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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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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.

07/14/2025

🌈💡 Did you know Frida’s beak is more than just beautiful?

Frida, our vibrant toucan ambassador at the Boonshoft Museum, turns heads with her oversized, rainbow-colored beak—but it’s not just for show! Despite its size, a toucan’s beak is surprisingly lightweight, made from a honeycomb-like structure of keratin that helps with thermoregulation. That’s right—Frida uses her beak to help stay cool!

Toucans also use their beaks like multi-tools: reaching fruit, preening feathers, and even playing a role in courtship. In the wild, this incredible adaptation helps them thrive in the rainforest canopy.

🍉 Frida enjoys a colorful diet of fruit and veggies, and we love seeing her personality shine each day in the Discovery Zoo.

Stop by and say hello to this tropical wonder—she’s proof that science is beautiful.

📷: Reese Miller, Animal Keeper

07/14/2025

🌠✨ Don’t miss your chance to catch one of the summer sky’s quieter, but beautiful meteor shows—the Delta Aquariids are back!

🔭 Peak Viewing: Around July 28–30, but meteors can be seen from mid-July through early August.
🌌 Best Time: After midnight and before dawn, when the skies are darkest.
📍 Look South—this shower favors the Southern Hemisphere, but here in Ohio, we still get a lovely view, especially from dark sky areas.

Expect up to 20 meteors per hour at peak, many with long, glowing trails. 🌟 While the Delta Aquariids aren’t as flashy as the Perseids, they offer a more peaceful stargazing experience—perfect for a warm summer night.

🌙 Pro Tip: The waning gibbous moon may wash out fainter meteors this year, so try heading out in the early morning hours when the moon is lower in the sky.

Grab a blanket, find a dark spot away from city lights, and enjoy nature’s own fireworks display. ☄️💫

07/13/2025

🦖🌊 Move over T. rex—there’s a new apex predator in town! 🌊🦖

If the new Jurassic World movie has you captivated by colossal sea monsters, come face-to-skull with the real deal in our Paleo Lab! 🧠💀

Our fossil collection includes several mosasaur skulls, relics from the Late Cretaceous seas that once covered North America. These fearsome marine reptiles were not dinosaurs, but apex predators of their time—armed with double-hinged jaws, sharp teeth, and a serious appetite. Think: the original sea monster. 🌊🦎💥

🎬 While Hollywood’s mosasaur makes a splash on the big screen, our fossil specimens let you get up close with authentic prehistoric history. Step into the Paleo Lab to witness what these incredible creatures really looked like—no CGI required.

🦴 Visit us and dive deep into the world of ancient oceans!

07/13/2025

🥗🦥 Dining in slow style!

Patience, our two-toed sloth ambassador, takes her meals just like she takes life—one relaxed bite at a time. Whether it’s leafy greens, fresh fruits, or the occasional veggie treat, she knows how to enjoy the finer things on her plate.

Her favorite? A perfectly ripe pear. 🍐💚 Now that’s worth moving for!

Sloths like Patience have slow metabolisms, which means they don’t need to eat much or move fast to stay healthy. Instead, she conserves energy while munching mindfully from her cozy spot in the Discovery Zoo canopy.

Want to learn more about Patience and her rainforest roots? Visit the Boonshoft and catch her in one of her favorite spots: lounging near lunch. 🍓🌿

📷: Sophia Blessing, Animal Keeper

07/12/2025

🦋☀️ Summer’s in full swing—and so are the butterflies! ☀️🦋

It’s peak butterfly season here in the Miami Valley! All around Dayton, pollinators are fluttering through fields, gardens, and neighborhoods—bringing color, movement, and a little summer magic to our green spaces.

Want to know what kind of butterfly you’ve spotted? Check out this helpful ID guide: https://www.fws.gov/story/butterfly-identification-guide

We want to see your butterfly photos! 📸 Tag us or use to share your snapshots of these beautiful visitors.

By supporting native plants and protecting pollinator habitats, we can all help keep our skies filled with wings. 💚🌼

07/12/2025

🧊✨ Eco Bash | Ice Age – A Night to Remember! ✨🧊
📅 August 23 | 🕕 6:00 PM | 🎩 Black Tie Optional | 🎟️ $250 per guest

Get ready for one of Dayton’s most dazzling evenings of the year! Join us for Eco Bash | Ice Age, a prehistoric-meets-modern gala supporting the Boonshoft Museum’s $10.5 million capital campaign: A River Runs Through Us.

Be among the first to preview our bold new lobby transformation—featuring life-size, hair-on mastodons and Ice Age-era skeletons that bring our region’s ancient past roaring to life.

Enjoy an elegant evening that includes:
🍽️ A gourmet sit-down dinner in the Main Exhibit Hall
🥃 A sleek new bourbon & cigar lounge inside the Bieser Room of Wonders
🎉 A live auction packed with exclusive experiences and unforgettable items

With limited tickets available, this intimate celebration ensures that every guest plays a vital role in helping us inspire future generations through science, nature, and discovery.

Dress to impress. Discover the past. Shape the future.
Reserve your seat now: boonshoft.org/events/eco-bash

07/11/2025

Snuggle buddies 🦊🦊

07/11/2025

🎶✨ The Boonshoft Museum’s Summer Laser Show Series continues—don’t miss the next set of electrifying performances! ✨🎶
Experience your favorite music like never before—paired with stunning laser visuals in our immersive Caryl D. Philips Space Theater. Whether you’re vibing to legendary rock or timeless pop, we’ve got your summer soundtrack covered. 🌌💥

🎸🎹 Up next:
🔹 Friday, July 18 – Laser Beatles & Sgt. Peppers (6:30 PM & 8:00 PM)
🔹 Saturday, July 19 – Queen & Elton John Laser Shows (6:30 PM & 8:00 PM)

Each show runs about an hour—perfect for a dazzling night out with friends, family, or just your inner music lover. 🎶💃

🪐 Space is limited, so grab your tickets now:
👉 https://boonshoft.org/events/lasershows/

07/10/2025

🦉💛 Thankful Thursday: Home sweet (burrowed) home! 💛🦉

We’re sending a huge THANK YOU to the talented folks who brought Joe and Leia’s new habitat to life! Our beloved burrowing owls have officially moved in—and they’re already settling in beautifully. From cozy corners to sandy spots for lounging, their new space was designed with their comfort and natural behaviors in mind.

✨ A quick note to our visitors: The glass to Joe and Leia’s habitat is currently covered because Leia is nesting. Nesting can be a stressful time for some birds, so we’re giving them a little extra privacy to help them feel safe and relaxed. This is a natural, seasonal behavior, and we’re so proud to see them thriving in their new home.

When passing through, please help us support their well-being by keeping voices down and avoiding tapping on the glass. 💛

Special thanks to:
✨ Richard Lundin
🎨 Dan Wells of Brick City Artworks
🏙️ Front Street: Dayton’s Hub for Arts and Culture—celebrating 60 years of artists, artisans, and entrepreneurs!

Your creativity and craftsmanship helped make this habitat possible—and we couldn’t be more grateful.

📷: Sophia Blessing, Animal Keeper

07/10/2025

🌟 Hidden gem? More like Dayton’s brightest star! 🌟✨

The Boonshoft Museum isn't just tucked away—it’s a place where lifelong memories are made and curiosity shines. Just ask last month’s winner, Indea Cotner! Her daughter had a blast at a recent Pond Study! 💙

Now it’s a new month—and we want to see how you think the Boonshoft is a hidden gem! 💎
📸 Share a photo of your favorite museum moment using the hashtag and you could WIN free passes in our monthly contest!
Whether you're face-to-face with a sloth, launching rockets in our science center, or watching the stars twinkle in our planetarium—we want to celebrate the joy you find here every time.

🔍 Boonshoft Museum of Discovery:
Not So Hidden. Always a Gem.

07/09/2025

🎉🐢 Shell-ebrating a very special birthday! 🐢🎉

Join us in wishing a Happy 35th Birthday to Thoreau the wood turtle! 🎂💚
Born July 9, 1990, at the Atlanta Zoo and a proud resident of the Boonshoft Museum since September of that same year, Thoreau is one of our oldest—and most beloved—Discovery Zoo residents.

Thoreau is part of an endangered species found in northeastern Ohio all the way up through Maine. Here at the museum, she enjoys a carefully curated diet three times a week, including leafy greens, veggies like corn and peas, a small portion of fruit, mealworms, and even a little wet cat food for protein. 🍎🥬🐛

Her calm nature, earthy charm, and critical role as an ambassador for conservation make her a quiet superstar here at the zoo. 🌎✨

Stop by the Boonshoft and you may catch a glimpse of this wise and wonderful reptile at Keeper Talk and learn why protecting native species like the wood turtle is so important.

07/09/2025

🎒☀️ Last Call for Summer Camp Fun! ☀️🎒
Calling all curious kids and adventure seekers—don’t miss your chance to squeeze in one more week of science-filled summer fun! 🔬🦖🌈

We still have a few spots open for the week of July 28 – August 1, and this is your opportunity to make the most of the season before school starts!

🌟 Register by Sunday, July 13 and snag a last-minute discount with code: LASTMIN25 at checkout!

Whether you’re launching rockets, meeting zoo animals, or learning about mummification, there’s no better place to wrap up your summer than at the Boonshoft Museum’s STEM Camps.

🎟️ Register now: https://boonshoft.org/summer-camps/

Let’s make the last week of July the best week of the summer! ☀️🧪💥

Address

Dayton, OH

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

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.