James S. McDonnell Planetarium

The James S. McDonnell Planetarium is connected to the Saint Louis Science Center via a pedestrian bridge and sits in Forest Park as an architecturally iconic hyperboloid structure that's been a St. Louis landmark since 1963.

Inside, the primary experience is the full-dome theater — a circular room where guests recline and look up at a 76-foot domed screen filled with immersive star shows and space documentaries.

For kids who are curious about space, the planetarium show experience is genuinely different from anything else — the scale of a full-dome projection, the reclined seating, the sensation of being inside the sky — creates a quiet awe that's hard to manufacture anywhere else. Kids who typically struggle to sit still for 40 minutes will often do so without complaint in the dome theater.

Shows rotate through the year and cover a range of topics: current night sky tours, space exploration narratives, cosmic journeys through the universe, and special programming for younger children. Check the website for the current schedule — the show topic matters for how well it lands with your specific age group. Some shows lean more toward narrative storytelling (better for ages 5–8); others are more science-dense (better for ages 10+).

Outside the dome, the planetarium building has additional space exhibits including decommissioned rocket components, astronaut equipment displays, and planetary science content. These are included with your show ticket and worth 30–45 minutes before or after the show.

Because the planetarium charges a show-specific ticket on top of the Science Center's free general admission, plan to spend $8–$12 per person for the show. A Science Center membership includes planetarium show benefits and pays off quickly for frequent visitors.