The Lancaster Science Factory is a small interactive science center located in Lancaster, PA. Although the Lancaster Science Factory is small, there is plenty to do to keep kids occupied for at least several hours. If you have a child who is into science and wants to do all the activities and read all the information, you could easily spend an entire day here. We have been to the Lancaster Science Factory several times and have spent at least two hours there each time.
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The science factory is one large room filled with hands-on activities. Some of my daughter’s favorite things are standing inside a bubble, making paper airplanes and launching them in the flight zone, climbing on the huge climbing structure, and playing with the topographic rice table.
There are areas to investigate arch and bridge building, a large stage that the kids can sing and dance on (complete with lighting effects that they can adjust), experiments with force and motion, optical illusions, and through-out the center there are information plaques about famous men and women in science. There is also a small outdoor area, although there are not many activities outside.
Admission is $12 a person and parking is free. If you live in the area and plan on visiting several times over the course of a year a membership is definitely the way to go. Lancaster Science Factory is a member of the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) so not only does your membership get you into the Lancaster Science Factory but also into hundreds of other science centers. The Science Center also participates with Museums for All and Blue Star Museums, making it more affordable for low-income or military families.
My Takeaway
Overall, the Lancaster Science Factory is a good way to spend an afternoon in the Lancaster area. With over 75 hands-on exhibits, kids will be entertained for quite a while. And the fact that they will be learning scientific principles is icing on the cake!