What are the opening hours?

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

Boonshoft Museum of Discovery

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United States
Dayton, OH
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.

12/06/2025

✨Our Discovery Zoo Enrichment Tree is back! 🎄

It's the season of giving and it is our holiday tradition to connect animal lovers with their favorite animals of the Discovery Zoo. The items are carefully curated by our keepers with insight into what the animals would enjoy. Share the holiday cheer by picking out some goodies from our tree during your next visit or by going to our Amazon wish list here: https://shorturl.at/iAlyH
🦥🦦🐍
When you give to the Discovery Zoo, we would like to thank you! As a thanks for your generosity, in-person donors will receive a one-of-a-kind painting from some of your favorite Discovery Zoo animals. Donations up to $15 can pick a painting made by one of our reptiles, donations $15-30 will receive a painting from the vultures, and donations greater than $30 can pick a painting from Patience the sloth!

Thank you for supporting the Discovery Zoo!💚

12/05/2025

Endless thank you's to every single volunteer who has dedicated their time and passion to enriching the experience here at the Boonshoft Museum. ❤️
Your contributions in each department truly make a world of difference. Whether you are in the zoo with unwavering devotion to our furry friends, educators who inspire young minds, or collections enthusiasts who preserve history. We couldn't do it without you. Let's encourage our community to spread kindness by volunteering too! 🌍❤️

12/04/2025

Stockings hung, decorations out… Feather, Stone, and River are ready for the holidays!🎄

12/04/2025

Happy Wildlife Conservation Day!💚 On this day we bring awareness to wildlife conservation and ways you can help. 🤝🌎

Here's a great way for you to help AND get an unforgettable experience out of it:
Do you want to meet one of the animals you see here? We have an amazing once-in-a-lifetime adventure where you get face-to-face with your favorite Discovery Zoo residents! Every ticket sold supports conservation efforts both locally and around the world.

🦥Dive deep into their captivating stories during private encounters that include personalized insights on care and training. Take home a cherished keepsake, gain valuable knowledge on species preservation, and contribute to conservation efforts when you choose our Individual Animal Conversations or themed experiences.
✨Book now for an unforgettable encounter!✨
https://boonshoft.org/conservation-conversations/

12/03/2025

Look at that beautiful face! Maya just wanted to pop in and say hi 👋

📸:Aleyah Mack, Marketing

12/03/2025

We love a snow day!!

12/03/2025

✮ Hey peeps! These laser shows are totally something you won't want to miss.😎 So like get out of the house and chill here at the Boonshoft Museum at our Y2K laser shows December 12th & 13th. 🎧
Bring your friends too or whatevs. 𝄞💿

Tickets here: https://boonshoft.org/events/lasershows/

12/03/2025

Did you know that Ohio has a state invertebrate fossil? ✨

The trilobite genus Isotelus became the official state invertebrate fossil on June 20, 1985, thanks to the efforts of several Dayton-area elementary school classes and the staff at the Dayton Museum of Natural History (known today as the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery). Isotelus is a genus of large trilobite, extinct marine arthropods that lived along the sea floor that once covered Ohio during the Ordovician (approximately 488-443 million years ago). Teachers, students, and museum staff were inspired by the famous Huffman Dam trilobite (nicknamed “Pete”), which was discovered during construction of the Huffman Dam in 1919, and is one of the largest and most complete Isotelus specimens.

If you’d like to learn more about this story, consider joining Samantha Martin, Registrar for the Dayton Society of Natural History, this Thursday, December 4, for her presentation titled, “A Fossil Named Pete: Dayton’s Trilobite Story.” Samantha will be part of the speaker lineup for PechaKucha Night Dayton Vol. 58 held at The Brightside 905 E. 3rd St. Dayton, Ohio, 45402. Doors open at 7pm and presentations begin at 7:30pm.
Event details can be found here: Pecha Kucha Vol. 58 | Facebook

12/02/2025

Reminder of our holiday hours! 🎄❄🎀
The Boonshoft Museum of Discovery will be closed:
December 24 (Christmas Eve)
December 25 (Christmas Day)
January 1 (New Years Day).

12/02/2025

We will be opening at 10AM today, Tuesday, December 2nd due to the weather.❄

Be safe!

12/01/2025

Step into a month of astronomical knowledge!💫 Visit our Caryl D. Philips Space Theater and see all of these shows throughout the month of December.

12/01/2025

A new month full of themed daily programs!📅

❄️🔔Check out what we're offering everyday during the month of December!

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

+19372757431

Website

http://www.boonshoft.org/

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Our Story

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.