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

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

illustration of a man holding a very tall sandwich on a plate
June 14, 2025
Free

Curious Histories Fest: What’s for Lunch?

Join us for a delicious daylong celebration of food science and fun! And it’s all FREE!

View inside the Jacobs Reading Room
June 18, 2025
Free

Othmer Library Tour

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

painting depicting two alchemists in a lab
June 21, 2025
For Families

Stories of Science: Party in the Lab

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

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