At the Schroeder Family Exploreum, we believe curiosity belongs to everyone.
Science is exciting. Discovery can be thrilling. And hands-on learning can spark incredible moments of wonder. But we also recognize that a busy science center—with bright lights, unexpected sounds, crowds, and lots of activity—can sometimes feel overwhelming.
That’s why the Exploreum offers special Quiet Hours designed with our neurodivergent friends and their families in mind.
Quiet Hours provide an opportunity to experience the Exploreum in a calmer, more relaxed environment, with fewer people and a reduced level of sensory stimulation. Our goal is simple: to create a space where visitors can explore at their own pace, take breaks when they need them, and enjoy the same opportunities for curiosity and discovery as everyone else.
A Different Kind of Exploreum Experience
During Quiet Hours, families don’t have to worry about keeping up with the crowd or navigating the same level of noise and activity found during our regular hours.
Visitors are welcome to move slowly, spend as much time as they would like at a favorite exhibit, skip an activity that doesn’t feel comfortable, or simply take a break. There is no right or wrong way to explore.
For some visitors, that may mean diving into an interactive exhibit. For others, it may mean watching from the side before deciding whether to participate. And for some, it may mean exploring for a few minutes and then taking time to reset. All of those experiences are welcome at the Exploreum.
Quiet Hours are currently offered Thursday mornings from 11 a.m. to noon and Saturday mornings from 10 to 11 a.m.
Why Quiet Hours Matter
For many neurodivergent individuals, sensory input can be experienced differently. Sounds may feel louder, lights brighter, or crowded spaces more difficult to navigate. A traditional museum or science center environment can sometimes create barriers that have nothing to do with a person’s interest or ability to learn.
Science centers across the country are recognizing the importance of creating sensory-friendly opportunities, including reduced sound and lighting, limited attendance, quiet spaces, and flexible exploration.
At the Exploreum, we want to remove as many of those barriers as we can. Our Quiet Hours aren’t about changing what someone can learn or experience. They’re about changing the environment so more people have the opportunity to participate.
Come As You Are
Perhaps the most important part of Quiet Hours is that families don’t need to explain themselves. You don’t have to apologize if your child needs to leave an exhibit. You don’t have to worry if someone doesn’t want to participate. You don’t have to feel uncomfortable if your family needs to take a break. And you certainly don’t have to apologize for experiencing the Exploreum differently.
Come as you are. Explore in the way that works for you.
Whether your visit lasts 15 minutes or two hours, whether you try every exhibit or spend the morning focused on one favorite activity, your experience is valuable. Because at the Exploreum, we don’t believe curiosity has to look the same for everyone.
Science Is for Everyone
Our mission is to engage people of all ages in hands-on learning driven by curiosity and play. Accessibility is an important part of making that mission real. Quiet Hours are one way we are working to make the Exploreum a place where more families feel comfortable walking through our doors and saying, “This place is for us.”
We hope our neurodivergent friends will come discover, experiment, build, wonder, play—and maybe see something in a completely new way.
Because there is no one right way to explore. There is only your way. Come find where your curiosity leads.