Curious about the other half of the Science History Institute? Step into the Othmer Library of Chemical History!

Since its founding in 1988, the Othmer Library at the Science History Institute has been a haven for research in the history of science—but there’s more to the story. Explore the reading room on a guided tour, learn how our collection has grown, and discover why we have one of the most comprehensive rare book collections on chemistry and its alchemical roots.


Othmer Library Tours are available every other Wednesday at 12pm and on the first Friday of most months at 4pm.

Registration is required for Wednesday tours; First Friday tours will be drop-in. Guests under 14 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.

More events

September 17, 2025
Programs, Lectures & Talks

Science & Football: How Gatorade Fueled the Dawn of Sports Medicine

Phoebe Miles, cofounder of the Cade Museum for Creativity & Invention, will tell the story of a drink that changed the world of sports.

worn cover of a recipe book from the 1500s
September 19, 2025
Free

Movies on the Mall: National Treasure 2

Join the Science History Institute at Movies on the Mall and learn about the history of parchment.

magazine ad featuring a baby in high chair pouring milk over a tray
September 20, 2025
Drop-In Tours

School Lunch Tour

This interactive drop-in tour reveals how food scientists, the government, and the public have shaped in-school nutrition.

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