Asheville Museum of Science — Attraction in Asheville

Having been to this place twice, including quite recently yesterday, I can say that this is definitely a place you want to bring your kids if you want them to have a proper introduction not only to the natural history of North Carolina, but science as a whole. It's a small scale, but highly-detailed exhibit showcasing gems and minerals (including a small meteorite display), fossils and other sections that not only allows the public to gaze at past and present wonders our state's geological history has to offer, but also gives children a chance to participate in activities to enhance their minds and understand the importance of preserving their surroundings.

Furthermore, given the current ecological crisis we're facing, this has a special section dedicated to one of the earliest American environmentalists, Wilma Dykeman, and learning more about her here will inspire others to take up the guantlet of fighting for the Earth's protection. Don't expect the mammoth scale of New York's Museum of Natural History - this is a miniature version that is no less interesting and important, and it's an excellent stop for both residents and tourists in downtown Asheville who want to learn something special about the region. It's already undergoing expansion and what it has yet to bring should be just as intriguing as what's already on display, so if you're really interested, please consider paying a visit and also making a donation. I guarantee you...

I went with my daughters school here on a field trip so I am glad I didn't have to pay full admission price for myself (her $ was 10 & my $ was 5) or I would have been disappointed for the cost. There is 3 rooms, 2 small rooms and 1 medium sized room. 1 room has rocks and gems nicely displayed and activity sheets to do to better educate while observing. The other small room was a science experiment room that I don't know is for planned trips only or if they do something for every visitor. The biggest room has books around and is the "play" area. There is a small playground PLEASE USE CAUTION HERE!! 4 out of 16 CHILDREN BUMPED THEIR HEADS TO THE POINT OF CRYING. There is a padded block building area, a dinosaur fossil area where they can brush sand, a displayed dinosaur, a drawing area, another more complex block area, a station with sand that shows sea level and mountain range heights (the coolest hands on activity they have in several opinions) a hurricane air contraption (commonly seen at malls and yes you have to pay a couple bucks for it too and its half the time the mall gives) and one more station. It seems that Listed a lot but honestly unless your kids will play on a station over a few minutes, you would be done in 30 minutes. A good fair admission price would be $2-$3. Over that is...

I am not sure why the reviews of the Asheville Museum of Science do not warn parents and the public that this is NOT an appropriate place to spend money to visit. The entire museum consists of a small gift shop, ONE room with a replica dinosaur skeleton, some play sand, a small jungle gym, a star map, and a hurricane simulator that you can choose to pay an additional amount to use. Then there is a table with crayons on it and a 20 min video on the eclipse. All this for $30 something dollars!?

Please do NOT waste your money on a visit. I understand they are under construction. This is no excuse to charge a fee for one room with a few things thrown into it. The amount of money we paid for the kids to be finished with the entire museum in LITERALLY 12 minutes broke my heart. The museum is taking advantage of the ignorant who think they are paying to show their children a science museum.

May the museum consider enacting a donation only policy until they are actually up and running??? Because at this point I won't even go back after they do open completely. The experience left a bad taste in my mouth.

Tl;dr ** Please skip the museum and spend your money elsewhere to see ONE room. Maybe go get some ice cream instead it will last longer than our entire trip to the...