Tellus Science Museum — Attraction in Cartersville

Tellus Science Museum, located in Cartersville, Georgia, is a world-class museum designed to inspire and educate visitors about the fascinating world of science. It's a place where both children and adults can explore various scientific concepts through engaging exhibits and hands-on activities.

Here's an overview of some key features of Tellus Science Museum:

Fossil Gallery: This gallery showcases an impressive collection of dinosaur skeletons, ancient fossils, and prehistoric artifacts that provide insight into the Earth's history. Mineral Gallery: Home to an extensive collection of minerals and gems from around the world, this gallery allows visitors to explore the beauty and complexity of geology. Science in Motion: This exhibit tells the story of transportation technology, including the development of automobiles, aviation, and space exploration. Collins Family My Big Backyard: A section geared toward younger visitors, offering interactive exhibits that teach basic scientific principles through play. Bentley Planetarium: A state-of-the-art planetarium that offers immersive shows about astronomy, allowing visitors to explore the universe without leaving their seats. Observatory: With a high-quality telescope, the observatory gives guests a chance to stargaze and learn about celestial objects. Events and Programs: Tellus hosts various educational programs, workshops, and special events throughout the year to engage with the community and provide additional learning opportunities. Café and Gift Shop: Visitors can enjoy a meal or snack at the café and pick up educational toys, books, and souvenirs at the gift shop. Tellus Science Museum is an exceptional destination for families, school groups, and anyone interested in science and discovery. With its diverse exhibits and focus on interactive learning, it offers a fun and enriching experience for visitors...

We arrived Saturday morning around 11am with short lines, helpful staff, and even free lockers to drop off coats and bags. The walk to the front door is not short so people with mobility issues may need a wheelchair or take your time. Outside by the parking lot there are public restrooms (and inside) which is very convenient. Leave your snacks and picnic in the car due to their food restrictions. But there is a huge outdoor picnic pavilion provided. The museum and parking lot was packed by 1pm so go early to enjoy it more on the weekends.

Inside you can choose to watch the show. We didn't this time but we have before. It is a neat experience to see a show on the ceiling of the planetarium. Some shows are very scientific for teens and adults and others are science cartoons for children. I like that they offer a variety.

Inside the kids (5 & 6) love the fossil dig and gem mining. It is not easy to find unless you use the map but it is free and worth the effort. We spent almost an hour in this part alone.

For all ages the mineral area is our favorite. The rocks and gems are identified and the specimens are beautiful. For Georgia geography they do section off many of them based on geographic area. I love the black light glowing rocks and also the information on caving in GA and rocks found right here.

The dinosaur bone area is also amazing. It goes over time lines, earth formations, and have huge dinosaur bones from land, air, and sea.

There is also a small child play & explore section which is perfect for preschoolers and elementary. It is hands on and well designed to keep kids moving and learning for fun.

We purchased a family membership (they give $10 off to military and teachers). With the membership we can enjoy Tellus as well as many other museums in the US and...

I had visited this location several times as a kid for various field trips. Because I had been so often, I had to take a break. This was my first time visiting again in about 15 odd years. Pulling up, the campus is beautiful. Nestled near the mountains, it was beautiful in the fall with the changing leaves. It’s conveniently located off the side of I-75 so it’s hard to miss.

I came with a large group and they were very accommodating. We explored the museum, which was very spacious and clean. The day we went there were several field trips so it was a bit loud but the kids seemed to stay in certain exhibits so it wasn’t too crowded. We also attended a show at the planetarium about the night sky (what can you see in the sky tonight?). The room got very dark, the chairs were comfortable and it was a very clear show. The narrator/worker was a bit monotone so it got tedious at times but overall a cool experience. There was one part, however, where they showed the constellations and the screen started moving but you were stationary. As someone with motion sickness, this made me feel a bit sick so I closed my eyes during this part.

We left the theater and continued venturing through the exhibits. The museum is very well kept and has cool skeletons and gemstones to view.

Overall, a cool place to visit. I will say that my one complaint is that, even though it’s been around 15 years, I’m really not sure what has changed. I went back in my photos and I found pictures of the exact same exhibits (in the same locations). I understand it can be hard to rotate a lot of exhibits around but I would have expected at least a couple new things. If you visit, you will probably not need to come back for...