California Science Center

Free Museum & Space Shuttle Endeavour in Exposition Park

⏱ 3 to 5 hours👤 All agesFree

General admission to the museum is free, which makes it one of the best-value outings in Los Angeles. The galleries cover life and physical science with hands-on exhibits, live animal presentations and demonstrations, and a rotating program of special exhibits, some of which are ticketed separately. The Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center is different: it requires a timed reservation, which can be booked in advance for a service fee on the museum's site, so check the current requirements before you go.

The new center is built around Endeavour, displayed vertically as if ready to launch, and it tells the story of the shuttle program through about a hundred artifacts and a hundred new exhibits. Visitors can learn about the 135 shuttle missions, the thermal protection system that kept the vehicle from burning up, and the crew members lost in the program. A 140-foot elevator ride along the shuttle stack shows how a launch was prepared, and a 115-foot slide drops forty-five feet with light and sound effects meant to simulate landing. A replica flight deck is available for photos.

Exposition Park is also home to the Natural History Museum and the Rose Garden, so you can pair the science center with another museum in the same day. The area is served by Metro rail and has parking on site. Plan on a half day or more for the museum and the Air and Space Center, and book your timed entry early, since the opening of the new center is likely to draw large crowds. Dates and procedures can change, so confirm the details on the museum's site before you plan around them.