Headwaters Science Center in Bemidji

Be sure to add Headwaters Science Center on your bucket list when you travel to Bemidji- it’s educational fun for the whole family!

Are you going to spend some time in Bemidji this summer? I’m sure a visit to the Paul Bunyan and Babe statues is on your bucket list, but you should also add the Headwaters Science Center located downtown!

My family and I got to visit the Headwaters Science Center on our latest trip to Bemidji and we all had a blast! My kids are 8, 5 and 2 and there was something fun for all of their ages– sometimes that can be hard to find these days.

Headwaters Science Center prides itself on a fully interactive experience and I can say that’s definitely true! In the 7,500 sq. feet exhibit area there were touch tables where kids were invited to explore various animal coats, bones and more, sensory play tables, interactive experiments like the Bubble Wall, the Harmonograph, the Bernoulli Ball, play areas and so much more. There are actually over 70 exhibits to explore and animals to check out!

I’ve actually never been to a science center that truly invites kids to touch and explore everything! Staff were constantly asking kids if they needed help with the exhibits, if they wanted to make super cool spin art on the Harmonograph, pet the center’s many animal residents and more. I was blown away by how much fun we all had during our time there!

The Bubble Wall was an immediate favorite for our daughters that are 5 and 2, while my 8 year old son was obsessed with the baseball pitching lane. We all enjoyed visiting the animals including bunnies, snakes, frogs, turtles, birds, fish and much more. The Headwaters Science Center staff were constantly taking animals out of the cages, teaching the kids how to pet them and sharing interesting facts about the animals.

Needless to say- we will definitely be back to the Headwaters Science Center in Bemidji. I can see why they were voted The Best Museum by Star Tribune in 2021! It’s a great place to beat the heat, escape from the rain or just enjoy trying something new. You won’t regret taking the time to explore this gem of Bemidji!

The Headwaters Science Center is located in downtown Bemidji at 413 Beltrami Ave NW. The hours are Monday – Saturday 9:30am – 5:00pm and Sunday 1:00pm – 5:00pm. Tickets are $7 for children 2-11 years old, $10 for adults 12+, $9 for seniors 65+ and $9 for military personnel. We’d recommend planning to stay for a few hours, you can get your hand stamped and come back throughout the day of your visit- perfect for a lunch or snack break!