Montshire Museum of Science is a hands-on museum

The Montshire Museum of Science is a hands-on museum in Norwich, Vermont. The museum offers a large range of exhibits that relate to natural and physical sciences, technology and ecology. An outdoor environment is part of the experience at the museum as the museum is set on a two-acre exhibit area in a park-like setting. Walking trails are also located within the grounds on the museum for visitors of all ages.

The museum opened firstly in Hanover in 1974, the current museum is now located on a 110-acre site along the Connecticut River. The purpose of the museum is to create, awaken, foster and nurture an interest in the physical and natural world. This is done through programs offered to visitors along with a one of a kind experience with exhibits that emphasize real objects and phenomena.

The museum is opened seven days a week, only closing on thanksgiving and Christmas Days. The museum runs a volunteer program where members will assist with exhibits, education, outdoor programs and fund-raising.

There are over 100 hands-on activities at the museum along with walking trails and more exhibits located outside. Daily programs held at the museum include a theater, which features ViewSpace, a program, which shows the latest images, movies and animations from the Hubble Space Telescope. `Explainers' are members of the museum's professional education staff and are able to assist visitors with any questions that visitors may have.

Exhibits at the museum include Andy's Place, which is an area devoted to preschoolers, the outdoor exhibit Science Park, is 2-acres of exhibit and Aeolian Landscape is where visitors can adjust a fan and view the shapes created in the landscape by the air movement. Airplay includes 8 exhibits showing how air moves; Bernoulli Blower shows the science of air pressure by keeping a ball in the air. Fog: Little Cat Feet allows visitors to get `lost in the fog' and observe mist in a model village. Wind Wall is located on the north-facing surface of the tower where the side is covered with reflective disks, which draw patterns made by the wind and visitors can collect data from the rooftop weather station.

Astronomy exhibits include Day/Night Globe, which shows the actual light and shadow conditions of the earth. Planet Walk is where visitors can walk from a model of the sun, encounter the planets and reach Pluto on a 1.6 mile walk along the trails.

Other groups of exhibits include Light and Vision, Live Animals. Math, Mechanics and Motion, Natural History and The Environment, Sound and Water and Flow. The Trails, Nature Areas and Gathering Spaces include - the Amphitheater, Blood Brook Trail, Forest Trail, Overlook Loop Trail, The Meadow, Ridge Trail, River Trail, and Wildflower Trail.

It will take visitors an average of three hours to view the entire museum, yet visitors are encourage to `make a day of it' and bring a picnic lunch to enjoy.

The museum store contains a collection of science and nature related gifts such as books, nature guides, puzzles, games, toys and science kits. The museum is available for rent for special events and the Community Room is able to host meetings and catered functions.