LearningCenters, Grand Rapids

Extending out into Lake Michigan from its Museum Campus home, this is America's first planetarium and it has become a recognized leader in science education. The Adler is home to one of the largest and most significant collections of historic scientific instruments in the world. The Adler’s collections also include rare books, manuscripts, archival materials, models, and photographs. Immersive theater programs, special exhibitions and events such as lectures and viewing parties allow you to journey through the vast universe – from the depths of powerful black holes to the heights of Voyager 1, the farthest human-made object from Earth. https://www.adlerplanetarium.org/#5Q8Zfmcg1t8I4heb.97

Spark your imagination at Science Central! Explore 200 permanent hands-on exhibits and national touring exhibitions. Get fun, educational items in our Gift Shop. https://www.visitfortwayne.com/listing/science-central/223/

An animal lover's paradise, the Detroit Zoo is situated on 125 acres with many naturalistic habitats. Major exhibits include the Arctic Ring of Life, Australian Outback Adventure, Great Apes of Harambee, National Amphibian Conservation Center, Holden Reptile Conservation Center, Penguinarium and Butterfly Garden. The Detroit Zoo is home to animals from A to Z, including anteaters and zebras and hundreds of other species in between. More than 2,000 animals representing 230 species of amphibians, mammals, birds and reptiles live in the Zoo’s 125-acres of true-to-life habitats that bring visitors face-to-face with these exotic creatures. https://detroitzoo.org/

The Toledo Museum of Art's architecturally significant campus is the gem of the Glass City. Our Neoclassic, marble-clad main building is joined by a Frank Gehry-designed Center for the Visual Arts and the newest addition, the Toledo Museum of Art Glass PavilionTM. The Glass Pavilion, designed by Tokyo-based SANAA, is an architectural wonder whose interior and exterior walls are made of curved glass panels. Surrounded by green spaces, an expanding outdoor sculpture garden and the celebrated Victorian homes of Toledo's historic Old West End neighbourhood, our campus offers a visual delight for all tastes. The Toledo Museum of Art is world-renowned for its collection of Old Master paintings, decorative arts and glass. In addition, the Museum has growing collections of contemporary, Asian and African art as well as art from antiquity. The Museum is admired for both the quality and comprehensiveness of its collection, which continues to grow through the acquisition process. There is always something new to see at TMA. Free daily glass blowing demonstrations in the Glass Pavilion bring TMA's extensive glass collection to life. Learn how glass is made and how the studio glass movement, born in Toledo, changed the face of glassmaking. https://www.toledo.com/area-directory/microsite/microsite-toledo-museum-of-art/

The Great Lakes are not only the most important natural resource in the world, they represent thousands of years of history. The lakes have dramatically impacted the social, economic and political history of the North American continent. The National Museum of the Great Lakes tells the awe-inspiring stories of our Great Lakes through breathtaking photography, over 300 incredible artefacts, a number of powerful audiovisual displays and 40 hands-on interactive exhibits including the 617-foot iron ore freighter Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship and the historic Museum Tug Ohio. The tales told here span hundreds of years, from the fur traders in the 1600s to the Underground Railroad operators in the 1800s, the rum runners in the 1900s, to the sailors on the thousand-footers sailing today. The theme of the Great Lakes as a Powerful Force runs through all of these stories and will create a lifelong interest in all who visit. http://www.inlandseas.org/

Botham Vineyards has been growing and producing regionally distinctive wines of international acclaim since 1989. Tastings daily during regular seasonal hours. Private and corporate events, weddings and private tours. https://www.visitmadison.com/listings/botham-vineyards-and-winery/177439/

The Wexner Center for the Arts is one of the nation’s premiere cultural gems--an internationally known contemporary arts center at The Ohio State University. The Center offers exhibitions, performances, films, artistic residencies and educational programs. The building, a landmark of postmodern architecture, houses galleries, performance spaces, a film video theater, a store and a cafe. From the intimate, cabaret-style concerts in our black box theater to large-scale events in or 2,500 seat Mershon Auditorium, the Wexner Center offers a wide variety of performances – dance, theater, jazz, world music, electronica and more. In the Wexner Center Film/Video Theater, you can watch rarely screened movies from near and far, the latest independent features and classics from Hollywood and abroad. https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/listing/wexner-center-for-the-arts-the/5555/

The Akron Zoo offers 35 acres of exhibits & guest amenities. Create lasting memories and ride the train or carousel, and view 8 animal exhibits. How did the jaguar get its spots? How does the Andean condor carry the sun into the sky? Learn the answers to the legends of these animals and more in Legends of the Wild. Travel through South America with the jaguar and capybara, Madagascar with the lemurs and the Himalayan Mountains with the snow leopards and Himalayan tahr. Come on down to the farm! You can pet, feed and get nose-to-nose with domestic farm animals like Boer goats, Oberhasli goats, Nubian goats, and pygmy goats. Make sure to see our sheep, pig and barn owl too. Buy food for these animals at our granary and then hop aboard a solar powered train, the A&K Wilber Express (April-October). If you are not too tired get lost in Ohio Farmland maze. Navigate the seven seas on the pirate playground, have a picnic in the Wild Prairie Pavilion and enjoy a snack from our Grasslands Café. Make sure you stop by the butterfly waystation and learn about the amazing migration of butterflies. http://www.akronzoo.org/about-the-zoo

COSI, Columbus’ dynamic Center of Science and Industry, has combined science learning and fun since 1964 with 300-plus hands-on exhibits, Ohio’s largest Planetarium, Giant Screen Theater, live shows and more. And now, through a unique and unprecedented partnership with the renowned American Museum of Natural History, COSI’s offerings are only growing! Located on Columbus’ Scioto Peninsula, COSI is near the downtown core and the Ohio Statehouse. A brand new 6.5-acre park sits directly west of the museum featuring a splash pad, playground, picnic tables, swings and much more. COSI introduced the new Dinosaur Gallery – a permanent exhibit that allows guests to get up close to a full-sized cast of a Tyrannosaurus Rex, 100 million-year-old fossilized amber, an 8 foot titanosaur femur cast and much more. https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/listing/cosi/5658/

Opened in 1875, the Cincinnati Zoo is the second-oldest zoo in the nation and a National Historic Landmark that is consistently ranked as one of the top zoos in the country. http://cincinnatiusa.com/things-to-do/attractions/cincinnati-zoo-botanical-garden

This one-of-a-kind museum brings the pages of the Bible to life casting its characters and animals in dynamic form and placing them in familiar settings. http://cincinnatiusa.com/things-to-do/attractions/creation-museum

Visit this preserved early 19th century home, set on a hilltop overlooking the beautiful Dundas Valley. Explore the history of Enerals Griffin and other early Black settlers, and enjoy a walk along nearby trails. Griffin House host a variety of events, workshops and exhibitions throughout the year. https://www.hamilton.ca/attractions/hamilton-civic-museums/griffin-house-national-historic-site

Fieldcote is a cultural heritage centre with an emphasis on the collection, preservation and exhibition of local history, the promotion of fine arts and the celebration of natural heritage through beautiful landscaped gardens and walking trails. Explore ‘Stories From the Edge’, an exhibition celebrating the history of Ancaster. Set on the edge of the Niagara Escarpment, with a bounty of water and resources, Ancaster has attracted humans since the retreat of the last glacier over 10,000 years ago. Using 31 stories and artifacts, one for every year the museum has been open, this exhibition offers snapshots of Ancaster’s history from the earliest human occupants to present day. https://www.hamilton.ca/attractions/hamilton-civic-museums/fieldcote-memorial-park-museum

Burlington Heights, where Dundurn Castle and the Hamilton Military Museum now stand, was occupied by the British military from 1813 -1815. Built as a gate house by Sir Allan MacNab in the late 1830s atop a battery from the War of 1812, This building known as Battery Lodge, now houses The Hamilton Military Museum. https://www.hamilton.ca/attractions/hamilton-civic-museums/hamilton-military-museum

Discover one of the finest examples of an intact historic home in Canada during a guided tour with a costumed interpreter. Three generations of the McQuesten family lived at Whitehern from 1852 until 1968. Among the last generation were six children who never married. In 1959 the three surviving members of the family bequeathed the home to the City with all its original contents. It contains elements from many time periods – Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian – dating up to 1939 when the Honourable Thomas McQuesten was Minister of Highways. Explore the heritage of Victorian ideas and possessions that influenced life at Whitehern on the eve of World War II. https://www.hamilton.ca/attractions/hamilton-civic-museums/whitehern-historic-house-garden-national-historic-site

Witness the social and mechanical life of Canada’s early industrial revolution. Housed in a 150-year-old Waterworks, this National Historic Site preserves two 70-ton steam powered water pumping engines, perhaps the oldest surviving Canadian-built engines. The historic Hamilton Waterworks is a Civil and Power Engineering Landmark. The museum offers guided tours, various permanent and changing exhibits, and features special events for the whole family https://www.hamilton.ca/attractions/hamilton-civic-museums/hamilton-museum-steam-technology-national-historic-site

No trip to Toronto is complete without a visit to the Royal Ontario Museum — Canada’s largest museum showcasing art, culture, and nature from around the globe and across the ages. The ROM is home to a world-class collection of more than six million objects and specimens, featured in 40 gallery and exhibition spaces. Explore special exhibitions, as well as the Museum’s permanent collections of dinosaurs, South Asian art and culture, gems and minerals, ancient Egyptian treasures, biodiversity, and much more. http://www.seetorontonow.com/listings/royal-ontario-museum/#sm.0017houyxdtier210nr1h126u6a73

The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) Collection features more than 100,000 great works of art, from cutting-edge contemporary to classic European masterpieces. View iconic paintings by the well-known Group of Seven as well as amazing art by established and emerging Indigenous, Inuit and Métis artists, sculptures, photographs, prints & drawings and so much more are on display in a beautiful building that itself is a work of art, with design details created by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry. http://www.seetorontonow.com/listings/art-gallery-of-ontario/#sm.0017houyxdtier210nr1h126u6a73

Immerse yourself in a world of 20,000 aquatic animals and discover your own underwater adventure in the heart of downtown Toronto. Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada features North America’s longest underwater viewing tunnel with more than 5.7 million litres of water and over 100 interactive opportunities. Get up close and personal with several touch exhibits and soak in a live dive show daily. This awe-inspiring attraction consists of nine carefully curated galleries showcasing a cross section of saltwater and freshwater environments from around the world – starting with species from Toronto’s backyard, the Great Lakes basin. From the heart-pounding experience of Dangerous Lagoon, a football-field length acrylic viewing tunnel with moving glide-path sidewalk through sharks, green sea turtles, sawfish and moray eels; to the hypnotic dance of Pacific sea nettle jellyfish which are illuminated in an array of breathtaking colours from within the kreisel tank at Planet Jellies, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada will captivate Torontonians as well as guests from around the world! http://www.seetorontonow.com/listings/ripleys-aquarium-of-canada/#sm.0017houyxdtier210nr1h126u6a73

Science North is Northern Ontario’s most popular tourist attraction and an educational resource for children and adults across the globe. Science North maintains the second and eighth largest science centres in all of Canada and features an IMAX® with Laser theatre, digital Planetarium, butterfly gallery, special exhibits hall, and so much more! Head to the second floor of the science centre for some one-of-a-kind visitor experiences. Polish a mineral in the Lapidary Lab, visit tropical butterflies in the F. Jean MacLeod Butterfly Gallery, handle exotic invertebrates, and trade some natural artifacts at the Nature Exchange. Take a voyage through Ontario’s natural landscapes with Northern Ecosystems. Visit Science North’s animal ambassadors and learn about the wildlife found in our own backyards. Discover what fish live in Ramsey Lake, learn how you can help at-risk species in Ontario, and even come face to face with a snake! Tinker, play, and have fun in our Tech Lab. Build race cars, learn about space exploration, and take a spin in the Gyroscope. Or discover the latest breakthroughs in biology in our Bio Lab. https://www.sciencenorth.ca/science-north/

This National Historic Landmark building was built in 1901 during the Pan-American Exposition, and now houses The Buffalo History Museum (renamed in 2012). Research library includes a repository of genealogical information; the museum features exhibits and an extensive collection of artefacts, manuscripts, books and photographs chronicling the development of Buffalo and the Niagara Frontier. http://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/businesses/the-buffalo-history-museum/

The RMG houses a permanent collection of over 4,500 works, The Thomas Bouckley Collection, an outdoor public sculpture and 4 galleries of changing exhibitions, an art library and archives. Each of these collections tells the continuing story of Canadian modern and contemporary art. The Thomas Bouckley Collection was donated to the RMG by the late Thomas Bouckley, collector and history enthusiast of Oshawa. The computerized collection comprises over 3,000 historical photographs of Oshawa and Durham Region, spanning over 100 years. The collection is a remarkable resource for understanding and engaging with Oshawa’s local history. The RMG Library is the largest library in Durham Region devoted to fine art and the history of visual arts, and the largest and most comprehensive art library located between Toronto and Kingston. It is available to those interested in art for pleasure or serious research. Library resources include art books, artist monographs, artists’ files, clipping books, Canadian exhibition catalogues, slides, auction catalogues and an extensive journal collection. http://rmg.on.ca/about/

1890 - 1990 Northern Ontario railroad memorabilia, a record of the railroads impact on early settlements of the area. The museum provides a nostalgic look at Northern ontario heritage, and a historical account of the mining and lumber industry and their railroads. The museum is located within a historically designated museum house built in 1916, and was the former CN superintendent's residence. In 2012 the museum purchased the old Town of Capreol Fire Hall and is currently using it as a Heritage Centre. http://www.sudburytourism.ca/explore/article.php?type=explore&lang=&id=212

For over 60 years, the Oshawa Museum (OM) has celebrated its City’s history with engaging events, inspiring exhibits, and an immense collection of archival materials. Nestled on the shores of Lake Ontario in beautiful Lakeview Park, the OM tells the story of Oshawa from Indigenous inhabitants to present day. Home to Oshawa’s history, the OM is managed by the Oshawa Historical Society. OM collection is diverse and highlights include a photograph/postcard collection from the late Thomas Bouckley, newspaper microfilm dating to 1862, reference library featuring local history books, artifacts from the Henry, Robinson and Guy families and other early settlers, medical instrument collection, extensive camera collection, 7,000 item Grandview artifact collection and vast photograph collection depicting Oshawa events, places and personalities. The Oshawa Museum is an important heritage resource in Oshawa. As one of the few remaining heritage districts and Oshawa's only community museum, the four buildings that comprise the Museum are ideally situated to tell the story of Oshawa from its earliest native occupation to present times. http://www.oshawamuseum.org/index.html

Where Cardinals past and present combine to create an unforgettable experience. As the official home for St. Louis Cardinals legends, the Cardinals Hall of Fame & Museum is already considered a "must-see" attraction. Created to honor the players and personalities who have impacted the franchise, the museum features stadiums, players, championship moments and one of the world's largest team-specific collections of artifacts and memorabilia. https://explorestlouis.com/partner/cardinals-hall-of-fame-museum/?see_do_category=attractions

At the Science Museum of Minnesota, the science that shapes our daily lives comes to life through hands-on exhibits, larger-than-life Omnitheater films, and a world-class collection of fossils and artifacts. https://www.minneapolis.org/directory/science-museum-of-minnesota-arts-entertainers/

One of the last free zoos in the United States, Como is home to a wide array of animals (from monkeys to polar bears) and exotic plants and welcomes visitors 365 days a year. Located next to Como Town Amusement Park, the historic Cafesjian's Carousel, and in Como Park, the zoo and conservatory are great fun for visitors of all ages. http://www.comozooconservatory.org/

Minnesota's official museum of natural history since 1872. Coming in summer 2018 to the St. Paul campus, the new Bell Museum brings together science, art, and the environment with a unique Minnesota perspective. https://www.visitsaintpaul.com/directory/bell-museum/

As a Father of Confederation and Canada’s first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald has had a direct impact on how Canada has grown from a small colony into a world leading democratic country. Tour the gardens of historic Bellevue House knowing that seeds were planted there for the birth of a country. Sir John A. Macdonald, and his family made Bellevue House their home from 1848 to 1849. Wander through the family’s preserved kitchen garden to help the costumed gardeners, watch them wielding scythes to cut the lawn in the method of the 1840s and bite into an apple in the heirloom orchard. Be escorted on a journey back in time, following a maid on an Estate Tour to hear tales about the past at Bellevue House and its most famous residents. Explore the juicy deets of Canadian history through an interactive discussion led by an interpreter, while jumping on an Alternative Facts Tour or simply sip a cup of tea relaxing on the grounds and enjoying the view. https://www.visitkingston.ca/kingston-members/bellevue-house-national-historic-site-of-canada/

Agnes Etherington Art Centre is a research‐intensive art museum located on the historic campus of Queen’s University. It illuminates the great artistic traditions of the past and the innovations of the present through year-round programs of exhibitions and outreach activities staged across eight beautiful galleries, the Biéler Studio, and assorted public spaces including the gracious period rooms of the historic Etherington House. As a space of display, innovation and exchange, the Agnes is an experiential learning space for diverse disciplines at Queen’s, and the public gallery for Kingston region. Its superb collections—numbering over 17,000 works―include cutting edge contemporary art and fine examples of Canadian historical art, Indigenous art and artifacts, and material culture including an unusual collection of Canadian Historical Dress and the Lang Collection of African Art. The Bader Collection, focusing on Rembrandt and his school, centres on more than 200 paintings from the Dutch Golden Age, including one portrait and three beautiful character studies by Rembrandt. https://agnes.queensu.ca/about/profile/

If you haven’t been to the Military Communications and Electronics Museum, you might be surprised at how large it is. Its huge collection includes military jeeps, tanks, equipment for laying cable, radar built so well that it served the Air Force for over 50 years and displays telling the story of the incredibly difficult conditions that soldiers worked under. In the Passchendaele display, you learn about the soldiers who manned the wireless sets under heavy fire, seeing their aerial shot down on average twenty times a day. In another section of the museum, you peer into the back of a truck, built in Windsor, but radically transformed to meet the needs of the Communications and Electronics (C & E) Branch of the Canadian Military to operate its mobile telephone exchange. https://www.visitkingston.ca/kingston-members/military-communications-electronics-museum-2/

The Farm in the Heart of the City! The Museum offers programs and exhibitions on Canada’s agricultural heritage, food literacy, and on the benefits and relationship of agricultural science and technology to Canadians’ everyday lives. Visit the animal barns and explore the captivating exhibitions. Celebrate a Canadian crop in the Museum’s newest exhibition — Canola! Seeds of Innovation. Other exhibitions include Tractors, Food Preservation: The Science You Eat (presented by Nestlé Canada), and Discovery Park. Programming includes special weekend theme events, school programs, summer day camps, interpretive tours, and demonstrations. All admission prices do not include applicable taxes and are subject to change without notice. https://www.ottawatourism.ca/member/canada-agriculture-and-food-museum/

The Canadian War Museum is more than a museum that is internationally renowned for its symbolic architecture; it is known for inspiring and touching stories. Canada's rich military history is showcased through artifacts, personal stories, artwork, photos and interactive presentations. Tour the extensive permanent exhibitions and expand your knowledge of the conflicts that shaped Canada, Canadians and the world. Rest and reflect in Memorial Hall. Discover the Museum's fascinating architectural theme. And chat with a veteran to let history come alive. https://www.ottawatourism.ca/member/canadian-war-museum/