How to get into COSI and other museums around the U.S. FREE or really cheap!

First of all, I want to start off by saying that this is my story about COSI in Columbus, Ohio but as you read, you’ll learn that almost every state has a place where the same discounts and freebies apply.

So I got the idea for this blog when Joel and I took our nieces, Mercedes and Isabella, to COSI one weekend for a fun getaway. We do not have any children ourselves, so we like to do fun stuff with them instead. We had gone to Columbus, Ohio the night before and checked into a hotel (with a pool of course!) so we could get to COSI as early as possible.  I had actually never been to this museum before but had heard some really good things about it and to get there early.  The first thing I noticed was the “exhibits” located outside along the way to the entrance. It was a music theme with about 5 or 6 different instruments you could play, as well as a sign full of information. We weren’t even in the building and it was already cool. 🙂

Have you considered a membership?

When you get to the counter they have individual day passes available or memberships. As mentioned before, I like to get a deal where I can and it didn’t take a genius to see all the deals you get with buying a membership. Joel and I discussed it and decided that if we made a point to come back at least one more time that we would already be making out on the deal and it would be worth it.  We knew that there was a lot to see and do at this museum and we might not make it through the whole thing in one day. The girls are at just the right age where they are interested in almost every exhibit, nothing was too old or too young for them so we didn’t want to rush through.

There are so many benefits to being a member.

In addition to free entrance for the next year, we also got other benefits of being a member. We purchased the premium family membership which allows us bring one additional person any time we visit at no extra charge! At COSI we could get into planetarium shows at no extra cost, saving us $8 per person! There is a Giant Screen Theater with different shows throughout the day and week for which we get in at half price, saving us another $4 per person.  We also get discounts at the cafe, parking garage, camps as well as invitations special members only events. We have already been back so every time from here on out, it’ll be like we’re getting in completely free plus we’ll get our regular discounts on the other features too!

That’s not even the best thing, in my opinion, about this membership! We were given two lists of other museums throughout the US, as well as a few overseas. One list was of other museums where we could get free admission, the other was half price entry. Between the two lists there was over 500 places we could go at a big discount or even free!! Free??? That’s totally right up my alley! 🙂

COSI has a ton of cool exhibits, including one featuring an entire room devoted to movement of water with interactive displays (I recommend doing it last and possibly bringing a change of clothes, especially for the younger ones). I definitely recommend checking out COSI if you are looking for a place to see cool things, but also have an educational experience with the kids!

Since purchasing a membership we have gone to several places in our neighboring states where we were able to get in absolutely FREE!! Check out this post (link coming soon) for all the places we got into for FREE in Chicago and all the fun we had there!

If you are thinking you’d like to look into what your state has to offer, COSI is a member of ASTC (Association of Science-Technology Centers) Travel Passport Program and other museums that are a member of this Association are the ones we get into for free. You’ll want to check and see if your family membership options mention this association.  Here is a list of participating science centers.  There are a couple of things in small print you’ll want to remember: you can not get in free at any place on the list that is within 90 miles of where you are a member or where you live and you only get general admission free, special exhibits are an extra charge. Even though these seem like a deterrent, we have already been to several places on the list and still get to see a lot! Plus, here is a list of all the places you get into at half price!

Even more freebies!!

In addition to all that good stuff, being a member at COSI Columbus also comes with FREE admission to the Cincinnati Museum Center (even though it’s within 90 miles, they are offering a local deal) and BOGO FREE tickets to all of these places also: Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Ohio History Center & Ohio Village and Wexner Center for the Arts!!

While I never thought that I’d be a member at any type of museum or science center before, it’s definitely been worth the money we spent on it and I definitely recommend considering it!

Have you ever had a membership to a museum? What was your favorite benefit of membership?  Leave a comment below, I’d love to hear from you!