Cleveland Museum of Natural History Winter Planetarium & Discovery Wing

About this adventure

Following a comprehensive $150-million transformation, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History in University Circle provides a world-class indoor winter haven of science and paleontology. Families can marvel at the iconic 3.2-million-year-old hominid cast of 'Lucy,' inspect towering mounted dinosaur skeletons including Dunkleosteus and Tyrannosaurus, and discover the biodiversity of ancient Ohio. In the state-of-the-art Nathan and Fannye Shafran Planetarium, families recline under a crystal-clear digital dome to tour the constellations and frozen moons of our solar system. The outdoor Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center & Woods Garden allows bundled-up visitors to see native Ohio animals—including river otters, bobcats, bald eagles, and coyotes—active in their natural winter environments along elevated heated pathways. The hands-on Smead Discovery Center on the lower level invites toddlers and kids to dig for fossils and handle genuine specimens. Family Experience & Accessibility: • Stroller Accessibility: Modernized, state-of-the-art step-free facility with wide hallways, automated push-button doors, and glass elevators servicing all exhibit levels. • Nursing & Rest Spots: Dedicated private nursing rooms with comfortable armchairs and electrical outlets; family restrooms with adult and child changing stations on every floor. • Age Suitability: Perfect for all ages from curious toddlers in the Discovery Center to elementary paleontologists and curious adults. • Sensory Tips: Balanced sensory environment featuring soft ambient lighting in dinosaur galleries and soothing celestial projections in the planetarium; sensory backpacks available at guest relations.