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Children exploring science exhibits

Cosi- Center Of Science And Industry in Columbus, Ohio

Just off the main concourse a towering T. rex anchors the American Museum of Natural History Dinosaur Gallery, the kind of stop-everyone spot where kids crane their necks and adults pull out phones before they even realize it. From there the experience keeps you moving, touching, and trying things for yourself rather than reading plaques from a distance.

Hands-on is the house style here. In Ocean you step into a research habitat, push the “dive” controls, and watch the room respond as if you’ve slipped beneath the surface. The Space area brings current NASA science down to earth with interactive stations and a gravity floor you can feel underfoot. Walk a block of the town called Progress in 1898, then turn the corner into the same street in 1962 to track how technology and daily life changed.

Families with little ones usually make a beeline for Little Kidspace, which is designed by early childhood experts for babies through first graders, with places to climb, splash, and play pretend at kid scale. The museum’s planetarium is the largest in Ohio, so expect big-sky shows that put you under a dome of stars and satellites without leaving the riverfront.

Planning-wise, this is a paid museum with memberships and discounts available, and the Dinosaur Gallery is included with admission. Hours shift with seasons and special events, and COSI hosts periodic adults-only evenings under the COSI After Dark banner as well as a spring Science Festival that spills outdoors onto the peninsula. Parking is straightforward, with garages just west of the building and rates that vary by time and event.

  • Location: Scioto Peninsula/Franklinton riverfront along the Scioto River.
  • Known for: American Museum of Natural History Dinosaur Gallery, Ohio’s largest planetarium, and hands-on exhibits like Ocean, Space, Progress, and Little Kidspace.
  • Admission: Paid admission; memberships and discounts available. Dinosaur Gallery included with general admission.
  • Hours: Hours vary; check ahead.
  • Parking: Garages immediately west of the museum; rates vary.

If you want an outing where you’re pressing buttons, testing ideas, and watching jaws drop at a T. rex, this fits the bill for a few hours or a full day.

Published: August 28, 2026