The Maryland Science Center, located in

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Inner Harbor The Inner Harbor is a historic seaport, tourist attraction, and landmark of the city of Baltimore, Maryland. It was described by the Urban Land Institute in 2009 as "the model for post-industrial waterfront redevelopment around the world". Th ...

, opened to the public in 1976. It includes three levels of exhibits, a planetarium, and an observatory. It was one of the original structures that drove the revitalization of the Baltimore Inner Harbor from its industrial roots to a thriving downtown destination. In 1987, an IMAX theater was added, but the museum continued to show its age as the end of the 20th century approached. In May 2004, a large addition to the property was opened, and the modernized hands-on exhibits now include more than two dozen dinosaur skeletons. Subjects that the center displays include physical science, space, and the human body. Maryland Science Center won a 2006

Best of Baltimore ''Baltimore City Paper'' was a free alternative weekly newspaper published in Baltimore, Maryland, founded in 1977 by Russ Smith and Alan Hirsch. The most recent owner was the Baltimore Sun Media Group, which purchased the paper in 2014 from Ti ...

award for "Best Place to Take Kids." In 2008, the Maryland Science Center was named one of the “10-Best Science Centers for Families” by '' Parent's magazine''.

Exhibits

;Dinosaur Mysteries :This exhibit includes full scale, full body models of two dinosaurs — ''

Astrodon ''Astrodon'' (aster: star, odon: tooth) is a genus of large herbivorous sauropod dinosaur, measuring in length, in height and in body mass. It lived in what is now the eastern United States during the Early Cretaceous period, and fossils have ...

'' (Maryland's state dinosaur) and ''

Acrocanthosaurus ''Acrocanthosaurus'' ( ; ) is a genus of carcharodontosaurid dinosaur that existed in what is now North America during the Aptian and early Albian stages of the Early Cretaceous, from 113 to 110 million years ago. Like most dinosaur genera, ' ...

'' — and full scale replica skeletons of ''

Giganotosaurus ''Giganotosaurus'' ( ) is a genus of theropod dinosaur that lived in what is now Argentina, during the early Cenomanian age of the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 99.6 to 95 million years ago. The holotype specimen was discovered in th ...

'', ''

Albertosaurus ''Albertosaurus'' (; meaning "Alberta lizard") is a genus of tyrannosaurid theropod dinosaurs that lived in western North America during the Late Cretaceous Period, about 71 million years ago. The type species, ''A. sarcophagus'', wa ...

'', ''

Tyrannosaurus ''Tyrannosaurus'' is a genus of large theropod dinosaur. The species ''Tyrannosaurus rex'' (''rex'' meaning "king" in Latin), often called ''T. rex'' or colloquially ''T-Rex'', is one of the best represented theropods. ''Tyrannosaurus'' live ...

'', '' Herrerasaurus'', ''

Tarbosaurus ''Tarbosaurus'' ( ; meaning "alarming lizard") is a genus of tyrannosaurid dinosaur that flourished in Asia about 70 million years ago, at the end of the Late Cretaceous Period, considered to contain a single known species, ''Tarbosaurus ba ...

'', and ''

Compsognathus ''Compsognathus'' (; Ancient Greek, Greek ''kompsos''/κομψός; "elegant", "refined" or "dainty", and ''gnathos''/γνάθος; "jaw") is a genus of small, bipedalism, bipedal, carnivore, carnivorous theropoda, theropod dinosaur. Members o ...

''. It also includes a section where guests can go on a mock paleontological dig to uncover an ''

Iguanodon ''Iguanodon'' ( ; meaning ' iguana-tooth'), named in 1825, is a genus of iguanodontian dinosaur. While many species have been classified in the genus ''Iguanodon'', dating from the late Jurassic Period to the early Cretaceous Period of Asia, ...

'' skeleton. ;Newton's Alley :This exhibit features hands-on physical science related demonstrations including a "Bernoulli blower," "inertia table," and other similar things. ;Science & Main :Visitors can solve challenges and explore physics such as flying a

paper airplane A paper plane (also known as a paper airplane in American English or paper aeroplane in British English) is a toy aircraft, usually a glider made out of single folded sheet of paper or paperboard. A simple nose-heavy paper plane, thrown like ...

and building with large blocks. ;Science Aglow :This exhibit allows guests to experiment with the optics and physics of light. ;You – The Inside Story :This exhibit shows guests what senses the inside of the human body is used. It includes a bed of nails which guests can try out. ;SciLab :A laboratory for 8 to 9-year-old children, where they can conduct science experiments. ;Our Place in Space :Shows guests different aspects of the solar system, the galaxy, and the universe. It features a revolutionary new piece of technology designed by NOAA called Science on a Sphere. Live presentations on Earth and space are offered daily on the sphere. The Davis Planetarium is also located within this exhibit. ;Power Up :This exhibit shows guests how electric energy is used in everyday lives. ;Math in Nature :This exhibit features interactive activities that shows how nature relies on math. ;The Kids Room :A room for children 8 and younger and their families, which includes a water table, a mock ship, and other activities for young children. ;The Shed :A Do it yourself workshop where visitors can create inventive objects. ;The Demonstration Stage :The Demo stage features live science demonstrations including ones about inertia, static electricity, liquid nitrogen, chemical reactions, combustion reactions, space technology, and other topics. ;SpaceLink :The SpaceLink offers visitors a chance to find out the latest news on space. Visitors can ask exhibit staff questions about upcoming satellite missions and much more .

Gallery

Image:msc_fg01.jpg, Lobby Image:msc_fg02.jpg, ''T. rex'' in Dinosaur Mysteries Image:msc_fg03.jpg, Exploring sound waves in Newton's Alley

Awards and Scholarships for Maryland Residents

The Maryland Science Center annually recognizes and celebrates scientific research and academic achievement through the following scholarship and awards offered to outstanding Maryland residents: * Dr. H. Bently Glass Scholarship * Maryland’s Outstanding Young Scientist Award * Maryland’s Outstanding Young Engineer Award * Maryland’s Outstanding STEM Educator Award

References

External links

Maryland Science Center
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Maryland Science Center on Google Street View
{{authority control 1976 establishments in Maryland Inner Harbor, Baltimore Museums in Baltimore Natural history museums in Maryland Science museums in Maryland Museums established in 1976 Federal Hill, Baltimore Dinosaur museums in the United States Paleontology in Maryland