Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, Dayton

The Boonshoft Museum of Discovery is a blend of children's museum, science and technology centre, and accredited indoor zoo. Founded in 1893 as the Dayton Museum of Natural History, it has evolved into a regional hub for interactive learning, housing everything from a real Egyptian mummy to a suspended digital globe that visualizes Earth’s systems in real time.

Permanent exhibits include the Hall of the Universe, Science on a Sphere, and Oscar Boonshoft Science Central, where children explore the laws of nature through hands-on experiments and imaginative play.

One of the museum’s most unique features is the Discovery Zoo, home to over 150 animals including otters, sloths, meerkats, and rehabilitated wildlife. Visitors can also explore the Tidal Pool, Nesiur the Mummy exhibit, and the Bieser Discovery Center, which offers thousands of specimens and live reptiles. Throughout the year, Boonshoft offers a robust calendar of events-from planetarium shows and otter feedings to community festivals like GeekFest and Astronomy Day.