New York Hall of Science Reopens and Welcomes Back Kids and Families

New York families can once again visit the New York Hall of Science, Flushing, when it officially reopens to the public on Saturday, Feb. 19. Doors open at 10am.

It's been a long and challenging journey for the museum to get to this celebratory moment. First, like most cultural institutions around the city, the museum shut its doors during the pandemic for 16 months. 

Then, calamity struck again. Two months after reopening on July 2, Hurricane Ida fell on the city, slamming the museum with several millions of gallons of water. The lobby and some street level areas were flooded and needed to be repaired. The lower level was submerged in 12-36 inches of water, eliminating 20% of the exhibit areas, not to mention the damage sustained to offices and infrastructure.

The damage was so severe, that the museum organized a donation drive to help pay for recovery costs, which right now exceed $15 million. 

Throughout the two-year ordeal, the museum offered virtual activities for science fans of all ages to enjoy from home. Some exhibits are still unavailable to the public, but enough recovery work has been accomplished to allow the museum to reopen while it continues to clean up and rebuild from the damage.  

“We are thrilled to welcome back families, teachers, students and New Yorkers of all ages to NYSCI,” Margaret Honey, president and CEO of the award-winning museum, said. “There couldn’t be a better time to be inspired by science. Now more than ever we need to learn about critical problem solving and resilience in the face of enormous challenges.”

What to Expect at the Reopening of the New York Hall of Science 

The museum is offering temporary discounts on tickets while on-site storm repairs continue. General admission ($14; $11 for kids, students and seniors), provides access to core exhibits and experiences.