Reviews of Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium (Museum)

T R

This place was a huge disappointment and a total waste of money. Unless you want to sit and watch a movie for 45 minutes there is not much else to do for small children. In fact, most of the exhibits ( the very few on the tiny two floors) are designed so that small children aren't even tall enough to see them. If you think that you will see nice interactive exhibits about planets and the solar system - forget about it! Most of it is puzzles and a weird table with animal prints with matching fecal matter. How they have the audacity to call this run down, out of date space a "science center" is beyond me. For a University building - this should be a huge embarrassment!

BT Nutter

Lots of exhibits to keep the family entertained.

Adam Ibrahim

Groupon membership price were great lots to do in there great place for all ages

Tony Salaz

Very interesting and very educational for children of all ages liked it so well we bought a membership for my son to be able to go whenever he like to go he says he wants to be a scientist for NASA when he grows up is been saying that when he was 4 years old and now he is 12 years old hope this dream comes true

Jill Kennedy

Took two of my grand kids and had a wonderful time. I would recommend this for everyone to experience the wonders of our universe.

Brian Schramm

The full dome experience of the science shows is impressive and almost feels like virtual reality as you are surrounded by the images. The laser shows are also a lot of fun. The only issues I have is that they do not rotate the science shows and laser shows enough and when they have the science shows where the person running the show is also narrating the images have very little animation and can be a bit slow. If you go see a show where it is an actual video playing where it is like you are watching a show on TV it is fantastic as it is constant movement. When the image is flying through space or clouds and they are moving all around you, you feel like you can reach out and touch the image. On one they were talking about a lava planet and you have lava flowing all around you. I feel the video presentations and laser shows are a must see and some of them are worth seeing multiple times.

Leon Palafox

Great museum and the shows are top notch.

ME L

Was highly disappointed for the price. Definitely not as I remembered it 20+ years ago. Took my 6 year old and he even got bored. 95% is what you learn in a school setting. Very few hands on activities. The girls at the front said the show was geared towards the younger audience. Honestly, it was more geared for kids around 10 and up. Nothing special at all. If you like the shows, pay for that, but not worth the full admission price to see "exhibits" that will not interest you or your child.

Andrea Gordon

This is a great place to take children on a hot summer afternoon! My grandchildren (ages 9 and 12) thoroughly enjoyed the exhibits and the many hands-on activities available while we waited for the show to begin in the “theater”. Then they were awed by the beautiful display of the night skies and explanations of the planets, orbits, etc. We were there for 3 1/2 hours, but there was still a lot we didn’t get to see. I was very happy that I had purchased the family membership even though they live in LA, as they were asking if we could return the next time they visit before we even got out of the building.

Erika Arett

We saw two shows and especially liked the one about the Tucson skies. People are very nice and well informed. Will be back to see more shows and explore the exhibits.

chris cobo

Great experience for the whole family.

Aras Erekul

Wonderful place to introduce planetary science to kids!

Joseph Godwin

Perhaps the finest planetarium in Arizona, the Flandrau Science Center provides spectacular displays of the heavens and wonderful laser shows. Highly recommended.

Jess Frey

Awesome place, educational, fun puzzles for kids and adults, amazing rock and mineral specimens as well as fossils. Beautiful crystals, gold and silver, minerals, so cool.

Chad Mellen

Kids had a good time and enjoyed the interactive learning stations...well the ones that worked anyways. Place needs a facelift especially for the price.

Kevin Mcenerney

Our first visit, very informative , excellent mineral collection.

Sariya Jarasviroj Brown

Our family has been a member for 3 years now. Its one of our favorite spots in Tucson for learning and fun.

Brandy Avery

It's fun but I took my 4 and 2 year old and there was hardly anything there for them. They can't do the puzzles. The laser show wasn't until 4pm. There was things on doors like waterlife exhibit but the door was locked. I was kind of disappointed because when I would go about 10 years ago it was a lot more interactive. The staff was very amazing and very helpful just not as fun or educational as I hoped.

Tyler Webb

Super awesome exhibits, especially the star projector which is new and they just put in. Definitely a must see no matter who you are.

Christian Ramirez

The laser light show is even cooler than I remembered it

Leia Nicole Dicknson

My son practically wants to go everyday he absolutely loves there shows and telescopes. The team there are so nice and quite knowledgeable I'm blown away every time talking to them. It's definitely a great place to go on hot days.#tobennuandback #weather #space #education

Torrin Dufforsmith

This was a perfect place for our daughter's 7th birthday party and lasted just under 3 hours. The center has a private room so we brought pizza, veggies, fruit and drinks for everyone (18 kids and parents). After lunch, everyone enjoyed going into the exhibit area to play and learn. The downstairs rock and fossil room was a big hit. Afterward, we all enjoyed the planetarium show "Perfect Little Planet." Then we went back to the private room for a demonstration of liquid nitrogen -- really more of a fun science lesson for everyone. That culminated with using the nitrogen to make vanilla ice cream which we all enjoyed with the birthday cake (we brought). Big kudos to Heather and Joseph for setting up the room and doing the demonstration, and to Destiny for arranging the party. The staff is 'out of this world!'

Klaudia Wynne Kendall

Great place for kids! There are so many interactive pieces for their entertainment, but not much for adults outside of the actual planetarium shows. The mineral museum, however, is a really cool addition that I highly recommend to anyone interested in minerals or fossils, and is a great way to educate yourself before special events (like the famous Gem Show!)

Joseph Robson

Interesting exhibits and cool theater. Get the parking app ahead of time to make parking easier. Thanks for hosting the homeschool group today!

Ka'lia Vea

My family and I had such a great time! Staff was friendly! Cannot wait to go back!

Justine Vild

Our visit definitely exceeded my expectation. We brought my 8 y/o daughter and there were plenty of hands on activities for her to enjoy. I even enjoyed one or two. ;) The shark exhibit was interesting. I particularly enjoyed the lifesize shark tail model comparison. We watched the planetarium show. Really recommend adding it on. It was animated and interesting for adults and children alike. Kind of went against my Christian beliefs of how humans were created though. My absolute favorite part of the museum though was the gem and mineral collection in the basement. Absolutely astounding. We almost didn't go down which would have been a complete mistake. I honestly can't say enough about it. As a bonus, there is a scavenger hunt for the kids and they get a free mineral upon completion. Highly recommend this museum. We were there for 2 hr 40 min and it was plenty of time. All the staff was wonderful. The guy in the mineral collection area was very knowledgeable.

Jill Levy

bought a yearly membership thru groupon, and glad we did. have been a few times and always enjoy our visits. the planetarium shows are weekdays at 4pm, and then a bunch of them go each hour on weekend. Bring my 3 and 1 yr old here and although most of the exhibits are "over their head" they are hands out so they don't care and have fun looking at all the pictures. really lucky to have a planetarium in our town.

Rodolfo Monteros

Great laser show. Dark side of the moon, enough said... Great audio, quality lasers and a very good lights programmer in a warm place like Tucson, Az. Please keep up the good work...! A friendly Sonoran neighbor

Luke Bilow

Every year we see the laser show that has the Christmas theme. This year it is new and very disappointing. There isn't a hint in the laser show that connects Christmas to Christianity. It's just a jumble of secular music set to odd geometric shapes. Towards the beginning of the show there is a marching toy soldier that looks more like a monster. I don't expect to get my fill of religion at a state college but I don't expect that religion has to be thrown out completely. The Science Center gets 2 stars only because the cashier was exceedingly helpful.

lasunncty

Such science. Much planetarium. Wow.

Pete Basiliere

The kids showing was okay but everyone enjoyed the exhibits. Ended up spending more time than expected since we were all involved in the hands on brain teasers. And the “make your own solar system”was excellent.

Mir Salek

The Planetarium and the explanation of stars and cosmos is amazing. I had been to one in LA and this one was much better. Totally recommended

medha vikasjog

Very loving and informative place.Its a chemistry in our day to life also.Gems and minerals are a part of our life.

Shannon Kaye Germanos

One of my favorite places in Tucson. Being a Gemologist, the gem and mineral collection is where I'm happiest.

Roberto Copetti

Beautiful and interactive!

Lin Head

My grandchildren were visiting from out of town recently with their two young children, ages 4 and 5 months. We went to see the movie “My Perfect Little Planet” and my 4-year old great grandson (and even my 5-month old great granddaughter) were totally enthralled by the experience. My little guy talked about the different planets and how we live on the “very bestest one of all”. My adult grandchildren and I were very impressed with the animated way our solar system was presented to small children. We even learned a few things! My little guy wanted to see it again! When the movie was over and the gentleman was showing the constellations, my great grandson was very excited to see the different shapes the stars made. He even invented a few of his own! After the movie, we went into the science center. My grandson and his son had great fun testing the weight of items on the different planets. We all also really enjoyed the gem exhibit. Thank you for an exceptional experience for my family and me. I will take future visitors to Flandrau, for sure!

Kyle Thomas

Talk about a fun blend of the two least explored voids within our reach! The shark

Nancy Scott-Rogers

A must visit! So informative and well presented. Will definitely return for another visit.

Michael Wexler

We love the place! My kids 11,16 & 18 years old all enjoy themselves. Every time I go I learn something new. The staff is extremely helpful, knowledgeable, and best of all very friendly.

Dawn Sullivan

We always enjoy our visits to Flandrau. And this latest visit was no exception. We got to see staff feed some of the fish and invertebrates this time and it was a definite highlight for the kids. The Holiday Light show was the first show we didn't enjoy. But we'll be back to see the more interesting, educational shows.

Tim S

The laser shows are great with an upgraded sound system, comfortable seating, and very cheap tickets.

Emily Evans

It's breathtaking!

Creecher

It was amazing and I loved it, it was just awesome... there no way to describe it, you'll just have top see for yourself to understand

Tina Serino

So fun

edward mccarty

It's good to still have a place to go for learning, and fun not just phones

Elise Moore

Great shows. Check the schedule on line and organize your visit accordingly. Different shows for different ages on the hour. Saw a kid show and all the kids about age 7-10 loved it. Also saw an excellent asteroid show for adults for only $3 more per person. Great glow in dark t-shirts for kids in gift shop. Mineral display in basement. Check out science section for elementary age kids. This is a small place but worth a visit. Park in Cherry Street lot about a block walk on other side of University Street. Free parking on weekends when there is no ball game.

Keith Fairrington

It was amazing. I recommend it to everyone, even if you don't believe in Science like a lot of Republicans.

Chris Rivera

I am an astronomy enthusiast. This place is great to get my fix. Friendly staff and super fun for the kids.

Nick Weimer

The museum was great, but the new remodeled dome has some issues. Was unable to watch an entire showing due to the engineer's inexperience. The chairs are ridged forward facing high backs, in a dome that you spend most of the time looking up. You have to kink your neck to the side and roll your head to look up.

Valerie Hodson

Great place for kids to have hands on experience while they are learning.

Selena Quintanilla

Awesome place. Their laser shows are AMAZING! They are offered a a great deal, satisfaction guaranteed! If you are prone to motion sickness/are sensitive with movement the laser shows may not be too great of a choice. Gift shop has lot of goodies/gag gifts. As a museum, it is also great.

Patricia Coyne-Johnson

Great shows, great fun.

V P

This place has been around since I was a child. It's a fun place to take the family. Some interactive exhibits. My children enjoy it.

Clarke Moyer

Fun time. The overall museum does not take that long even with how fun / frustrating the puzzles are. Planetarium is where it is at.

Sir Benjamin Arthur IV

Haven't been here since i was a kid, but i remember it being a fun and wholesome experience