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{{short description|Museum}}
{{More citations needed|date=October 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox museum
 |name             = Buffalo Museum of Science
 |native_name      = 
 |native_name_lang = 
 |image            = Buffalo Museum of Science Dec 09.JPG
 |image_upright    = 1.5 
 |caption          = Buffalo Museum of Science, December 2009
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 |coordinates      = {{coord|42.906132|-78.843314|display=inline}}
 |established      = December 5, 1861
 |dissolved        = 
 |location         = [[Buffalo, New York]], U.S. 
 |type             = Science
 |collection       = 
 |visitors         = 
 |director         = 
 |president        = Gary Siddall
 |curator          = Kathryn Leacock
 |publictransit    = 
 |network          =
 |website          = {{URL|www.sciencebuff.org}}
}}
The '''Buffalo Museum of Science''' is a [[science]] museum located at [[Martin Luther King Jr. Park]] in [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]], [[New York (state)|New York]], United States, northeast of the downtown district, near the [[New York State Route 33|Kensington Expressway]].  The historic building was designed by [[August Esenwein]] and [[James A. Johnson (architect)|James A. Johnson]] and was dedicated on January 19, 1929. It gave a permanent home to the exhibits that started to be collected by the Buffalo Young Men's Association (founded 1836), which had passed them to its 1861 creation, the Buffalo Natural History Society,<ref>{{Cite journal |first=Paul Marshall |last=Rea |date=October 1910 |title=A Directory of American Museums |journal=Bulletin of the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences |location=Buffalo, New York |volume=X |issue=1 |page=188 |oclc=297278075 |url=https://archive.org/details/bulletinofbuf10191012buff/page/188/mode/2up |access-date=2023-09-14 |via=[[Internet Archive#Text collection|Internet Archive text collection]] |url-access=limited |quote=The Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences - Historical Sketch}}</ref> with [[George W. Clinton]] chosen as the Society's first president.

The attractions of the Buffalo Museum of Science include exhibits showcasing [[animal]]s, [[astronomy]], the science of technology, and additional science topics.

==Exhibitions==

===Explorations===
Explorations is an interactive gallery for children ages two to seven featuring new themes every month.

===Explore You Science Studio===
Explore You is a health systems science studio. The space was remodeled and opened in March 2012. The interactive exhibit gives a hands-on approach to health, exploring topics such as healthy choices, body systems, the heart, medical technology, genetics, and related research done in [[Western New York]]. It is sponsored by prominent local health insurance company Independent Health.

===Rethink Extinct Science Studio===
The Rethink Extinct Science Studio opened in March 2015 as remodel of the previous Extinction Gallery. This exhibit focuses on all aspects of extinction throughout the history of life on this planet including present-day extinctions and endangered plants and animals.

The Extinction Gallery was a collection of [[fossils]] and cultural pieces relating to organisms that have gone extinct on the planet.  [[Biological specimen|Specimens]] include 50-million-year-old [[birds]], [[feathers]] and [[flowers]], the earliest known land plant, a [[trilobite]] trapped in a [[seashell]] nearly 400 million years ago, a cast of a ''[[Tyrannosaurus rex]]'' skull, a [[compression fossil]] replica of  ''[[Archaeopteryx]],'' [[Triceratops|''Triceratops horridus'']], ''[[Deinonychus|Deinonychus antirrhopus]]'', and ''[[Allosaurus fragilis]]''. Many of the pieces in this exhibit come from the previous Dinosaurs and Co. space at the museum. In addition, a specimen of [[Albertosaurus|''Albertosaurus sarcophagus'']] (nicknamed "Stanley") is displayed in the first floor lobby next to admissions.

===Nano===
Nano is an interactive exhibition that engages family audiences in nanoscale science, engineering, and technology. Hands-on exhibits present the basics of nanoscience and engineering, introduce some real world applications, and explore the societal and ethical implications of this new technology.

===Other exhibitions===
Additional exhibitions include the Buffalo in Space Science Studio (opened in 2017), the Artifacts Science Studio (opened in March 2014), the In Motion Science Studio (opened in 2013), the Our Marvelous Earth Science Studio (opened in 2012), and the Bug Works Science Studio (opened in 2013).

In 2010 the museum began an extensive renovation campaign, the goal of which was to convert the old diorama based exhibits into interactive Science Studios. This campaign culminated with the renovation and reopening of the Kellogg Observatory in July 2018

==Previous exhibits==

===Whem Ankh: The Cycle of Life in Ancient Egypt===
Whem Ankh was an exhibit running from 1998 to 2013 displaying [[Artifact (archaeology)|artifacts]] from the daily life as lived on the banks of the lower [[Nile River]] 2,200 years ago. Over 250 artifacts are included in the collection, including the [[mummies]] of Nes-hor and of Nes-min, [[priests]] in the [[temple]] of the [[Egypt]]ian [[fertility]] god [[Min (god)|Min]], and the [[coffin]] of Djed-hor-ef-ankh.

Intended as a temporary exhibit, it was made permanent due to its initial popularity, which it enjoyed through most of its tenure. Whem Ankh closed in July 2013, and was replaced by the "Artifacts" exhibit in March 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-03-09 |title=Home Page :: Buffalo Museum of Science |url=http://www.sciencebuff.org:80/ |access-date=2023-12-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309175105/http://www.sciencebuff.org:80/ |archive-date=2014-03-09 }}</ref>

===Marchand Hall of Wildflowers===
The Marchand Hall of [[Wildflowers]] displayed numerous wax models of species of plant life created throughout several decades by [[naturalist]]s George and Paul Marchand.

==Additional features==
The museum also features the National Geographic 3D Cinema, Elements Café, and the Curiosity Shop.

==See also==
*[[List of observatories]]
*[[List of museums in New York (state)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.sciencebuff.org/site/ The Buffalo Museum of Science homepage]

{{NY Observatory}}
{{City of Buffalo, New York}}
{{Culture of Buffalo, New York|state=collapsed}}
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[[Category:Science museums in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Natural history museums in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Museums in Buffalo, New York]]
[[Category:Dinosaur museums in the United States]]
[[Category:Institutions accredited by the American Alliance of Museums]]
[[Category:1861 establishments in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Museums established in 1861]]
[[Category:Paleontology in New York (state)]]