Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) is a science museum and educational center in Portland, Oregon, focused on interactive exhibits and public science programming. The museum includes exhibit halls, a domed theatre and large artifacts on display.

Exhibit areas include hands-on science galleries that cover topics such as physics, engineering and natural science, alongside a domed theatre for large-format and planetarium-style films. A distinctive feature is the on-site USS Blueback, a retired U.S. Navy submarine preserved for visitor tours.

OMSI began in the mid-20th century as a local science education initiative and expanded through the decades into a major regional museum with permanent galleries, traveling exhibits and the addition of the submarine. Its programming centers on informal science learning for families and students.

OMSI sits on the east bank of the Willamette River in Portland’s central area, adjacent to downtown neighborhoods and connected by local bridges and transit to the rest of the city.

• Submarine exhibit: Houses the USS Blueback submarine on display and offers interior tours as part of the visitor experience.
• Interactive exhibits and theatre: Features hands-on science exhibits and a domed theatre that shows large-format and educational films.

What to See #

• USS Blueback submarine: A retired U.S. Navy diesel-electric submarine preserved on site and open for interior tours, displayed on a dry berth adjacent to museum buildings.
• Turbine Hall and exhibit galleries: A large hands-on science hall and exhibit spaces that include physics, biology and engineering displays designed for family audiences.
• OMNIMAX/planetarium theatre: A domed theatre that shows large-format and planetarium-style films, used for educational programs and public screenings.