Operating Policies

Science Museum of Virginia Operating Policies 

Admission

• It’s recommended that everyone – including Science Museum members – pre-purchase tickets online before arriving.
• Beginning May 1, 2025, guests who purchase tickets online before their visit will receive a $1 discount on each ticket purchased. The discount will be applied to the cart total at checkout.
• Members should log in with their email and password before adding tickets to your cart to receive the member discount.
• When you arrive, head to Guest Services. Even if you pre-purchased tickets online, all guests, including members, must have their tickets scanned before heading into the Science Museum.
• Guests who qualify for teacher or military discounts must provide valid ID to Guest Services to receive discounted admission.
• Families wishing to purchase tickets under our Museums for All program must do so in person at Guest Services by showing proof of financial assistance.
• Please follow the directed flow to check in at the Science Museum. We’ve got this down to a science – get it? – to help ensure a quick and smooth check-in process.
• If you or anyone in your party is feeling ill on the day of your visit, please reschedule your visit once everyone in your party is feeling well.
• Photography and videography is taken at the Science Museum for marketing purposes. If you do not wish to appear in imagery, please notify Guest Services upon arrival.

While at the Science Museum 

• Please ask a staff member or a volunteer if you have any questions while you’re visiting.
• Be respectful of other guests. Please recognize if there is a line for a popular experience and move along after your attempt so others can enjoy it, too. Trust us, we know it’s tempting to keep playing the air hockey robot until you win!
• We’re a big museum, but not every room is huge. If spaces like the Art Lab or Animal Lab are crowded, try checking out another spot and head back later. Some spaces have maximum occupancies so you might be asked to wait to enter.
• Please observe the age restrictions in LightPlace, our space for early learners ages five and younger. The big kids have the rest of the Science Museum so let’s reserve that area for our younger scientists.
• If you're hungry, check out our grab-and-go café on Level 1. The café hours change as we move in and out of peak visitation periods. Click here to view current hours.
• Do we need to say shirts and shoes are required? Okay. Shirts and shoes are required. And something covering your bottom half as well. Please refrain from wearing clothing with adult language or that depicts adult situations.
• Guests are expected to behave in a courteous, respectful and family friendly manner. If a staff member observes inappropriate or disruptive behavior, the Science Museum reserves the right to ask a guest to leave. 
• No firearms are allowed in the Science Museum.
• The most important thing to remember while at the Science Museum is to never stop learning because science is all around you all the time!

Cleaning Procedures

• Thorough cleaning and sanitizing has always been a critical part of our daily operations.
• A professional cleaning team is on-site during Science Museum operating hours to sanitize and clean the restrooms, public spaces, common areas and exhibits.
• Deep cleaning takes place when the Science Museum is closed.

So there you have it. some of the ins and outs of how the Science Museum runs. Please be sure to check out all the things you can do at the Science Museum as well as accessibility information before your visit. Until you join us in person, you can start your STEM discovery at home with some of our digital content.

Updated December 2024