cranbrook institute of science

One of the first areas you go to is about dinosaurs. Talk about a BIG CHICKEN. One roasted chicken breast would feed my whole village!I've been to lots of museums around the world dealing with natural history. Even though this may be on the small to medium side, it's one of the more unique, interesting, different and informative I've found. It's well worth the few hours you'll spend there whether you have kids or not.One literal gem of an attraction was the geology and gem displays. I've seen the Hope Diamond, but it can't compare to some of the amazingly colorful and beautiful stones they have there. They even have a meteorite from Mars!If you can plan your time, and it's a nice day, take a picnic and plan on eating somewhere on the large estate. The country setting is beautiful, quiet, and peace is wonderful for the spirit.

You cant go wrong visiting the whole Cranbrook campus: magnificent gardens, world renown sculpture and architecture , the art institute and recently redone science museum for adults and children, Don't forget the planetarium.

I love this museum. It's big enough that you are interested and engaged, but not so large that you are overwhelmed trying to see everything. The minerals and rocks are my absolute favorite, I could spend an hour just looking at the specimens, many of which you can touch. My kids like the dinosaurs, hands on kinetics and butterflies. Added bonus, if you have an EV, there are free charging stations in the parking deck! Cranbrook has a beautiful campus as well.

My husband and I have taken our daughter here a few times, most recently in December 2014. We went to see the Sesame Street iMax presentation in the planetarium, and even at the young age of 2.5, she was able to follow and enjoy the show. I did think the volume was a bit loud, however. She also enjoyed seeing the exhibit on rocks and minerals and was fascinated by the dinosaur skeleton. My husband and I *loved* the exhibit from National Geographic's female photographers, which may have been a temporary gallery. We always have a wonderful time here, and it's great to have a science museum so close to us.

Went here with the family and a couple friends for the morning to explore. I haven't been to Cranbrook since I was in grade school. There was a lot of really cool information and things to look at. Some of the exhibits are really nice and some are really old and outdated. The T-rex and the dinosaur stuff was really cool along with the mineral exhibit. There is two optional exhibits that you can do but both cost an additional 5 dollars per person which is the planetarium and the batzone. We ended up doing the batzone which was really cool but for 5 dollars it was kind of a waste. I personally think Cranbrook is a little overpriced for what you get to see.

I took my family with 3 teenage children to the Woman of Vision exhibition. It is an excellent photography exhibit by the woman of National Geographic. It can be done in about an hour and lead to great conversations about the world while we walked through the Cranbrook Gardens. Leave yourself a couple of hours and get lost at Cranbrook, there is so much to see and do. The art museum is a good spot too!! Enjoy!

With children grown it was many years since we visited this museum. Now with grandchildren I could not believe how a very good museum graduated to excellent. Our kids were completely engaged. The variety of exhibits were both interesting and educational. If I entered this museum in another city I would be telling everyone how you must visit. For visitors from out of state it is a wonderful place for youngsters of every age. If you are traveling without children and on the beautiful school campus it is worth a visit (even if you left the kids at home).

A favorite of my grandson and myself! He loves it here and is always fascinated by new exhibits and new discoveries. He started his mineral collection here from the wonderful gift shop. We have great memories, love talking with the students and getting instruction. We had a wonderful time in the planetarium one evening, when we were the only ones left. We got a "private" tour and special attention from the program director. Highly recommended for a family visit and as a place to encourage an interest in all things scientific.

As part of the ASTC Travel Passport Program we received free entry to this natural science museum. Very educational but more for teens and adults. Most interesting part was learning about the Ice Age and it's effects on carving out Michigan's current landscape. This museum has a discovery center for kids (just a small room) in the basement but my 6 year old did not find it exciting. For smaller children I would recommend going to the revamped Michigan Science Center in Detroit for more interactive activities for hands on fun for kids. It is only 25 minutes away from the Cranbrook Institute.

This museum of natural history (with additional Art museum too) is a gem based on overall experience we had during the Halloween Science event. Beside countless hands on demos (one involving ice cream making and tasting ) we enjoyed the architectural intricacies of the many art deco buildings, the statues, the Cranbrook gardens and the nature walk. This is a place that needs to be visited more than once, or a day long trip.

First time to Cranbrook. Took 5 and 7 year old to participate in special Halloween event for 2 hours. It was nice mix of Halloween, museum, science and craft activities. Kids thoroughly enjoyed it. Volunteers and staff were excellent. Science was educational. Crafts were clever and well staffed. Great way to engage the kids without devices (ipads, computer games, etc.).We didn't have time to see the bat exhibit.

I took my three year old granddaughter there. She enjoyed the gem and mineral exhibit and the hands on interactive section. They have a planetarium and had a bat exhibit. I heard that these are worth the extra fee but we did not go. We didn't stay long since it wasn't that engaging for her. She enjoyed the Detroit Science Center and the Ann Arbor Hands on Museum more. When she's older I'll take her back here.

Cranbrook is a large public estate in the suburbs of Detroit. Home to a school, museums and wide public areas. Take a stroll through Cranbrook any time of the year. It will be one of the highlights of your visit to Detroit.

What a wonderful place to visit and see their mineral collection. Very interactive for children and my nephew enjoyed the dinosaur exhibit. Weekend there is a bat tour which we absolutely loved it even had a two toed sloth name "Mo". All in all a fun activity for all. A must see if you are in the Metro Detroit area.

A gem in the middle of metro Detroit suburbs! The Cranbrook campus is beautiful and full of 20th c. Architecture and sculptures throughout. Includes information on natives, dinosaurs, bird migration, some hands on physics exhibits, small salt water aquarium, extensive geology collection and more. They have a planetarium, for and extra fee but worth it, an observatory with a solar lense, wonderful gift shop full of science based toys and games, If you live close by purchase a family pass. A great break on a sultry summer day or frigid winter day. They also offer specialized scout programs, group tours and have members only events and they are open late on Friday nights. If you haven't been yet, what are you waiting for!