Interactive Science on the Lakefront

Cleveland may lack the historical panache of cities like Boston, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. or Baltimore and may fall short of the artistic and economic giants of New York City or Chicago. But what the meager lesser skyline of Cleveland (see right, click to enlarge) may lack between east and midwest, you will be hard pressed to find a better museum dedicated to interactive, hands-on scientific learning and fun. The Great Lakes Science Center, or GLSC, (map, web) scores high on the list of must-see museums anywhere.

COSI in Columbus is nearly a twin-sister to GLSC and is a mere 2 hours down the highway in a growing and expanding metropolitan area. Cleveland's exodus of industry and population over the last few decades have left as a main tourist attraction some fantastic, but also overlooked museums. Wade Oval in the University Circle area east of Cleveland is home to a handful of great family friendly museums, including the diverse big four of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, the Western Reserve Historical Society (and Crawford Auto/Aviation Museum), Cleveland Art Museum and the Botanical Gardens.

The Great Lakes Science Center (see left, click to enlarge) was brilliantly designed along the downtown waterfront and sits a good 50-yard field goal away from Cleveland Brown's Stadium and adjacent to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Along with the move of the Goodtime III, a lake and river sightseeing cruise, to the 9th Street Pier has made this area a wonder spot for daily museum visits and the occasional festival, such as the Tall Ships gathering of clippers and other sail vessels.

While possible to do in single day, most families will probably not take in both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and GLSC the same day. Without blinking an eye, you can easily surpass three hours at GLSC, perhaps even four if you take in one of the thrice daily IMAX offerings. $15 for the center and IMAX for adults ($9 for children) is not out of line in today's economy. Even the $6 (after validation) for the urban parking deck that adjoins the facility is not unreasonable. But the $22/$13 (Adults/Children) admission for the Rock Hall of Fame makes a one-day double dip quite pricey. Too, I'm not sure younger children will get the same out of the Rock Hall that teens and adults will.

Adding to the sites to see on the block, the William Mather Steamship Museum (see left, click to enlarge), housed inside a retired Great Lakes freighter, is open during the summer months and is quite an impressive site in the harbor. If a full day is desired on the lakefront, add in a tour of Cleveland Brown's Stadium. It might possibly be the highlight of the Brown's year during a changeover of coaches and personnel in 2009!


The Great Lakes Science Center is neatly laid out on three floors. You will not have a ton of walking and the floor plan is very open (see right, and below left, click to enlarge). There are permanent and temporary exhibits, all very hands-on and kid friendly. On my visit, the temporary exhibits on robots had many displays and interactive activities including a way to make a "jitterbug" robot using Styrofoam and batteries. You could make one for free and leave it behind, or for a few dollars take your little robotic device home.

The "science" at GLSC varies from the mechanics principals such as simple machines (you can lift a junked car smashed to a block using a lever), investigate the science behind medicine (manipulate a mechanized prosthetic arm), marvel at the physics behind acoustics and light, and shock yourself (literally) with matters of energy and electricity. The lower level brings natural science of the Great Lakes into the museum with weather, water and other elements while you gaze out the windows at Lake Erie.

But GLSC makes the kids the stars of the show. From flying a hang-glider (virtually), to plucking the strings of a LED harp, flying a computerized biplane, and even being subjected to thermal imaging (see right, click to enlarge), kids will find much to their liking. Even the simple (by today's technology) blue-screen broadcasting of the weather puts the younger ones in the spotlight. On a nondescript mid-week day, there were several demonstrations led by GLSC staff, from science of bubbles to magic of matter and exhibit led demonstrations such as the static electric machine that gives a new meaning to the term "bad hair day."

Even the youngest can find science in their pursuit of play. The 7 and under play area is equally hands on and pursues science. The biggest attraction is the padded ball pit, where you can put balls into sand-box pails on a conveyor er belt (moved by hand of course), or stuff balls into a tube that launches them skyward, ultimately falling into a pair of clear scoops that can be opened and closed by little ones, plummeting the collection of balls back to the pit. There are many other play structures including an inflatable "bounce house" (see right, click to enlarge) for tots, preschoolers and even kindergartners to expend their own energy.

So much to take in and do in one day, that easily when leaving the youngest will fall quickly asleep and the older ones begin asking about the next visit. All along a lakefront that 20 years ago featured a nice seafood restaurant, a tepid, if not turbid, stadium that sat at the water's edge and not much else.

- J.