McWane Science Center


The McWane Science Center is a science museum and research archive located in downtown Birmingham, Alabama. The state-of-the-art science center, aquarium, and 280-seat IMAX Dome Theater is housed in the historic and refurbished Loveman's department store building. It opened to the public on July 11, 1998.
On the lower level there is The World of Water exhibit showcasing more than 50 species of marine and freshwater aquatic life. There is a touch tank with different species of small sharks and rays. There are also shark teeth that can be observed under a microscope and different displays about water pollution.
The Alabama Collections Center is the home for more than 500,000 items from the former Red Mountain Museum. The center houses precious minerals, fossils, and Native American artifacts, the most noteworthy among them including the world's fourth-largest collection of mosasaurs; the Appalachiosaurus ; and the state fossil of Alabama, the Basilosaurus cetoides.
For smaller children there is the Itty Bitty Magic City exhibit featuring a climbing structure, a water play area, an area for toddlers specifically, and an area with smaller versions of common buildings in a city. The model buildings are all made to help younger children learn skills they will need later on or connect with their parents. One example is a model grocery store where children can learn about the main food groups while "shopping" with their parents. The exhibit opened on May 16, 2015 and was a remodeling of an older early childhood play place with the same name previously located on the third floor.
The McWane Science Center is named after the McWane family and McWane, Inc. both of which helped fund the center.