Ever wanted to fly to the edge of the universe? Or reach inside a whirling tornado? How about construct a skyscraper?
Visitors to the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in San Diego get hands-on with exhibits like “Earth Exposed” - where visitors can manipulate a tornado and create a whirlpool - or “Origins in Space” - where visitors can execute a simulated space shuttle mission from a mock-control room.
Military visitors can purchase tickets to the center at their base ticket offices for a 20 percent-discount, or 10 percent at the door. The first Tuesday of every month is free to San Diego residents and military.
The science center is one of the only exclusively hands-on science museums in the nation, and was the first science museum to combine interactive exhibits with a planetarium and an IMAX Dome theater.
“Block Busters” - an exhibit where visitors use wooden blocks to construct anything they imagine - is one of the most popular attractions at the center. “I’ve had people come [to “Block Busters] at 5 p.m. and not leave until 8 p.m.,” said Sarah Brown, a ticket sales representative at the center. “We have an architect who comes in every Friday night for hours. We even had a group of sailors spend three hours building a model of their ship!”
In addition to the always-crowded “Block Busters,” IMAX Dome films are the other most popular attraction to the center. The center is currently screening “Ultimate Wave Tahiti,” “Hubble,” “Galapagos,” and “Mummies.”
The theater’s unique dome structure creates a panorama that makes the audience feel encompassed by the film. This effect is especially powerful in “Hubble” - a journey through the telescope’s astounding discoveries in deep space - in which the audience experiences space flight from the Hubble telescope’s perspective.
“ ‘Hubble’ is spectacular,” said Brown. “I’ve seen it 20 times.”
The next IMAX film scheduled to screen at the center is “Tornado Alley,” which will put viewers in the passenger seat with real storm chasers.
IMAX films aren’t the only regularly updated additions to the center - “Cellular Journey” is the newest permanent exhibit. Visitors will take a simulated journey through a cell, put on scientists’ gloves to work with simulated DNA and learn about the importance of stem cell research.
The center’s wide array of exhibits and special discounts make it an ideal activity for military families.
For more information, visit www.rhfleet.org.