Museum of Natural History & Science

The Museum of Natural History & Science at Cincinnati Museum Center offers a world of science, history and nature through interactive exhibits and amazing artifacts. Guests can reach their own “ah-ha” moment through creative thinking and problem-solving skills. With something for all ages, there’s always more to explore in the Museum of Natural History & Science.

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Cincinnati History Museum

Step back in time and experience the history of our city, from our earliest settlers to those actively shaping the Queen City today. Along the way, meet costumed interpreters to better understand and connect with history. Explore a recreation of the bustling Public Landing from the late 1850s and climb aboard the Queen of the West, a replica side-wheel steamboat. Take an aerial view of Cincinnati from the early 1900s through 1940s in Cincinnati in Motion, a 1/64-scale replica of the city complete with the nation’s largest S-scale train model.

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The Children’s Museum

Discover hands-on fun for children of all ages in our eight educational and themed play areas, including two specifically designed for preschool-aged children and younger. We encourage kids to climb, crawl, explore and learn about themselves and the world around them. Go on a wilderness adventure through The Woods, be a part of a complex machine in the Energy Zone and explore the neighborhood in Kids’ Town. Dive into arts, culture, reading, science and more with over 1,800 hours of programming each year.

Group visits to The Children's Museum are limited to grades 4 and under. Groups cannot be booked in The Children's Museum on Tuesdays.

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The Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX^® Theater

The Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX^® Theater takes you to places you can only imagine. Immerse yourself in epic adventures in our five-story domed theater, from the untamed beauty of our natural parks, to the red surface of Mars, to the deep blue sea alongside humpback whales.

Custom films are available at 9 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. All other time slots are subject to the public film schedule. The following films are available during the custom film timeslots:

• Apollo 11: First Steps Edition
• Ancient Caves
• Arctic: Our Frozen Planet
• Backyard Wilderness
• Blue Whales: Return of the Giants
• The Blue Angels
• Call of the Dolphins
• Cuba
• D-Day: Normandy 1944
• Deep Sky
• Great Bear Rainforest
• Jane Goodall – Reasons for Hope
• Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs
• National Parks Adventure
• Ohio: Wild at Heart
• Secrets of the Sea
• Serengeti: Journey to the Heart of Africa
• Space: The New Frontier
• Superpower Dogs
• T.REX
• Volcanoes: Fires of Creation
• Wild Rescue

Please note: groups cannot be scheduled during the OMNIMAX^® Classic Film at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesdays.

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Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center

Located at Cincinnati’s historic Union Terminal, the site where numerous Holocaust survivors arrived in Cincinnati to rebuild their lives, the museum examines this watershed moment through its local connection. Using innovative storytelling, interactive experiences and genuine artifacts, visitors witness the strength and courage of the human spirit set against the backdrop of one of the darkest chapters in human history. The museum incorporates media, artifacts, art and interactive exhibitions to share this history and its lessons. It also includes the Humanity Gallery where visitors explore moments, meeting individuals who activated their character strengths to become upstanders and bring change to our community and world.

LEGO^® Jurassic World: The Exhibition

(May 22, 2026 to January 4, 2027)

An adventure 6 million LEGO^® bricks in the making.

Get ready for an immersive adventure like no other as Ryan “Brickman” McNaught re-imagines Jurassic World, the blockbuster franchise from Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment.

Featuring more than 50 massive dinosaurs, iconic scenes and interactive props made from over six million LEGO^® bricks, LEGO^® Jurassic World: The Exhibition invites you to relive the magic of beloved stories and characters from the Jurassic World franchise as you embark on a thrilling journey across Isla Nublar.

• Walk through the iconic gates to the park
• Venture into the baby dinosaur enclosure where a life-size baby Brachiosaurus awaits
• Come face-to-tooth with Triceratops, Velicoraptors, T. rex and more
• Create your own hybrid dinosaur in the DNA laboratory
• Add your own plate to a communal mystery mosaic
• Show off your building skills with over 2.5 million LEGO^® bricks

The Brickman team spent more than two years and 10,000 hours building LEGO^® Jurassic World: The Exhibition, making it the biggest exhibition the team has ever created. This is a not-to-be-missed experience for kids and adults alike.

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Holiday Junction featuring the Duke Energy Holiday Trains

(November 13, 2026 to January 4, 2027)

The Duke Energy Holiday Trains have been a Cincinnati holiday staple for eight decades, delighting generations since they first debuted downtown in 1946. Track-level views reveal intricate details of the display, where over 300 rail cars and 50 locomotives steam past anxious passengers waiting to board while cars sit with snow to their hubcaps and the perfect trees strapped to their roofs.

Holiday Junction features bursts of winter whimsy that greet you as soon as you enter the door. The Northern Lights display serves as the perfect backdrop for family photos as wispy green lights dance behind you and snow-rimmed trees surround you. The history of the Duke Energy Holiday Trains is also told through an interactive storybook filled with photos of the iconic trains over the decades.

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Group Minimums

Pre-registered group rates require a minimum of 15 paid guests with a reservation made at least two weeks in advance of the visit date. No other discounts, memberships, or reciprocal benefits can be utilized with a group reservation.

If scheduling a group visit less than two weeks in advance, payment is required at the time of booking.

Lunchtable Reservations and Boxed Lunch Order Form

Reserve a 30-minute time slot to enjoy your lunch in the rotunda. The cost of lunch tables is $0.50 per person.

Lunch table reservations must be made in advance and cannot be added to the reservation on the day of the visit. Groups that do not reserve lunch tables in advance are not permitted to eat lunch at CMC.

School/Group Boxed Lunch Order Form. Please note that on-site food services do not accept cash.

Custom OMNIMAX^® Films

Groups of 30 or more guests may reserve a custom OMNIMAX^® film. A film title must be selected at the time of reservation, and reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance. Groups may also schedule into afternoon public showtimes. These slots are subject to the public film schedule.

Please note: groups cannot be scheduled during the OMNIMAX^® Classic Film at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesdays.

Attendance and Chaperones

It is important to finalize your attendance two weeks prior to your visit date. With advanced notice, additional participants may be accommodated subject to availability. Please be prepared to confirm your attendance upon arrival on the day of your visit.

Chaperone ratios are 1:5 for Pre-K-1st grade, 1:10 for 2nd – 8th grade, and 1:15 for 9th-12th grade.

Prepare your chaperones ahead of time with a schedule of the day and Chaperone and Check-In Guide. CMC always requires active chaperoning and that students remain with their assigned chaperone for the entirety of the visit.

All chaperones must be included in the number of adults attending. Any adults in excess of the provided attendance count will not be considered chaperones by the Cincinnati Museum Center and may not be able to access all scheduled field trip experiences.

Groups must confirm final attendance count two weeks before the visit date. This final count will reflect the final amount due. No refunds will be issued the day of the visit if your group arrives with fewer attendees.

Parking

Buses or marked passenger vehicles may park for free in the South Parking Lot.

Chaperones arriving separately from the bus may park in the North or South Parking Lot and must pay the $6 parking fee. CMC memberships can be used for parking only.

During the Visit

Students must always remain with their assigned chaperone, regardless of students’ age. Children wishing to shop at the museum gift shop need to be escorted by a chaperone.

Groups are required to follow the schedule provided at check-in, including all designated entry times to The Children’s Museum, OMNIMAX^® Theater, featured exhibits and assigned lunch table reservations. If you miss your designated time, entry will be subject to availability and is not guaranteed.

Group Pricing

Get all the details on discounted group tickets for 15 or more paid guests here!

Only attendees listed on the group reservation are eligible for the discounted group rate. Individuals not included in the reservation will be charged full general admission prices.

Groups requesting to visit the three general museums (Museum of Natural History & Science, Cincinnati History Museum and The Children's Museum) at 9 a.m., one hour before CMC opens, must pay a $50 early opening fee. Reservations with an early open request are required to make a reservation at least 3 weeks in advance of the visit date. Please note: The earliest time featured exhibitions or the museums can be opened is 9 a.m. Holiday Junction does not have the option for early open.

One school caregiver or aide per Student with Disabilities may receive one free, complimentary Museum Admission ticket for the purpose of providing care to the Student with Disabilities. The number of caregivers/aides must be provided when submitting the reservation request. Caregivers/aides will need to pay to visit OMNIMAX^® and Featured Exhibits.

Payments

Payment by credit card, check or purchase order is required at least two weeks in advance and must be made in one lump sum. Payments from individuals or families cannot be accepted.

Groups that do not provide payment two weeks in advance must provide payment by credit card, check, or purchase order at the time of group check-in. Groups arriving without a form of payment will be denied entry.

Cancellations made within 48 hours may result in the suspension of privileges or grant eligibility and no-shows are subject to pay 100% of reservation.

For groups scheduling a visit less than two weeks in advance, payment is required at the time of booking.

Groups must confirm final attendance count two weeks before the visit date. This final count will reflect the final amount due. No refunds will be issued the day of the visit if your group arrives with less attendees.

Grant Funding

For schools whose percentage of students enrolled in Free and Reduced-Price Meal Plans is 60% or greater, grants are available for a limited number of free in-person visits. For more information, contact Group Sales at (513) 287-7021 or schools@cincymuseum.org.

Grant funding is subject to availability.

Policies

• Field trip discounts apply to schools and youth-serving organizations that make an advance reservation at least two weeks before the date of visit for 15 or more people with one contact for the group and one method of payment. Toddlers ages 1 & 2 are not included in the minimum of 15 to receive group rates with an advance reservation.
• Cincinnati Museum Center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For field trip requests with an earlier start time a fee of $100 is required.
• Field trips may be scheduled seven days a week.
• All groups are required to make a reservation.
• Groups requesting to visit the three general museums (Museum of Natural History & Science, Cincinnati History Museum and The Children's Museum) at 9 a.m., one hour before CMC opens, must pay a $50 early opening fee. Groups requesting to visit LEGO^® Jurassic World: The Exhibition at 9 a.m., one hour before CMC opens, must pay a $250 early opening fee. Reservations with an early open request are required to make a reservation at least 3 weeks in advance of the visit date. Please note: The earliest time featured exhibitions or the museums can be opened is 9 a.m. Holiday Junction does not have the option for early open.
• Lunch tables must be reserved in advance and cannot be added to the reservation on the day of the visit. The cost for lunch tables is $0.50 per person. Groups that do not reserve lunch tables in advance are not permitted to eat lunch at CMC.
• Groups seeking grant funding for field trips must call (513) 287-7021. Grant requests cannot be accepted using the online field trip request form.
• Payment by credit card, check or purchase order is required at least two weeks in advance. Cancellations made within 48 hours may result in the suspension of privileges or grant eligibility and no-shows are subject to pay 100% of reservation.