Carnegie Science Center

The Carnegie Science Center is a fantastic experience for kids of all ages (and adults too!). It’s incredibly engaging, hands-on, and full of interactive exhibits that keep everyone entertained for hours. From space and robotics to the mini railroad and sports science, there’s something around every corner to spark curiosity. The staff is friendly and helpful, and everything is clean, well-organized, and thoughtfully designed. Whether you’re local or just visiting Pittsburgh, this is a must-see spot for families looking for fun and learning rolled into one. Looking forward to going back.

Our visit to the Carnegie Science Center & SportsWorks was a wild success—equal parts educational, entertaining, and “Can we come back tomorrow?” from all four kids (and one of the adults, who shall remain nameless). With kids aged 2, 5, 7, and 10—and one more on the way—we know a thing or two about what makes a place actually family-friendly. Carnegie nailed it. Pro tip: Start your day at SportsWorks. It’s like a science-themed indoor playground where kids can climb, jump, spin, and test the limits of gravity (and their clothing). Our 5-year-old—aka our human wrecking ball—was living his best life sprinting between the human yo-yo, balance challenges, and climbing walls. The 7-year-old disappeared into the virtual sports simulators, and even the 2-year-old found plenty to do, toddling happily between exhibits and yelling “MY TURN!” at everything. After that, we pulled off one of our favorite parenting tricks: starting at the top of the Science Center and working our way down. It’s genius for dodging crowds and it starts your day with the awesome kids’ zone at the top. The hands-on play area is a toddler paradise, but our big kids dove in just as eagerly. They built towers, explored light and sound, and ran the kind of experiments that leave your hair sticking out at weird angles. Science! One of the biggest surprises? The Disney laser show. We weren’t sure what to expect, but it delivered BIG. Picture a room full of kids (and adults who should know better) singing their hearts out to Disney hits while lasers flash and dance. Yes, I belted out “Let It Go.” Yes, the tween pretended not to know me. Worth it. We skipped the submarine this time around—we’ve done it before, and I didn’t feel like crawling through narrow spaces while very pregnant—but if you’ve never done it, go for it. It’s tight, but it’s also a super cool piece of history that’s usually a big hit with kids and grownups alike. What makes the Science Center + SportsWorks combo shine is that it’s actually built for everyone. There’s no “adults sit on the bench while the kids play” energy here. Grownups can dive in just as much as the kids, whether it’s testing out physics exhibits, exploring space, geeking out over robotics, or getting lost in engineering challenges. We’ve visited multiple times over the years, and there’s always something new to discover. Bottom line: The Carnegie Science Center is an all-day adventure, and you’ll probably still leave with things on your “next time” list. Come early, bring snacks, wear comfy shoes, and say yes to the add-ons. Whether your crew is into space, sports, science, or sensory play, this place has you covered.

My Partner and I went to the Carnegie Museum Science last night for Valentine’s Day. It is a 21+ night at Carnegie Science Center. The event was called Seductive Science. It was really cool and a blast but if you look at the photos, you’ll see several photos and it’s a real human body from someone who donated their body to science. All the water has been sucked out the tissue so it looks like a mannequin I think. How cool!

This was a wonderful place to visit!! It was very clean and orderly. We came during the week after Labor day and we didn't have to wait at all. We enjoyed the tour and my son said he "never ever ever wanted to leave." That's a pretty good review for an almost 5 year old. We didn't make it to the Pixar area unfortunately, but we did make it to Sports Works. My son was a little bit too young for most of the activities there, fortunately, he still really enjoyed it!

Last time i was here i was 6 years old on a school field trip and it was a peak memory. Went last week and of course it wasn't as fun but it was very nostalgic coming here again. I enjoyed the mental health exhibit alot as an adult and the train replica room is so amazing and detailed definitely the highlight. Didn't get to see the planetarium due to the times nor the submarine because it is an extra ticket which I think is overpriced and should be included. Overall i had alot of fun though and would maybe go again if they had another limited time exhibit that peaked my interest.