McWane Science Center Birmingham: Tickets, Hours and Visit Tips

McWane Science Center combines hands-on science exhibits with a range of features for different ages. The center highlights a shark tank, a bubble room, dinosaur bones and Itty Bitty Magic City among its exhibits.

The museum occupies four floors, with access by ramps and/or elevators. Wheelchairs and a limited number of strollers are available free from the ticketing desk. For visitors who benefit from sensory supports, McWane identifies as a Sensory Inclusive organization.

Free sensory bags include headphones, weighted lap pads and fidget items; quiet spaces are available on every floor, with a designated sensory room on the first floor.

The IMAX Dome Theatre has its own showtimes, separate from general museum information. If you’re planning around a film or a particular activity, check its schedule along with the museum’s daily program before you set your visit timing.

Adult admission is $20.95 and child admission is $16.95. Ticket packages are available online, and you can use the center’s ticketing system to review options and purchase in advance.

McWane’s Museums for All offer provides admission for $4 per person for up to four family members with an EBT card. Bring the card to show on arrival. For special activities, the daily program schedule is available online; sloth enrichment takes place every day at 1:30 p.m.

IMAX Dome Theatre showtimes are provided separately from general museum information, so check those independently if you want to include a screening. Ticket packages, prices and programs can change, so check the official site before you go.

The center’s hours are Wednesday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; and Sunday, 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. It is closed Monday and Tuesday.

Opening time varies across the week, so plan around the day you choose rather than assuming the same start time. The museum has four floors of hands-on exhibits, and the daily program schedule can help you decide which activities to fit in. Check the center’s official site for current hours and program details before setting out.

If you’re building a wider day in the city, the one-day downtown Birmingham itinerary on foot can help put the museum into a broader plan.

The center is at 200 19th Street N. If you’re driving, McWane’s parking deck entrance is on 2nd Avenue North. The deck has a vehicle height limit of 6 feet 8 inches, costs $5 for non-members, and is free for members; payment is due when you exit.

The deck is open Wednesday through Sunday, 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Exit toll machines accept prepaid tokens, debit or credit cards, and cash in $1, $5, $10 or $20 denominations. You can buy tokens at the lobby ticket counter during business hours.

Metered street parking is available nearby with a 2-hour limit, and payment can be made through the ParkMobile app. Street parking is free on Saturdays, Sundays, and federal or state holidays.

If you’re arriving with a group by bus, buses unload on 2nd Avenue North when available, or on 19th Street North as overflow; drivers then go to a remote lot, with hourly parking shuttles provided.

For another downtown museum stop, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute visitor guide covers a separate cultural attraction in the city.