Gallery Descriptions
The Tech Museum of Innovation engages people of all ages and backgrounds in exploring and experiencing the technologies affecting their lives, and aims to inspire the innovator in everyone. An expansive variety of interactive exhibits and unique floor programs showcase not just how technology works, but how we live, work, play and learn.
The Tech's 132,000 square feet are divided among themed galleries and exhibitions. With over 250 unique hands-on exhibit experiences, there's sure to be something for all ages and interests.
Exploration
The Exploration Gallery demonstrates technologies which allow us to investigate new worlds. Take a fantastic voyage to the center of the Earth, into the ocean depths, or to outer space.
Shake on an earthquake platform, pilot an underwater ROV, or guide a planetary rover across the surface of Mars. Study Earth Science by traveling to places we have only been able to imagine.
Green by Design
Innovation and technology fuel the future
Learn Physical Science with a focus on energy and the environment as your students experiment with ways to harness clean energy from renewable sources - sun, wind, and water.
Explore further! Design and race a virtual hybrid car. Learn how supercapacitors may replace batteries in the future. Bike for efficiency and see how smart innovation can save energy.
IDEA House
Learn Physical Science and the inspiration of play while cultivating your inner inventor at IDEA House. Make a contraption, solve a challenge, or design something creative in our home for innovators.
Design something colorful on the rainbow light tables, watch butterflies alight on your shadow in the Shadow Garden, or see how technology can make you the star of your own bug puppet show.
Innovation
Become a Silicon Valley-style innovator and experience technologies that make Silicon Valley world-famous. Design a rollercoaster, a robot, or a bike in our Virtual Design Studio. See computers in action doing things that used to only exist in dreams.
Silicon Workshop
Enter a workshop where you can design products using microchips and program smart devices. As an Engineer you can program Mr. Potato Head or build a smart device to feed fish.
Life Tech
The Life Tech Gallery focuses on how technologies can save lives and enhance human performance. Visit Med Tech, The Transparent Body and Beyond our Limits to understand the connection between man and machine.
Perform keyhole surgery, use ultrasound on your hand, ride in a virtual bobsled, and test a racing wheelchair. Understand Life Science through engineering innovations that support the human machine.
Genetics: Technology with a Twist
Explore emerging genetic technologies- grow bacteria in our wet lab and examine genes from technological and scientific perspectives.
NetPl@net
The Internet touches every facet of our lives. This exhibition will inspire you to learn amazing things people have already done with the internet and where it can take us tomorrow.
Test your strength in a virtual Arm Wrestle, create your own virtual character, publish your own webpage with pictures from your visit, tour the globe with worldwide web cams, and so much more!
The Spirit of American Innovation
Learn more about The National Medal of Technology and the laureates who have received it! This Tech exhibit is in the museum and online.
View from Space
The Tech presents a new experience from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Observe Earth like you've never seen it before- shown on a 6-foot sphere. Four projectors provide satellite footage in a visually stunning format.
Watch presentations on weather patterns and climate changes, or even tour outer space. Study Earth Science from the viewpoint of an astronaut. Look to the past, present day, and to the future to understand the planet as our home.