Science & Discovery

Where Exploration And Fun Never End

Alabama is a destination for explorers of all ages. Each year, hundreds of thousands of visitors follow man's journey into space at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville. They experience larger-than-life IMAX films at Birmingham's McWane Science Center and get back to nature at numerous natural and environmental education centers, many of which are housed by the state's colleges and universities.

Whether you want to see a shuttle up close or learn about the science of our solar system, let Alabama be the launch pad for your family's sense of wonder.

U.S. Space and Rocket Center

Huntsville's role in the U.S. space program began in the 1950s, when a team of scientists designed and tested the rockets that eventually put man on the moon. This led to the establishment of NASA's first public location for visitors, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, which opened in 1970.

Today, the center is a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate and one of Alabama's top attractions, housing the 363-foot, Apollo-era Saturn V rocket and hundreds of artifacts from mankind's journeys to space. Simulators such as the Space Shot and G-Force Accelerator let visitors experience what it's like to be an astronaut. The center also hosts highly popular programs like Space Camp and Aviation Challenge, which each year attract students from all over the world interested in careers in science, math, engineering, robotics, aerospace and aviation.

Science and Discovery Museums

As a state known for medicine, manufacturing and natural beauty, it makes sense that Alabama's science museums and education centers would provide a wide range of information and interactive experiences.

Spend a day at McWane Science Center, home of an IMAX dome theater and four floors of interactive exhibits. Or see North American animals in realistic settings at the Mann Wildlife Learning Museum in Montgomery, where three-sided viewing provides up-close and personal encounters. Learn how nuclear energy is produced at Farley Nuclear Electric Generating Plant or visit other unique attractions such as the Southern Museum of Flight, the Alabama Museum of the Health Sciences, and the Southern Environmental Center.

From wildlife to aircraft, Alabama's science and education scene offers a little something for everyone - whether you're looking to learn a little or just have a lot of fun.