Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Portland (must see)

The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, usually called OMSI, is a large hands-on science centre beside the Willamette River. The institution opened its first permanent museum in 1949, although its roots extend to a collection of scientific and natural-history objects assembled in the early 1900s. Its present home opened in 1992 on the site of the former Station L power plant. The preserved smokestack and turbine buildings reflect the region’s industrial history.

Inside, visitors can explore exhibition halls devoted to physics, chemistry, biology, technology, earth science and the natural world. Interactive stations encourage experimentation rather than passive viewing: guests can test forces, examine specimens, watch demonstrations and learn how scientific ideas apply to everyday life. The Science Playground engages young children, while laboratories explore paleontology, chemistry and life science.

A major feature is the USS Blueback, a 219-foot diesel-electric submarine moored beside the museum. The vessel served in the United States Navy and was the country’s last active-duty diesel-electric submarine. Guided tours pass through narrow compartments, crew bunks, control areas and torpedo spaces, showing how a crew of 85 lived and worked underwater for extended periods. Visitors can also look through a periscope and inspect equipment preserved aboard the vessel.

The Kendall Planetarium presents programmes on astronomy, space exploration and the night sky, while the Empirical Theater uses a four-storey screen for science films, documentaries and selected commercial releases. Travelling exhibitions regularly introduce subjects beyond the permanent displays. Planetarium shows, theatre screenings and submarine tours may require separate or timed tickets, so checking the daily programme before arrival is useful.