
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.
- 1913 - The collection was located on the second floor of the library
- 1921 - the library moved the Museum into the nearby Steely Building located at the corner of 2nd and Ludlow.
- 1927 - The Museum moved back to the library into the newly constructed Library Annex.
* 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.