FAQ

Answers to frequently asked questions about Liberty Science Center

General Information

What is Liberty Science Center?
Liberty Science Center is a NJ nonprofit corporation, formed for purposes of offering exceptional science learning experiences onsite, offsite and online. Our hands-on, science-rich programs and exhibitions offer a new way of approaching science education. For more information, see About Us.

Where is Liberty Science Center?
Liberty Science Center is located in Liberty State Park, Jersey City, New Jersey, on the banks of the Hudson River near Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

What is its history?
The Science Center was initiated following a series of editorials published in the Star-Ledger newspaper in the late 1970s. Acting on concerns about declining levels of science literacy among America's youth, a group of area corporations began a successful public/private partnership in the 1980s, raising $68 million to create Liberty Science Center, which opened in 1993.

After serving more than nine million people, Liberty Science Center closed to the public for a $109 million expansion and renovation project in September 2005 and reopened in July 2007. The project provides vital new resources, including the 20,000-square-foot Jennifer A. Chalsty Center for Science Learning and Teaching, six major new exhibition areas, a more diverse menu of offerings covering all ages and stages of learning, and major facility improvements. Technology is interwoven throughout the institution giving guests onsite and remote access to mutable exhibitions through the Exhibit Commons and SNSE (Science Now, Science Everywhere).

Liberty Science Center provides science enrichment to some 170,000 underserved students, their teachers and family members through the Abbott Partnership program, funded by an annual grant from the State of New Jersey.

Planning Your Visit

What's new at Liberty Science Center?
It’s a whole new place! Liberty Science Center has been expanded and completely refreshed with six major new exhibition areas on four floors, two major exhibition areas featuring readapted favorites from the old building, and an all-new traveling exhibition gallery. We also offer the new Café Skylines, a spacious new retail store called Connections, a reconfigured parking lot and much more!

How can we get to Liberty Science Center?
Liberty Science Center is located in Liberty State Park, Jersey City, New Jersey, three miles from the Holland Tunnel and directly accessible from the NJ Turnpike. The Science Center is served by the Hudson Bergen Light Rail, which connects to the PATH system and via that to NJ Transit rail and bus lines, Amtrak, the New York City MTA subway system and Newark Liberty International Airport. View more information on directions.

Is there a map of the building?
Yes. You can view floor plans of our building online. You may also obtain a map at the Box Office or Welcome Desk when you arrive.

When is Liberty Science Center open?
Look here for more information on our hours and dates of operation.

What is the best day to visit?
We encourage families to come on weekends throughout the year and on weekday afternoons during the school year. Summer months and school holidays tend to be the busiest, with January and September being our quietest months. Check our calendar to help plan your trip.

How long should we plan for our visit?
You’ll find plenty to see and do at Liberty Science Center! Our average visit is 4-5 hours, including a film in the IMAX® Dome Theater and a 3D presentation in the Joseph D. Williams Science Theater. Don’t forget to take break in Café Skylines and leave time to check out the amazing items in our comprehensive store, Connections.

Can I take a stroller into the Science Center?
Strollers are permitted in the Science Center, except in our theaters and in the new I Explore exhibition. Stroller parking is available.

What is the minimum age for visiting the Center unattended?
Children under the age of 18 must be chaperoned by an adult at all times while on the premises.

What is the minimum age for seeing the films?
Due to their immersive nature, films in our IMAX Dome Theater are not suitable for children under six years old. Infants under the age of two are not permitted in the IMAX Dome Theater. All ages are welcome in the Joseph D. Williams Science Theater.

Is there something for all ages?
The “new” Liberty Science Center has been designed to appeal to all ages and stages of learning, from I Explore, aimed at children ages 18 months to 6 years old, to experiences designed to appeal to teenagers and adults. Preview our exhibitions here.

May I take photographs?
Photography is permitted everywhere in Liberty Science Center except in the theaters.

What's the temperature inside the building?
We strive to keep a comfortable temperature, but during the spring and summer, it's a good idea to bring a sweater because the air conditioning can be strong in some parts of the building.

Where can we park?
The Liberty Science Center parking lot is part of Liberty State Park and is owned by the State of New Jersey. It is operated by Central Parking. Parking costs $5 per day for cars and $10 for buses. School buses arriving during school hours park free at Liberty Science Center. Check here for more information.

Can we drop off guests at the entrance?
A drop-off/pick-up area is located off Phillip Street on the south side of the building. See our directions for more information.

Can I leave my vehicle in the parking lot after hours?
The parking lot is staffed only during operational hours, and we do not recommend leaving your vehicle after hours.

Do you have direct access to the Statue of Liberty?
Our building is located about a mile from the historic Central Railroad of New Jersey building, where tickets are available for the Circle Line ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Information regarding the Statue of Liberty can be found here. For a ferry schedule, look here.

Can I use my cell phone in Liberty Science Center?
Yes, but to this point, only Verizon Wireless has provided us with a repeater to boost cellular service inside the building. Users with other providers may experience difficulties.

Admission Passes

Can I buy tickets online?
Reservations for exhibitions and films are available online, with several money-saving combination offers. Click here to purchase tickets.

How much does it cost to visit?
Look here for detailed information. For specific questions, call our public information line or the reservations team at 201.200.1000 during normal business hours.

I have complimentary passes issued before the expansion. Can I still use them?
We are sorry, but Liberty Science Center closed for construction in 2005, and any tickets remaining from previous dates are no longer valid. Please contact zacosta(at)lsc.org for details.

Does the Science Center donate tickets for fundraisers?
As it has for the past decade, Liberty Science Center makes a limited number of exhibition tickets available to schools and other non-profits to support their fundraising efforts. Read about the details. Please direct all donation requests to zacosta(at)lsc.org.

Where do school groups get tickets?
Due to the detailed nature of information we need in order to coordinate visits, schools and other groups may make reservations by calling 201.200.1000 during normal business hours and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon.

Do traveling exhibitions cost extra?
Traveling exhibitions are included in the cost of admission.

Are there any online discounts available?
Sorry, but we are not offering discounts at this time.

Amenities & Services

Do you host large parties and events?
Yes. Our spacious and unique building offers a variety of places and spaces for successful events of all types. Visit here to find out more.

What are Camp-Ins?
Camp-ins give groups of 30 or more a great overnight experience at Liberty Science Center, where they’ll enjoy films, see special demonstrations and programs, and have the Science Center to themselves for over 12 hours! Don’t have 30 in your group? Team up with others from your community such as Scout troops, sports teams, church youth groups, etc. Find out more.

Is food available?
A variety of delicious meals and nutritious snacks can be purchased in Café Skylines, operated by Restaurant Associates.

Where can I eat my bagged lunch?
The Group Dining area, located in Governors Hall on the second floor, is available on a first-come, first-served basis to our guests with bagged lunches. However, this area is not available on school days from 9:30 AM – 1:45 PM. Bagged lunches are not permitted in Café Skylines, but if weather permits, you may eat at the picnic tables located just outside the dining room.

Where is the gift shop?
The Liberty Science Center store, Connections, is operated by The Event Network and features exciting and unusual gifts and souvenirs in every price range. It is conveniently located adjacent to the Grand Staircase in the Science Court on the first floor.

What will we see at Liberty Science Center?
Liberty Science Center features hundreds of exciting exhibitions on four floors designed for all ages and stages of learning. We have the nation’s largest IMAX Dome Theater, with a screen 88 feet in diameter, and 3D films shown in the Joseph D. Williams Science Theater. Guests will also discover special presentations, in-depth lab experiences and remarkable artwork throughout the building.

Guests up to 6 years old: Our youngest guests will enjoy spending time in I Explore, an age-restricted area for children up to seven years old with their adult caregivers. They’ll also enjoy visiting the creatures in Eat and Be Eaten and Our Hudson Home, will be amazed by construction-related exhibits in Skyscraper, and will find lots to do in Communication, Infection Connection, Wonder Why and Energy Quest. Ask at the Welcome Desk for an age-appropriate guide to enjoying Liberty Science Center with children 6 and under.

Please note: Due to the intensity of the experience, films in the IMAX Dome Theater are not suitable for children under six years of age. Infants aged two years and younger are not permitted in the IMAX Dome Theater.

Guests ages 7-12: Children ages 7-12 will explore amazing new ideas about themselves and the world around them in experiences found throughout the Science Center. They can try digital “graffiti” in Communications, practice loading cargo containers with a sophisticated training simulator in Our Hudson Home, marvel at The Times Square of Science and Technology hanging in the atrium, conduct a real experiment in the lab at Infection Connection, visit the rock-climbing wall in Wonder Why and think about where we can find new energy sources in Energy Quest. Ask at the Welcome Desk for an age-appropriate guide to enjoying Liberty Science Center with children ages 7-12.

Guests ages 13+: Experiences at the “new” Liberty Science Center have been designed to appeal to people from all backgrounds, education levels and interests. Check out details of our exhibitions and don’t forget to explore how you can contribute to Liberty Science Center’s mutable exhibitions through SNSE: Science Now, Science Everywhere and the Exhibit Commons. We want to hear your point of view!

Is Liberty Science Center accessible to physically challenged guests?
Yes. The Center is fully accessible, though a few exhibitions require full mobility. Wheelchairs may be requested at the Information Desk in the Lobby.

I've visited before. What's new?
Our expansion and renovation did not just encompass a few areas – almost everything is new! You’ll marvel at the creative and exciting manner in which we offer science and technology, from hundreds of new exhibits in six major new exhibition areas to artworks of breathtaking originality, and from focused new demonstrations to in-lab experiences for almost every age group. A few things haven’t changed – we still have the nation’s largest IMAX Dome Theater and our dedication to providing the best experience ever remain unchanged.

What is playing in the theaters?
We offer a world of new experiences through our films, each one especially selected for its spectacular story, beautiful cinematography and compelling science content. Films run 45-50 minutes and start at 15 minutes after the hour from 9:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., with expanded showings on weekends and holidays. Find out more here or call 201.200.1000 at anytime for more information.

Educational Programs

Where can I find information on the Jennifer A. Chalsty Center for Science Learning and Teaching?
The Jennifer A. Chalsty Center is a dynamic, 20,000-square foot science-rich setting dedicated to students and educators. Offering a wide selection of impactful programs and experiences, it is a benchmark for successful science education, and is changing the face of science education in the greater New Jersey-New York region. To learn more, click here. To book programs, please call 201.200.1000 during normal business hours.

Membership & Support

Why should I become a member?
Membership is an ideal way for individuals and families to enjoy all that Liberty Science Center has to offer at great savings. Members receive additional benefits not offered to the public, including free unlimited admission to our exhibitions and reciprocal free admission to over 270 science centers and museums around the country. There's also a 10% discount on purchases made at the retail store. Members also have the opportunity to visit on Member Nights for private time to explore the science center after hours in a relaxed family atmosphere featuring special activities.

Can I bring a guest on my membership?
Yes, as long as one membership holder is present and the group does not exceed the total number of guests included in the membership.

Do I have to show ID if I am a member?
Yes, you may be asked to show a photo ID to confirm your identity as the membership holder.

Do members wait in the Box Office line?
No. Members can purchase theater tickets at the Box Office membership window.

Can I use my membership for entry to other museums?
Yes. Liberty Science Center’s membership is reciprocal with many museums and science centers across the nation and throughout the world. The Box Office membership window has more information on current reciprocal museums and science centers.

I would like to help Liberty Science Center. How can I contribute?
See details here.

Feedback

Where can I provide comments or suggestions about the reinvented Liberty Science Center?
We welcome and need feedback from our guests and supporters. Provide it here.