The museum is housed within the historic Ann Arbor Central Fire Station, which served as a firehouse for nearly a century.
The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The 'Preschool Gallery' is specifically designed to meet the developmental needs of children under the age of four.
The museum includes a dedicated space for 'The World Around You,' which features exhibits focused on environmental science and optics.
Many exhibits incorporate recycled or re-purposed industrial materials to demonstrate principles of physics.
The Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum occupies the historic 1882 Firehouse building in downtown Ann Arbor, offering four floors of interactive STEM-focused exhibits. The facility houses over 250 hands-on exhibits designed to teach physics, biology, and technology through experiential learning. Key features include the Preschool Gallery for toddlers and the 'World Around You' exhibit which explores optics and engineering. The museum emphasizes sensory exploration through water play, light manipulation, and mechanical puzzles. It serves as a community hub for science literacy, hosting workshops and educational programs for regional schools. The historic architecture of the building is preserved while integrating modern, modular interactive displays.
The restored historic fire station exterior or the giant bubbles in the water play gallery.
Visit on weekdays during the school year to avoid peak weekend crowds.
Check the online calendar for scheduled demonstrations or workshops before arriving.
Plan to utilize the stroller parking area near the entrance as the historic building layout can be tight.
Do not attempt to park in the small alleyway adjacent to the museum; use the nearby public parking structures instead.
Closed on certain major holidays; check the website for updates on temporary exhibit installations.
Active supervision of children is required; comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes are recommended for safe interaction with physical exhibits.
