Kamin Science Center
Hands-on science shares the riverfront with a planetarium, a submarine, and a remarkable model of western Pennsylvania.
Artwork inspired by Aaronel deRoy Gruber
Kamin Science Center, formerly Carnegie Science Center, is built for testing ideas with your hands. Its Miniature Railroad & Village uses animated scenes to model western Pennsylvania before 1940, from Fallingwater and Forbes Field to neighborhood businesses. The stories connect engineering and regional history. Pick one scene and trace what had to move—people, goods, water, or power—to make it work.
General admission covers five floors of exhibits, Buhl Planetarium astronomy shows, and USS Requin when conditions permit. The submarine requires a same-day timed tour and full mobility; a virtual tour is available for visitors who cannot go below deck. Films, laser shows, Fab Lab workshops, and karting are separately ticketed. Reserve a timed admission slot, and check whether the railroad is closed for maintenance.
- Signature model
- Miniature Railroad & Village
- Planetarium
- Buhl Planetarium
- Submarine
- USS Requin, conditions permitting
Quick guide
- Reserve an entry time
- General-admission slots may sell out; buy ahead for a busy day.
- Choose a second experience
- Check the planetarium and submarine schedules before committing to extras.
Know before you go
- Start with a question
- Let a hands-on exhibit show you what changes when one variable moves.
- Study the miniatures
- Find a familiar landmark and follow its connections to western Pennsylvania.
- Look up
- Use an astronomy show to change scale from models to the sky.
- Plan the submarine
- Secure its same-day timed ticket if conditions allow and access suits your group.
Good to know
Miniature Railroad & Village closes periodically for maintenance. The submarine may close for river or weather conditions and requires full mobility below deck; check status before centering a visit on either experience.
Notice these
- Miniature Railroad & Village
- Buhl Planetarium
- USS Requin