One more place to enjoy near Aurora in Illinois
History and Culture
SciTech Hands On Museum opened its doors in 1988 inside a restored former post office building in downtown Aurora, making it one of the first interactive science centers established in the Chicago suburbs. The museum was founded by a group of local educators and community leaders who believed that science learning should extend beyond textbooks and classrooms into experiences children could touch, manipulate, and explore with their own hands. Its location in a historic 1930s Works Progress Administration building gives the museum a distinctive architectural character, with original marble floors and Art Deco details serving as an unexpected backdrop for cutting-edge interactive exhibits. Over more than three decades, SciTech has welcomed millions of young visitors from across northern Illinois, becoming a cornerstone of Aurora’s cultural renaissance and a beloved destination for families seeking educational entertainment. The museum maintains strong partnerships with nearby Fermilab and Argonne National Laboratory, two of the nation’s premier physics research facilities, allowing it to offer programming informed by real scientific research.
What to Do
Explore more than 200 interactive exhibits spread across three floors, where children can build and launch paper rockets, create giant soap bubbles, and experiment with circuits and magnetism at hands-on learning stations. Step into the Indoor Tornado exhibit, a two-story vortex generator where visitors can stand inside a swirling column of air and watch their hair stand on end as the pressure changes. Climb aboard the Space Shuttle Simulator, a full-scale replica cockpit where budding astronauts can press buttons, flip switches, and imagine a mission to the International Space Station. Participate in a live science demonstration at the Discovery Stage, where museum educators conduct exciting experiments involving liquid nitrogen, chemical reactions, and the physics of sound and light. Let younger children explore the Toddler Town area, a dedicated space designed specifically for visitors ages five and under with age-appropriate activities like a water play table, soft building blocks, and sensory exploration stations.
What to See
Admire the Foucault Pendulum swinging gracefully in the museum’s central atrium, a mesmerizing demonstration of Earth’s rotation that has fascinated visitors since the museum opened its doors more than thirty years ago. Visit the Outdoor Science Park, where children can experiment with a whisper dish, play chimes made from recycled materials, and climb on a human-sized hamster wheel that demonstrates principles of kinetic energy. The Weather Station exhibit features real-time meteorological instruments including anemometers, barometers, and thermometers that allow kids to record and predict weather patterns just like professional meteorologists. Do not miss the Laser Harp, a stringless instrument that plays musical notes when visitors break beams of light with their hands, combining art and physics in one crowd-pleasing installation. The Illusions Gallery presents optical puzzles and perception-bending exhibits that challenge visitors of all ages to question what their eyes are telling them about color, motion, and depth.
Attractions
The museum’s reptile and amphibian habitat features live snakes, turtles, and frogs, with scheduled feeding demonstrations that teach children about cold-blooded animal biology and responsible pet care. Maker Lab workshops invite young inventors to use real tools and materials including soldering irons, 3D printers, and laser cutters under the guidance of trained instructors during weekend and holiday programs. The Sky Lab planetarium, a small inflatable dome, projects constellations and planets onto the ceiling for introductory astronomy shows that explore the solar system and deep space objects. Birthday party packages include exclusive exhibit time and private science demonstrations, making SciTech one of the most popular children’s party venues in the Fox Valley region. The museum store stocks educational toys and STEM kits that allow families to continue experimenting at home, with selections curated by museum educators to match the exhibits children enjoyed most.
When to Visit
Weekday mornings from Tuesday through Thursday offer the quietest experience, with minimal crowds and the most opportunity for one-on-one interaction with exhibit docents and floor staff. Summer from June through August brings the museum’s busiest season with themed science camps, special guest speakers, and extended hours that often include evening stargazing events at the outdoor science park. School-year weekends draw the largest crowds, so arriving at opening time allows families to enjoy popular exhibits before the midday rush fills the galleries. The museum runs an annual Science of the Season program during December that explores the physics of snowflakes, the chemistry of hot chocolate, and the engineering behind holiday lights. Spring break week transforms SciTech into a day camp destination, with structured full-day programs available for children while local schools are on recess.