Please note our museum hours while we undergo renovations.
Museum HoursWed–Fri: 12:30pm–5pm | Sat: 10am–5pm

Cozy up at the Science History Institute this First Friday for a night of cozy chemistry.

Join our museum educators as they teach us about staying warm, whether we’re keeping our beverages hot or feeling toasty in wool clothing. Learn about the technology and innovations created to keep us from getting frost bite, from synthetic materials to hand warmers.

Our librarians will feature some of our hottest historical books and host a fun, family-friendly craft station. After that, relax and indulge in some hot chocolate and cookies in our Overlook Lounge. 

About First Fridays

Spark your curiosity while exploring the exhibits after hours! First Fridays bring together a myriad of activities covering everyday science, historical oddities, and everything in between. Grab your friends, and kick off an evening of discovery, surprise, and a little nerdy fun.

First Fridays at the Institute are always free and open to the public. Attendees will receive a 10% discount to National Mechanics restaurant.


PLEASE NOTE: Our museum will be temporarily closed December 22, 2024, through March 7, 2025, for renovations.

Featured image: Detail of Make It an Occasion! With Plastics Housewares Made of Styron, Dow Chemical Company ad, 1949.

More events

frontispiece plate of illustrations of the blood spectra
March 29, 2025
For Families

Stories of Science

Join us in our museum EVERY SATURDAY for a family-friendly program that highlights strange and surprising stories from the history of science!

Women in lab coat using a spectrophotometer
March 29, 2025
Drop-In Tours

Women in Chemistry Tour

Drop in for a tour highlighting the central role of women in shaping chemistry and the material sciences throughout history.

illustration of the ocean as a cube
April 4, 2025
First Fridays

First Friday: Diving into Ocean Science

Journey into the heart of our oceans as we explore the urgent challenges of water pollution, microplastics, and the incredible creatures that call the deep-sea home.

    Republish

    Copy the above HTML to republish this content. We have formatted the material to follow our guidelines, which include our credit requirements. Please review our full list of guidelines for more information. By republishing this content, you agree to our republication requirements.