Center of Science and Industry (COSI) — Attraction in Columbus

We had a blast here, and stayed the whole day. We definitely could’ve spent two days here. We came with a group of 4 adults and 7 kids, aged teenager to toddler. Everybody had a great time, and we are considering getting a membership, even though we live about 3 hours away. In my opinion (and my kids’), this was better than the Indianapolis Children’s Museum. It was much more interactive and hands-on. I recommend buying tickets online, because they’re $5 cheaper online. I also recommend closed toed shoes if you want to ride the tightrope unicycle.

The toddler loved the little kids’ area, and could’ve spent the whole day there, but also found plenty to do in the other exhibits. The kids loved the “Progeess” exhibit, which showed businesses and storefronts from bygone eras. They played in the 50s-style diner, sat in a phone booth, and pretended to take pictures with an old fashioned camera. We all enjoyed the water play area, with a vortex, exhibits on erosion, and an aqueduct-construction station. It was otherworldly and ethereal, with sparkly floors, dim, colorful lighting, and stone surroundings. It felt like we were stepping into an underwater palace. There was also a submarine floating in water that the kids loved going into. We liked the Power/Electricity exhibit, where you learned about responsible electric and fuel consumption, and the kids got to do driving simulators, ride a bike to “race” a car, and crank a wheel to power lightbulbs. The body exhibit was really cool, with lots of information and optical/mental illusions. It was a good mix of biology and psychology, plus physical activity. We also had a blast riding the unicycle- I’d recommend doing this right as it opens at 11 to beat the lines! We also liked the outdoor area where you can use a lever to lift a car!

We bought coffee at the coffee shop, food at the cafe, and Dippin Dots at the ice cream parlor. It was priced exorbitantly, as you would expect from a museum, but it was all good and fresh, and sizably portioned. We also brought food from home, and we could’ve eaten in the Group Lunch room, but we opted to go outside to Dorrian Greens and play in the sunshine there. Overall, we were impressed with the facilities- plenty of clean bathrooms, water fountains, and lots of elevators/stairs. Everything was well-kept. In the outer space exhibit, some astronaut gloves broke, and workers came and replaced them almost immediately. If you like children’s museums, I would definitely...

Very cool Musuem, but as for people that travel far away to come visit. They should only be allowed to sell so many tickets a day. We were a group of 5 with 1 baby, and my oldest daughter couldn't do any of the hands on activities because there was adults and other teenagers that were cutting her in lines and staying on equipment too long and not sharing. The gift-shops were not impressive. Over priced toys, nothing really for babies. We didnt buy anything. The food court behind the ticket lines, were sold out of almost everything and over priced. I got a pretzel and they had no sauce, the girl that was cashing us out was standing there applying lipstick as she's talking to me, Very unprofessional of her. Than she told me to go to the other Cafe to ask for something to dip it in. And the drinks were very watered down and not good for the price. We paid extra for the titanic exhibit and that was a disaster. The line was so long for inside the musuem, you had impatient people behind you looking over your shoulder, or pushing into you so you had no time to read anything, or take pictures. My 10 year daughter was getting very irritated with the adults pushing her out of the way to see things and the fact that these "adults" are letting thier kids run amuck through the whole thing and touching all the artifact cases is mind blowing. I felt like Cosi could have been/did alot better with this. Nothing was organized. I also was upset that there was 1 changing table on the counter in the downstairs bathroom. I had to change my daughter in her stroller because everyone else was standing there waiting for it and my youngest soaked through her pants. I don't think we will be back. And if we do go. It'll be a weekday when everyone's at work. I was very upset we wasted a...

A Fun and Engaging Science Trip for All Ages

My adult children (25+) and I recently spent a day at COSI in Columbus, and it was an impressive and thoroughly enjoyable experience. This is a top-tier science museum with current, engaging, and hands-on exhibits that make for a fantastic outing. We opted to purchase our tickets online beforehand, which I'd recommend as it saves you a few dollars. Parking was conveniently located on-site and was reasonably priced.

Once inside, we found plenty to keep us occupied. The human body exhibit was a particular favorite, with its many interactive displays. The dinosaur exhibit was another standout; it was excellent, up-to-date with the latest scientific theories (like feathered T-Rexes!), and featured a variety of impressive life-size models. We also caught a great show at the planetarium and an interesting film about asteroid detection. The film's depiction of how asteroids are tracked left us with a slightly humorous, slightly nervous feeling about whether the planet's politicians could actually coordinate a response to a real threat...

We noticed the water exhibit is cleverly designed as a rest area for parents while their kids have a blast splashing around. While most children probably just learn that water is wet, it's easy to imagine a future aquatic engineer or hydrodynamicist getting their start there.

The only slight disappointment was the "Star Wars Unofficial Exhibit." It looked interesting, but we weren't compelled enough to pay the separate ticket cost, especially since it seemed to consist mostly of LEGOs and dioramas.

Despite that one minor point, COSI delivers a full day of fun and learning. It’s a must-visit for families, couples, or anyone with a...