If you ever find yourself barreling through the stark, windswept plains of North Dakota, for God’s sake, man, steer your wagon towards Bismarck’s Gateway to Science. This isn’t just another tourist trap – it’s a wild ride into the guts of science, a frenzied swirl of STEM that’ll rattle your grey matter. It’s the whole mad spectacle of the universe crammed into one spot, a must-see for every truth-seeker, oddball, and freak out there. Buckle up.
NUTSHELL: Alright, fasten your seatbelts, you mavericks and curiosity hounds, we’re taking a wild ride straight into the throbbing heart of Bismarck, North Dakota. The place: Gateway to Science, a fever dream of a place where the walls pulse with the raw, undiluted power of scientific exploration. This ain’t your run-of-the-mill, dry-as-bone science joint. No sir, it’s a smorgasbord of hands-on exhibits and madcap events that’ll make your head spin faster than a high-speed centrifuge. They’re all about cranking the dial of your mind right up to eleven and letting the sparks fly. They’re brewing up the future, one mind-blowing demonstration at a time. It’s a place where the thirst for knowledge is not just quenched, but set ablaze. For any wild-eyed explorer looking to push the boundaries of their understanding, the Gateway to Science is nothing short of the promised land.
THE NUT: The Gateway to Science’s hands-on approach to STEM outreach is admirable, particularly programs aimed at future scientists like the Preschool Discovery Hour. In their own words, “Our Mission -To inspire the discovery of Science through hands-on experiences. Our Vision – To be the foremost regional experience that inspires the scientist in everyone.” Love it.
NOW SHOWING: Step right into the heart of the psychedelic Water Play gallery, a place where the common becomes extraordinary and science dances with art. Here, water – life’s elixir – is not just a passive, taken-for-granted backdrop. No sir, it’s a wild, shape-shifting protagonist inviting you to plunge into its mad mysteries.
This is a place where the everyday is made eccentric, where you can witness the frenzied ballet of water under pressure, see how it hustles, flows, and bows to the laws of physics. You’ll learn the brutal realities of managing and wrangling this wild element, the delicate dance of harnessing it, using it, shaping it to our human whims and necessities.
And oh, the buoyancy! Watch in awe as objects float and cavort through this liquid realm, bobbing and weaving to the tune of density and displacement. Here, water isn’t just a thing of beauty or a thirst-quencher; it’s a tool, a toy, an artist’s muse, a canvas for practicality, play, and aesthetics. So come and frolic in the aquatic madness, and witness the untamed, artful wonders of water at the Water Play gallery. It’s a trip you won’t soon forget.
COMING SOON: Step into the thrilling world of the STEM Adventure Club (Sept 11), where the mission is as audacious as it is essential. The aim? To ignite the flames of scientific curiosity in youngsters from first to fifth grade. This is no standard classroom. It’s a hive of exploration, diving headfirst into the technicolor dream of scientific discovery. The club is not about spoon-feeding facts but rather about unearthing the potential that these young minds hold. Their aim is to mold tomorrow’s scientists, engineers, and tech wizards by fueling curiosity and broadening horizons. It’s a wild, exhilarating journey, one that promises to spark a lifetime of inquisitiveness. That is the spirit of the STEM Adventure Club – a vivid, pulsating venture into the world of knowledge.
GEOGRAPHY: Right at the frontlines of the cornfields, North Dakota stands, churning the gears of its vast agricultural machine, a juggernaut feeding the gaping maw of global demand. It ain’t just about sowing and reaping anymore – they’ve hitched their wagon to the wild beast of modern science and technology, taming it to milk the land dry while keeping Mother Nature smiling.
The Gateway to Science, this mad circus of innovation in North Dakota, flings open its doors to the chaotic dance of farming life. Step right up to the “Animal Sounds” exhibit – it’s not a cacophony, but a symphony of life, each moo and bleat a secret code to the beast’s wellbeing.
Then there’s the “Virtual Farm”, a wild, frenzied game of chess with nature. You’re in the hot seat, making rain-or-shine decisions about planting, watering, reaping, all while the cruel mistress of consequence breathes down your neck. It’s a hell of a ride, sponsored by the agriculture high-rollers of the state.
Finally, stroll over to the “Cow Monitor”, a trip into the techno-future of farming. Imagine a collar, not just a strip of leather, but a vessel of secrets, charting each chew, each step of a cow, letting the farmer play god. The dance of agriculture, technology, and nature – it’s a show you won’t forget.
DATE NIGHT: Nope.
INSIDER TIPS: Pending.
ESSENTIALS:
Gateway to Science
1600 Canary Ave.
Bismarck, ND 58501
Regular Hours
Sunday: 1:00pm – 5:00pm
Monday: 10:00am – 5:00pm
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 10:00am – 5:00pm
Thursday: 10:00am – 5:00pm
Friday: 10:00am – 5:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am – 5:00pm
Admission
Adults $14
Children (3-17) $9
Children 2 and under FREE
Seniors (65+) $9
Museums for All $3 (with EBT Card)
Members FREE
WORDS: Earnest Hutton (aka the Travellin’ Geek aka @earnesthutton).
IMAGE CREDIT: Gateway of Science.