Boonshoft Museum of Discovery

Boonshoft Museum of Discovery The Boonshoft Museum is the premier destination for family learning in the Miami Valley.
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Note: The Boonshoft Museum of Discovery has created this page to share our love of learning in a fair and safe space. As in the physical Museum, online visitors are expected to conduct themselves in ways that are honest and respectful toward others, regardless of disagreements. Any comments that violate this basic premise of civility will be deleted, and repeat offenders may be blocked from posting on the page.

Keeping watch, bat-eared style! 🦊👂Did you know that bat-eared foxes are some of nature’s most alert creatures? With thei...
01/22/2025

Keeping watch, bat-eared style! 🦊👂

Did you know that bat-eared foxes are some of nature’s most alert creatures? With their oversized ears, they can hear the faintest rustle in the grass, helping them detect predators long before they get too close. These sharp senses are invaluable in the wild, where survival often depends on staying one step ahead!

At the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, our ambassador foxes, Denise and Flora, might not need to worry about predators, but they sure love keeping tabs on their surroundings. Whether it’s the movement of a leaf, a visiting guest, or the sound of the meerkats nearby, they’re always on the lookout!

Their behavior reminds us of the incredible adaptations that animals have evolved to thrive in their environments. Next time you visit, see if you can spot Denise and Flora in action!

Photo: Amanda Stine, Lead Animal Keeper

Join us February 2nd for our annual Hedgehog Day Celebration! 🦔This event is included with general admission.Schedule of...
01/22/2025

Join us February 2nd for our annual Hedgehog Day Celebration! 🦔

This event is included with general admission.

Schedule of Events:
Seating will begin at 12pm.
12:30p- Hedgehog Proclamation
12:40p - Walnut the Four Toed hedgehog meet and greet.
12:50p - Meet some additional ambassador animals and their keepers!

There will be a hedgehog conservation craft prior to the proclamation. So come early, grab a seat, and learn about hedgehogs!

National Hedgehog Day is a Roman tradition preceding the modern ‘Groundhog Day’. While groundhogs are native to North America, various animals have been used in Europe to help predict the end of winter and the coming of spring, including the hedgehog. The Ancient Roman tradition passed down into other European folklore, particularly in Ireland. If a hedgehog was seen at the start of February it was thought to be a sign of good weather and a promise of warmer days, whereas a no-show from hedgehogs meant winter was sure to continue for several more weeks. 🦔

Hazelnut hitting us with the Spiderman pose while she gets weighed. We think she'd be a pretty cool superhero herself. W...
01/21/2025

Hazelnut hitting us with the Spiderman pose while she gets weighed. We think she'd be a pretty cool superhero herself. What do you think her name would be? Let us know in the comments.

Photo: Amanda Stine, Lead Animal Keeper

Jurassic Quest is roaring into the Dayton area February 7-9! Don’t miss out on the world’s largest, most popular dino ev...
01/21/2025

Jurassic Quest is roaring into the Dayton area February 7-9! Don’t miss out on the world’s largest, most popular dino event with unique and exciting experiences for the whole family when Jurassic Quest visits the Dayton Convention Center. See their herd of life-size animatronic dinosaurs including Apatosaurus, Spinosaurus, and the ferocious T-Rex. Meet our trainers, baby dinos and become a Junior Dino Trainer at the Raptor Experience. You don’t want to miss “The Quest” interactive adventure, dinosaur rides, giant fossil dig, inflatables, the Fossil Experience, “Triceratots” soft play area, and MORE! Tickets are flying fast and sellouts are expected. Get your tickets in advance at www.jurassicquest.com and use code DSNH30 for a 30% discount. Proceeds from the code redemption will be donated to the Dayton Society of Natural History. Get your tickets before they go extinct! 🦖🦕

A big shout out to the Ohio State Buckeyes from all of us at the Discovery Zoo—CONGRATULATIONS on winning the Championsh...
01/21/2025

A big shout out to the Ohio State Buckeyes from all of us at the Discovery Zoo—CONGRATULATIONS on winning the Championship! 🏆🎉

Your hard work, grit, and Buckeye spirit have made Ohio proud, and we’re cheering right along with you (even the animals are pumped!). Here’s to celebrating this epic win and bringing that trophy home!

Way to go, champs! 🏈🐾

-Your friends at the Boonshoft Museum and the Discovery Zoo

Photo: Reese Miller, Animal Keeper

01/20/2025

Who's going to win the National Championship tonight 🏆?? Jasper agouti picked the Ohio State Buckeyes, TWICE without prompting. We shall see. Who would you like to see win? Let us know in the comments.

Video: Bailey Cole, Senior Animal Keeper

Today, we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a leader whose vision for equality and justice continues to in...
01/20/2025

Today, we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a leader whose vision for equality and justice continues to inspire us. Dr. King believed in the power of education and community to create a brighter future for all.

At the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, we are committed to fostering curiosity, understanding, and inclusion through science, history, and culture. In Dr. King’s words, "The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education."

Let us celebrate his dream by embracing the values of kindness, equity, and respect in all that we do. Together, we can continue building a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

01/19/2025

Sheldon is a big fan of 👟

🚨 Planetarium Update 🚨The Boonshoft Museum’s Planetarium will be closed from January 26th to February 8th as we install ...
01/19/2025

🚨 Planetarium Update 🚨

The Boonshoft Museum’s Planetarium will be closed from January 26th to February 8th as we install exciting new software to enhance your stargazing experience! 🌌✨

We appreciate your patience during this upgrade and can’t wait to welcome you back to explore the wonders of the universe with improved visuals and programming.

Thank you for your understanding, and stay tuned for updates on our reopening! 🚀🌠

We’re thrilled to announce the opening of our brand-new Interactive Health Exhibit, proudly sponsored by Dayton Children...
01/18/2025

We’re thrilled to announce the opening of our brand-new Interactive Health Exhibit, proudly sponsored by Dayton Children's Hospital!

This engaging and educational space is designed to inspire curiosity and empower visitors of all ages to explore the wonders of health, wellness, and the human body. From hands-on activities that demonstrate how our bodies work to fun challenges that encourage healthy habits, this exhibit is a must-see for families, school groups, and curious minds.

Join us in celebrating the partnership that makes this possible and come discover the amazing science behind staying strong and healthy. Plan your visit today and be among the first to experience this exciting addition to the museum! 🩺🩻⚕️

We would also like to extend a big thank you to our facilities team and FireWatch for the installation.

Photos: Abby Doza, Donor and Sponsor Manager

01/18/2025

Frida having some fun with her rings!

In the wild, toucans spend their days foraging, exploring, and navigating complex habitats. Their large, colorful bills aren’t just for show—they’re vital tools for reaching fruits, probing into crevices, and even playing. Without the challenges of their natural environment, captive toucans can become bored, which can lead to stress or unhealthy behaviors.

At the Boonshoft, enrichment helps mimic these natural activities. For example, offering food puzzles or hiding fruits encourages foraging behaviors. Perches of varying heights and textures support climbing and balance, while toys provide stimulation and prevent boredom. Even interactions with caretakers and guests van serve as social enrichment!

Providing these opportunities ensures that Frida remains active, engaged, and healthy, allowing her playful personality to shine while educating visitors about her unique adaptations and the importance of protecting their habitats in the wild.

Video: Donna Harrison, Curator of Live Animals

The time to send in applications for our 2025 Summer Teen Volunteer Program is now. This incredible experience returns a...
01/17/2025

The time to send in applications for our 2025 Summer Teen Volunteer Program is now. This incredible experience returns again for young scientists and educators to join the Boonshoft Museum as volunteers. Build valuable skills for the workplace, pick up some volunteer hours, help our community enjoy the amazing experience our museum offers, and have some fun along the way. We even have two positions being offered this year!

Apply here:
https://boonshoft.org/volunteer/

Cheese!! Check out those chompers. Naked mole rats might not win a beauty contest, but their teeth are truly amazing! Th...
01/17/2025

Cheese!! Check out those chompers. Naked mole rats might not win a beauty contest, but their teeth are truly amazing! These underground dwellers have large, protruding incisors that can move independently—almost like fingers. This allows them to dig tunnels, carry food, and even manipulate objects with incredible precision!

What’s even cooler? Their teeth grow continuously, so they never wear down from all that hard work. And because they dig with their teeth, their lips close behind their incisors to keep dirt out of their mouths. How’s that for a brilliant adaptation?

Next time you visit the Discovery Zoo, check out these fascinating creatures and their incredible chompers in action!

Did you know that Paco and Segundo, our ambassador desert tortoises, love to play like cats? These two often enjoy hidin...
01/16/2025

Did you know that Paco and Segundo, our ambassador desert tortoises, love to play like cats? These two often enjoy hiding in boxes and paper bags, peeking out as if they've found the perfect hideaway. It's a great reminder that enrichment is important for all animals, whether they have fur, feathers, or shells! Stop by and see what our curious tortoises are up to during your next visit to the Boonshoft Museum! 🐢

On this we want to express our deepest gratitude to those who came out to support the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery's ...
01/16/2025

On this we want to express our deepest gratitude to those who came out to support the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery's ABC Night! A special thank you goes out to our Board President- Jason Trimbach and Tia; 2J Supply; Wave's Raditattoo Me; and the countless donors who contributed to support this event. The contributions made will make a world of difference to our first floor revamp project and we could not be more grateful.

If you missed the event, but wish to contribute, please head over to https://boonshoft.org/support/ to make a contribution today!

Photos: Abby Doza, Rachel Shields & Mindy Huegel

Can you see that CJ's eye looks a bit cloudy? That's a sign that he's about to shed! This happens because a thin layer o...
01/15/2025

Can you see that CJ's eye looks a bit cloudy? That's a sign that he's about to shed! This happens because a thin layer of fluid builds up between their old skin and the new layer underneath, helping the shedding process. The fluid also covers their eye caps (specialized scales that protect their eyes), making them look milky or foggy.

During this time, snakes might have limited vision and prefer to hide until the shed is complete. Once they shed, their eyes return to their normal clear and shiny appearance, and they’re ready to explore again!

Visit the Discovery Zoo to learn more about our incredible snakes and their amazing adaptations. 🐍✨

An agouti in a cutie box. An appropriate place 🤗
01/14/2025

An agouti in a cutie box. An appropriate place 🤗

This is possibly a carving of the rare freshwater frog native to Lake Titicaca in the Andes Mountains near the border of...
01/14/2025

This is possibly a carving of the rare freshwater frog native to Lake Titicaca in the Andes Mountains near the border of Peru and Bolivia. The Lake Titicaca water frog was critically endangered due to water pollution and poaching until conservation efforts really turned things around. A combined effort between the Denver Zoo’s Peru conservation program and native Peruvian women who went from poaching to protecting these frogs, has restored the population to an estimated 50,000. This is still considered a critically endangered number, but they are helping to raise awareness about the frog species and advocate for the importance of preventing water pollution and poaching every day. They do this work by attending international environmental protection conventions and by selling hand-crocheted frog wares like frog beanies, children’s toys, and finger puppets to visitors of the lakes beaches to encourage them to be mindful of their environmental impact. Denver Zoo supports their effort and also became the first facility in the Northern Hemisphere to successfully breed Lake Titicaca water frogs and are helping the efforts of repopulation! 🐸

Address

2600 Deweese Parkway
Dayton, OH
45414

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 12pm - 5pm

Telephone

(937) 275-7431

Website

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Videos

Who's going to win the National Championship tonight 🏆?? Jasper agouti picked the Ohio State Buckeyes, TWICE without prompting. We shall see. Who would you like to see win? Let us know in the comments. Video: Bailey Cole, Senior Animal Keeper #bmd #boonshoftmuseum #nationalchampionship

Sheldon is a big fan of 👟 #bmd #boonshoftmuseum #armadillos

Frida having some fun with her rings! In the wild, toucans spend their days foraging, exploring, and navigating complex habitats. Their large, colorful bills aren’t just for show—they’re vital tools for reaching fruits, probing into crevices, and even playing. Without the challenges of their natural environment, captive toucans can become bored, which can lead to stress or unhealthy behaviors. At the Boonshoft, enrichment helps mimic these natural activities. For example, offering food puzzles or hiding fruits encourages foraging behaviors. Perches of varying heights and textures support climbing and balance, while toys provide stimulation and prevent boredom. Even interactions with caretakers and guests van serve as social enrichment! Providing these opportunities ensures that Frida remains active, engaged, and healthy, allowing her playful personality to shine while educating visitors about her unique adaptations and the importance of protecting their habitats in the wild. Video: Donna Harrison, Curator of Live Animals #bmd #boonshoftmuseum #toucan

It's not often you see Patience on the move but it's so cool when you catch her. Sloths are famously sleepy animals! On average, sloths sleep between 15 and 20 hours per day. This long rest period is partly due to their low-energy diet of leaves, which takes a long time to digest and provides limited nutrients. To conserve energy, sloths have a very slow metabolism and move slowly, making their sleepy lifestyle essential for survival. Interestingly, sloths in the wild tend to sleep less than those in captivity, averaging around 9-10 hours a day. Captive sloths, like Patience at the Boonshoft Museum, might rest closer to the upper end of that range since she doesn't have to expend as much energy searching for food or avoiding predators. Their unique sleep habits are just one of the many things that make sloths such fascinating animals! 🦥 #bmd #boonshoftmuseum #sloth

Joe was a busy elf this year Video: Amanda Stine, Lead Animal Keeper #bmd #boonshoftmuseum #burrowingowl #owl

The otter boys having a grooming sesh 🦦 Video: Amanda Stine, Lead Animal Keeper #bmd #boonshoftmuseum #otter #otters

Sheldon getting a little exercise outside of his enclosure. We love his little steps. Video: Skyler Hada, Gift Shop Manager #bmd #boonshoftmuseum #armadillo #zoo

Joe being Joe Video: Skyler Hada, Gift Shop Manager #bmd #boonshoftmuseum #burrowingowl #joeburrow

We're pretty sure he's part gremlin 😼 Video: Amanda Stine, Lead Animal Keeper #bmd #boonshoftmuseum #sandcat #cat

We have a new Discovery Zoo animal coming!! Can you guess what it is by the sound? Drop your guesses below. Video: Donna Harrison, Curator of Live Animals #bmd #boonshoftmuseum

He's a pink pony boy 🎠 Video: Sophia Blessing, Animal Keeper #bmd #boonshoftmuseum #otter #otters

Bomani
Bomani

Bomani morning scent marking! Cats have scent glands all around their body. They frequently will rub on furniture or objects to communicate with other cats and to feel safe and relaxed in their environment. 😸🐈 Video: Sophia Blessing, Animal Keeper #bmd #boonshoftmuseum #sandcat

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The Boonshoft Museum is the Dayton region’s science center, children’s museum, natural history museum, planetarium, observatory and zoo! It provides critical STEM learning opportunities for nearly 200,000 visitors of all ages each year through permanent and traveling exhibitions, educational programs, special events, day camps, and more.