COSI

COSI was such a magical place as a kid. I used to love these trips and could play there for hours! My boyfriend and I decided to check it out again since I hadn’t been there in over 10 + years and close to 5+ years for him.
We were sadly disappointed. We bought the general admission tickets ($ 19 a piece) + the $ 5 Planetarium tickets — So basically about $ 50 for the both of us. We went through every exhibit on all three floors in about 45 minutes. We were really shocked because usually if we go to any museums we can spend a good 3+ hours and still feel like we missed out on a lot. Granted this isn’t a museum, but we both felt a little slighted.
Now, it has been a while but I have a pretty good memory and I will say that from what I remember — nothing has changed, or at least not much. All the exhibits were the same and they had removed some (the Presidents). The space exhibit was really not an exibit at all, the few displays they had was just kind of scattered in the hallway. There were a few different thing you could play/​experiment with inside the exhibits but hardly enough to keep us entertained. It felt very bare.
I have never been to a Planetarium before and happen to LOVE space. So I was hoping that this would make up for the disappointing exhibits. We did the live tour of outer space and I am kind of wishing we had been able to see the Black Holes instead. The actual Planetarium was really cool, and I think that all movies should be played in a dome now! I mean. who doesn’t want to be able to lay down, relax and watch something on a huge screen? So anyways. the show was kind of boring. The screen was interactive so the guy who was narrating (live, they had a COSI guy in there doing all the talking) was able to zoom in and out and go all over the galaxy. He did a good job and gave a lot of information, some of it I already knew but there were definitely some cool parts. My boyfriend fell asleep. haha. he was already really tired though — but damn! those reclined seats will get you! However, I felt like I was in a presentation and had to keep myself entertained. I think if it was an actual movie it may have been more interesting.
So, in conclusion… maybe for kids this place is still really awesome, but as an adult I would probably not recommend COSI. Hopefully they can revamp the exhibits or add some new ones, because I really do think it has potential and would like to see it become as awesome as it was years ago.

I love this place as I make a monthly trip during the winter. The kidspace is perfect for kids 1 – 5. I take my two here and even though it is crazy, I don’t go insane. I wish there was less helicopter parents so I could maneuver a little better. I try to sit off to the side and let my two to their own, but it seems like i might be in the minority there. I like the safe set-​up of Kidspace. I also love the addition of legoland here. This area is always packed but still fun for the kids. Just a great place to buy a membership and get the kids out of the house. They have some good deals for those who become members.

Went to COSI with the family today. It’s a great place with a lot to do. Lots of hands on interactive exhibits. During the holidays they extend their hours until 9 pm. We were there from about 1 to 3 and it was really busy. So busy we had a hard time experiencing all the exhibits because of long lines. It would be better to go on days when it’s not so busy so you can take the time to stop and interact with the exhibits. I felt it was a little pricey ($ 66 for our family of 4). And that was for the basic admission, you can add on about 4 additional attractions for $ 5 each. Several exhibits were out of order which was a disappointment but watching the way parents let their kids pound on them it’s no wonder they weren’t working.
All in all a great place, just go during an off time and you’ll have fun and learn a lot.

An impressive collection of «Out of order» signs.
I loved this place as a kid, but it’s gone way way down hill. I couldn’t believe how many exhibits where broken or not working, and even buying a ticket took 5 minutes because the attendant couldn’t get the computer to work.
Very disappointing. COSI has a ton of potential and an amazing legacy, but isn’t living up to it.

I attended a «Cosi After Dark» event yesterday and had a blast! I don’t really like kids, but I really do like science (and beer) so this was totally fun for me.
They set up a cash bar and open up the concession stands and you can grab a drink, explore, and play. We made and launched paper rockets, took a stroll back in time, and learned about human anatomy. It’s a cool space and there is a lot to see and do.
While I went with friends, I kept thinking how awesome this experience would be for a first date!
It took about 4 hours to go through the museum. The only thing I didn’t like (besides $ 7 for 8oz of beer…) was that there were a lot of pieces of the exhibitions that were closed for maintenance or seemed to be broken.

been to COSI twice and i love the exhibits. the high wire unicycle was fun and i didn’t get stuck in the middle! yay! i would give 5 stars but after visiting the OSU and COSI website didn’t see a discount offered but when I came I was told that there was a discount to OSU peeps… lame, you’d think they would have it on the site since OSU is such a huge employer but oh well… and they should offer free parking on Sunday since the meters are free and immediately next to the lots. we got a meter spot but the lots were still full

I came here with my class of preschoolers on a field trip with other classes from the school I work at. We called several weeks in advance to inquire about the movies they show because we thought it would be a fun and educational way to get our kids to learn about one of our various summer themes of study. We chose to go see Walking With Dinosaurs after being advised by the staff that it was age appropriate for our kids (as young as 2 and a half through our school age group of 6 to 10-​year-​olds).
I cannot stress to you enough how very wrong they were. We arrived with about 100 happy children and left with probably a third of them crying, curled up covering their eyes and ears, or sitting in teachers laps begging to go back to school. We even had parent chaperones get up and leave with their children before the film was even over. It was so violent and gory we might as well have taken them to see Jurassic World.
In fairness, I moved to Columbus a year ago and have not had the pleasure to see the rest of the museum, which looked to be very clean and rather engaging, but their staff really needs to be better informed about their amenities. I certainly would never take a child to see a movie here again after what a disaster our field trip was, and as an educator, I would recommend other teachers out their looking for a fun field trip to avoid the movie theater at all costs.

Super fun! Checked out the super spy exhibit here till Sept. 15. Worth the extra cash. Four stars because there are a lot of exhibits that cost extra $$$ in addition to the entrance fee. Def worth taking the family to.

June Sunday 1230pm
Apparently getting to COSI after noon was considered late. I had wanted to get the unlimited theatre passes (extra $ 15 on top of the $ 19 adult admission (on top of the $ 5 parking)) but I was cautioned that each exhibit — the man circled 9 on the map — will take me an hour or so. I take my time at museums and especially at science museums but I was still done with all three floors including weird crannies like the research posters on the mezzanine and the small astronaut corner next to the coffee shop, a quick lunch and a 45-​min movie in about 3 hours. Maybe I should have coughed up some more cash for the Top Secret experience.
The COSI design is kind of inconvenient. I wish I could have just gone in a circle instead of backtracking. My first stop was the Energy Explorers, and while a great exercise in learning — more playing though — for kids, this subject has been a bit overdone. The activities were entertaining, and many kids were running around having the time of their lives.
Thankfully the corridors aren’t all empty, there are staff who invite passerbys to try out science experiments on their carts, like with tuning forks and water, or testing the buoyancy of bowling balls. My next stop was Ocean, which is stunning, and I liked the technical explanations for why water was the way it was. The Lily Pad had to be my favorite thing at COSI, and probably some of the others’ too due to how many people were in here with the submarines. I learned some interesting things about choices in the woodlands, suburbs, cities, and farms could lead to different consequences for the water we drink and use.
The Science Park again was more of a playground than anything, and just so many squealing kids. The Pod house designed and built by OSU and others was impressive, but hard to see through the glare of the window panes. I wish we could actually walk inside or take some of the glare off with shading. On the second floor, the Space station was kind of fun, but the interactive games and machines didn’t actually do much despite interaction. I watched some kids do the highwire unicycle, but wasn’t interested, nor would I probably have been permitted since I was in sandals per usual.
The Kidspace on the second floor looked like it could be fun but you had to be ridiculously young. The educational stations outside were pretty cool. The Life labs weren’t anything new to me but I thought it was rad that OSU researchers would think to tap into this ready resource of excited museum participants. In hindsight I should have looked more closely at the sheet of «Here’s what’s happening today at COSI» because the Language Pod with the OSU researchers sounds enlightening.
Progress was too much like a stripped down version of the Ohio History Museum which I enjoyed much more. I confess I did not spend too much time in Gadgets because it was freaking cold! But besides the Gadgets Café, I went through the other activities which were okay.
The atomic café had good mac&cheese for $ 3 and some change. I was not disappointed with the flavor or the portion. I ate my food while watching rats play basketball, which was cute and especially entertaining for the children. The emcee for the rats show was delightful, describing that we don’t have two male rats playing basketball because all we’d see is rat wrestling and we don’t have a male rat and a female rat because there would be «more rats.» I paid for a 3D viewing of Jerusalem, and was impressed that the film brought together three cultures living in the city in a fairly objective way. The scenery was stunning and the music was fabulous and I left wanting to know more about the history of Jerusalem.
The other exhibits I didn’t mention by name or description were alright — just didn’t have much to talk about. For being a Center of Science, I was surprised by the lack of Space science. Hopefully I didn’t just miss it all on my apparently super quick tour. I’ve been to bigger museums with more enticing offerings for less buck, and I’m a little disappointed in COSI. However, if I were in elementary school because of the myriad of interactions this would be near the best museum ever.

I must also admit I enjoyed the old COSI over the new COSI. Although I have many memories at the new COSI that are unforgetable.
I first came to the new COSI with my middle school class on a science day field trip and we went through all the areas. Learned many cool things.
My next experience was as a girl scout we had a lock in here where we had fun exploring everything and then getting a snail to take home the next day. I’m sorry to say that snail died due to inadequate care. Sleeping at COSI overnight is awesome because you get to sleep on the second floor generally anywhere you want in that vicinity. Plus your with your buddies so you know it’s going to be a fun time.
I then grew up and went to college and into my senior year of college I was in an internship program that had an event here to recognize all the summer interns. The event was out of this world. We were on the first floor it was all catered and fancy. Back then the anchor from FOX news came to this event along with some other well known Columbus professionals. I think I also met Karina Nova that night because I distinctly remember everyone asking to dance with her. COSI sure knows how to cater to fun events!
Finally, I took my husband to COSI since he had never been to the new one. He had fun at all the exhibits. Including lifting the car outside and various science experiments in each exhibit.
Today, I saw there 3D IMAX showing of Jerusalem which is very near and dear me as an Israeli. I felt a lot of the movie was accurate although they left so much out that I wished would have been presented like the torah, the koran and the bible. All very important to each religious sector in Jerusalem. If you still want to see it is available until May 31.
COSI is always going to be the fun scientific place for me to always learn something and grow.

I will never give this COSI 5 stars. The original COSI will get 5 stars, but not this.
I must say, the new COSI has improved over the years. My kid love the play place. That’s where we spend most of our time. But all the other exhibits are great too.
I’ve read that COSI has adult nights with a bar, snacks, and activities for the older crowd. I would really enjoy this. I’ve not been to COSI without the kid, so my time has been spent for me.
Overall, this is a fun place to bring family members of all ages. A membership is pretty affordable especially when you are struggling to find something to do on a rainy fall afternoon or a 100 degree summer day when the pool is out of the question.

Cosi is SO much cooler than when I was a kid.
Took my son a couple of weeks ago and was blown away — we had a hard time getting everything we wanted to do all in 1 visit, so naturally we want to go back!
The planetarium is by far the coolest — but a bit long for younger kids. I can’t wait to go back & see the other planetarium show!

Yes, I grew up in the Columbus area and the «Old COSI» is steeped in such nostalgia, that it doesn’t really bear to compare the two. I come here because the kids enjoy it, and there are plenty of fun things for adults too. All of the exhibits are fun and relatively well maintained. Personal favorites are the Gadgets section with all of the hands on stuff, as well as the town of Progress that transports you back in time. Really well done. Even the blatantly AEP sponsored Energy exhibit is pretty cool.
We tried the extreme screen for the first time on my latest visit. I normally don’t care for 3D movies, but we all really enjoyed the Unseen World. The length of the movie was just right and it was very informative.
I do not however appreciate all the nickel and diming that goes on here. Pay to park, pay to get in (obviously), pay for all of the extra little things like the simulator and adventure stuff and a locker (still takes quarters, come on man, let us pay for them with a card at the ticket booth!). Add in the overpriced food and it all really adds up for a family.

My family really loves this place. We always enjoy coming here it seems like they always keep their programs up to date and fresh!
Cosi, has lots of hand on activities for the entire family!

Obligatory «the old COSI was better comment»
And it was… soooo much better. But this one isn’t that bad.
I think the prices are pretty high for what is available when you visit and the fact that the cool stuff has to be added on for an additional charge.
I recently visited for COSI after dark with my husband and we had fun. The planetarium opened that night and it was interesting to get a sneak peek. I think the cash bar was overpriced, and it would have been nice if there were things to eat other than alcohol, because it seemed like some people needed it to soak up their drunkenness, but it was an adults only event, so I guess.

I had not been to COSI since I was a pimple popping junior higher. Until Sunday I had never visited its current digs on the riverside adjoining Genoa Park. I was stoked to go after a friend scored tickets to the reopened planetarian. Unfortunetly, I ordered an extra drink at lunch causing us to be too late for the show. The staff was kind enough to refund the money, and I will certainly do an update to review the planetarian which I will certainly check out soon. Instead we walked the museum to experience classic exhibits and to see what was new.
The remodeled school that it now occupies is certainly a different space than Memorial Hall. Wider and more spacey, the building can easily handle more visitors than the old 1900 building. (It is strange to think it was once in style to block a historical building with a Sci-​fy glass façade.)
There was some favs missing that I remember from East Broad: no silent films and the old caboose is missing. They still have the bike on the wire, which is scientifically, perfectly safe but I would never get on, showing what faith I have in science. The scaled models of the old towns still exist, and I loved the water exhibit. The space exhibit is missing, which is a bummer because I have been in a serious astronomy mood lately.
I am not sure what but the place seems lacks something. A wow factor, something that would bring the transforming power of technology home. Perhaps a world fair-​ish view of the future is in store.
I hear they have an adults only night program complete with a cash bar – something I would be interested in. I will also return for the planetarian soon. I love that stuff.

Yeah, I’m one of those people who thinks COSI just doesn’t even compare to what it used to be when it was in the old building. And maybe I just have such awesome memories of being a kid playing in the coal mine and the old caboose. Or making candles in the little shop in the Street of Yesteryear, or watching silent movies in the nickelodeon theater…
The list of things that the «new» COSI is missing is just endless. But I guess it fits with the times. A bunch of cool technology and whatnot. But every experience just falls flat. Oh yea, and it’s $ 20 to get in!

Besides the price — $ 19 per adult and $ 15 per child — this palce is amazing. After 3 hours there my friends son wasnt ready to leave. (We were.) There is a water area so you may want to bring an extra set of clothes for your kids as he managed to get wet even when they had a water proof smock. There was a submarine the kids can climb into and a rocket ship. One floor has this huge kids area when everyone gets locked in so you dont have to worry about people walking out iwth your kids. There is a hospital area for the kids to play doctor, and a farm area withere they can pick fake fruits and vegatables. Parking is discounted if you bring your ticket in and pay when you purchase admission.

I’ve visited COSI many times and I’ve never been displeased. This is definitely the place to go if you’re looking for something both fun and educational.
Possibly one of the only complaints I have is the children. Not that there are children present, that is expected, but the place always seems to be crawling with bratty ones who have no apparent adult supervision. For example: I was checking out an exhibit and there was a little boy waiting patiently in line behind me. I stepped aside to give him the controls and as soon as a gap was created between myself and the exhibit another child shot in, shoved the little boy away and attempted to yank the control from my hand. I had to act as a shield to let the patient child into the controls while telling the rude child that the other child had been waiting. The whole thing struck me as pretty ridiculous considering I am a single adult with no children and yet I had to supervise the offspring of strangers.
I recently discovered, however, that COSI has monthly adult only nights so that totally makes up for the awful kids. These nights each have a different theme, they’re cheap, you get full access to COSI, and there is alcohol. They’re absolutely worth checking out.
The price of admission is a little high but since I’ve recently moved to Columbus, I will be investing in a much cheaper membership. The gift shop has really interesting stuff but unless it happens to be COSI specific merch like t-​shirts, drinking glasses, etc. with their logo, just buy the same stuff on Amazon later when you get home for half the price.

Visited COSI on Saturday as the finals of the Rube Goldberg collegiate finals were taking place. Having been to previous science and industry museums/​centers, I was a bit turned off by the price ($ 18) plus all the add-​ons to enjoy the entire museum.
However, I must say I was thoroughly impressed.
Life Lab on the 2^nd floor had educational information for everyone from kids to adults to interactive games. In addition, other areas with similar «something for everyone» included the Gadgets, the outdoor science area.
Don’t forget to catch a few of the shows in the center atrium. I think the rats playing basketball was pretty cool as they were friendly yet competitive during the game.
I could ramble on… but in short, go for a visit.