Join us for a reduced-sensory experience at the Museum
$5 per person | OMSI members receive complimentary admission
Low sensory hours provide a less stressful experience for people who are sensitive to too much sensory input (noise, crowds, smells, lighting, etc.).
Enjoy OMSI in a sensory-friendly environment! This event is especially welcoming for families and adults who are looking for a smaller, more adaptive museum experience.
Upcoming Low Sensory Hours
This year, OMSI will offer three opportunities for guests to visit the Tyrannosaurs – Meet the Family exhibit with more lighting, less sound, and fewer people. Additional dates coming soon!
Additional Dates Coming Soon!
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Other Helpful Links
Additional resources prepare for your visit to the museum.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn what to expect and plan ahead for your low sensory visit to OMSI.
–More lighting: The exhibit will be well-lit, with immersive lighting turned up.Â
–Less sound: Exhibit sounds, like dinosaur roaring and TV documentaries, will be turned off.
–Narrow projection passageway: At entry, visitors will walk through a 30ft tunnel between projection screens that show animated tyrannosaurs running outside of OMSI and around Portland.
–First floor: The first floor of the exhibit opens up after the tunnel experience, displaying a large exhibit hall with articulated replica fossil skeletons, interactive touchscreen activities, a hands-on fossil touch table, and short documentaries.
–Second floor: The second floor is also very open. Visitors will first see the augmented reality experience at the top of the stairs. This is a large screen projection that shows animated tyrannosaurs running around the exhibit amongst the visitors. CONTENT WARNING: this experience shows one scene that may be distressing to some. The scene depicts a large tyrannosaur picking up and shaking a smaller tyrannosaur before dropping it, in which it appears dead. The large tyrannosaur then roars at the screen. Sound will be turned down.
–Dig pit: At the end of the exhibit, there is a fossil dig pit excavation table. Visitors can use brushes to uncover replica fossils from Oregon. The dig pit substrate is rubber granules from the company American Recycling Center.Â
-The first event will include the featured exhibit and Planetarium.
-Future exhibits may include other areas. More details, including the dates, times, and included areas are coming soon.
OMSI is located at 1945 SE Water Ave Portland, OR 97214. Visitors can pay for parking through the Parking Kitty app or at the parking kiosks in the North and South parking lots. Downloading the Parking Kitty app in advance will ensure the fastest and smoothest experience paying for parking.
OMSI parking costs $5 (+ fees) for 2 hours or $8 (+ fees) for all day parking. Guests arriving at 5pm or later can expect to pay a flat fee of $2 (+ fees) for the evening.
Additional parking questions? Check out commonly asked parking questions.
Sensory kits available at the front desk, which include headphones and a fidget toy.
Review the Sensory Guide to OMSI to prepare for your visit.
