Tallahassee Science Museums | Tallahassee Planetarium

- Challenger Learning Center, a local favorite for Tallahassee space enthusiasts

Museum of Florida History, perfect for learning about Florida’s history and culture

Prehistoric Mastodon at the Museum of Florida history

Challenger Learning Center - Find out more

Tallahassee Science & Discovery Museums and Exhibits

Tallahassee has long been a discoverer’s paradise, since the time of the early Spanish explorers. From air and space to powerful magnets, to marine and science centers to fire ecology, and from unusual geological formations to collections of rare flora and fauna, the tradition of discovery exists to this day.

Today science and technology play an increasingly important role in the Tallahassee region. From nanotechnology to deep space, science is an engaging activity to feed your sense of curiosity. Here is your ticket to exploration, your pass to discovery, no pocket-protector necessary.

To get started, begin by exploring the list of Tallahassee science museums and discovery exhibits below.

Featured Listings:

Antarctic Research Facility at Florida State University

Carraway Annex FSU Campus
Tallahassee, FL 32306

Phone: (850) 644-2407
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The Facility houses over 20,000 meters of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic marine geological core samples and 3000 meters of rotary cored geological material. The collections are maintained to process and store marine sediments. Most of the core storage area consists of a 500 square meter room kept at 2 degrees Celsius. Visitors are requested to call in advance for a tour of the facility.

Beadel House at Tall Timbers

13093 Herny Beadel Dr.
Tallahassee, FL 32312

Phone: (850) 893-4153
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Beadel House Description Top level

Challenger Learning Center IMAX Theatre and Planetarium

Phone: (850) 645-7827
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Provides state-of-the-art full-motion Space Mission Simulator, domed high-definition planetarium/laser theatre, utilizes the immersiveness of an IMAX® theatre, plus an observatory and aerospace exhibit hall.

Desoto Encampment

1022 De Soto Park Dr
Tallahassee, FL 32301

Phone: (850) 922-6007
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Spanish conquistador Hernando De Soto and his men spent the winter of 1539-40 at an Apalachee Indian Village near today’s downtown Tallahassee. This is the only confirmed site of De Soto in North America. A historic marker and kiosk display mark the site behind the current office complex but artifacts from the encampment are preserved at the Museum of Florida History.

Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park

550 Wakulla Park Dr
Crawfordville, FL 32327

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One of the world’s deepest freshwater springs features river-boat tours, swimming trails, 1937 lodge and fine dining. Pets allowed in park. Daily 8 am-sunset. $4/vehicle up to 8 people ( $1 each additional person). BOAT TOURS $6/Adults $4/Children.

Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park at Lake Jackson

4000 N. Meridian Road
Tallahassee, FL 32312

Phone: (850) 891-3866
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A beautiful 670 acre tract of land on the eastern shore of Lake Jackson, Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park, offers magnolias, massive tulip poplars, and streams, 7 miles of trails are all part of Tallahassee’s most expansive and wild urban park.

Florida Caverns State Park

3345 Caverns Rd.
Marianna, FL 32446

Phone: (850) 482-9598
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About an hour to the west of Tallahassee, this is the only Florida State Park with dry (air filled) caves. Offers daily public tours, the cave has dazzling formations of limestone stalactites (formed from the ceiling or sides), stalagmites (formed on the floor), soda straws, flowstones, and draperies. The “Wedding Cake” is an outstanding feature on the 45-minute moderately-strenuous tour. Calcite formations, stalacties, columns, soda straws and draperies, plus horse/nature trails. RV/tent camping, fishing, swimming, canoeing. PARK Daily 8am-sunset. $4/vechile up to 8 people ($1each additional person). CAVE TOUR $8/Adults $5/ Children Free/Under 2

Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratory

P.O. Box 237
Panacea, FL 32346

Phone: (850) 984-5297
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Hours: Monday - Friday 9 AM to 5 PM • Saturday 10 AM to 4 PM+ • Sunday 12 Noon to 4 PM+ Aquarium is closed to the public on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day Admission: $7.50 for adults age 12+ • $6.00 Seniors (65 older) • $5.00 children 3 - 11 yrs. • No charge for members children under 3

Lake Jackson Mounds State Archaeological Site

3600 Indian Mounds Rd.
Tallahassee, FL 32301

Phone: (850) 922-6007
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Letchworth-Love Mounds Archaeological State Park is one of the state’s most significant Native American ceremonial sites, featuring Florida’s tallest Native American ceremonial mound - 46 feet tall. The people who built the mound are believed to have been members of the Weedon Island Culture, a group of Native Americans who lived in North Florida between 200 and 800 A.D. Six earth temple mounds are evidence of Native Americans’ 1200 AD habitation of the banks of Lake Jackson. Daily 8am-sunset. $2/Vehicle $1 Walk-in/bicycle.

Lake Talquin State Forest / Bear Creek Educational Forest

14850 Jack Vause Landing Rd.
Tallahassee, FL 32309

Phone: (850) 487-3766
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This approximately 17,500 acre forest offers Nature Bear Creek Educational Forest, a wheelchair-accessible Living Forest Trail providing botanical information from “talking trees” telling their own stories at designated stops in the forest and leads to both the Bear Creek Trail and the rugged Ravine Trail.