Connecticut Science Center
The Connecticut Science Center is a nonprofit interactive science museum in Hartford, Connecticut, serving 300,000+ annual visitors through 165+ hands-on exhibits, a 3D theater, educational labs, and corporate-sponsored STEM programming for families, K-12 schools, and teens.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersHartford, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Connecticut Science Center does
The Connecticut Science Center is a nonprofit interactive science museum operating since 2009 from a LEED Gold-certified facility at 250 Columbus Boulevard in downtown Hartford, Connecticut. It maintains over 165 hands-on exhibits across themed galleries including Exploring Space, Forces in Motion, Sports Lab, Energy City, Engineering Lab, River of Life, Health Lab, Genome in Me, Invention Dimension, Butterfly Encounter, KidSpace, and KidSpace Outdoors, supplemented by a 200-seat 3D digital theater (Hoffman Foundation Science Theater), five educational labs (Pfizer Discovery Center), and sensory-friendly programming. The organization has reached 5 million cumulative visitors since opening and currently serves 300,000+ visitors annually, drawing guests from all 50 states and internationally.
The Science Center operates a hybrid revenue model combining earned income (general admission via dynamic plan-ahead pricing of $27 youth / $34 adult / $31 senior, $15 school group rates, annual memberships with express entry and add-on discounts, private and corporate event rentals, gift shop sales, and birthday party packages) with contributed revenue (individual giving, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and an annual gala). Its go-to-market is event-driven and multi-channel: ticketing, school field trip reservations, youth group bookings, traveling off-site programs, and special exhibitions such as Sharks (organized by the American Museum of Natural History), Science Fiction Science Future, and The Science Behind Pixar.
The organization is governed by a Board of Trustees chaired since January 2025 by Liberty Bank CEO David W. Glidden, with President & CEO Matt Fleury leading operations. Strategic corporate partnerships anchor its programming, including Aetna as cornerstone sponsor of STEM Career Connections through 2030, Boehringer Ingelheim (Innovation Lab, March 2026), Travelers (Discovery Center labs), Hartford HealthCare (Health Lab exhibit and Long Weekend free access initiative), RTX, Cigna, Stanley Black & Decker, and Energize Connecticut. Educational partnerships extend to East Hartford Public Schools (off-site STEM Lab), The Jackson Laboratory, UConn, Yale, and University of Hartford, supporting K-12 field trips, NGSS-aligned curriculum programs, teen workforce development, and a multi-year educator professional development pipeline.
Connecticut Science Center firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Connecticut Science Center
- Legal name
- Connecticut Science Center
- Website
- https://ctsciencecenter.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- The Connecticut Science Center is a nonprofit interactive science museum in Hartford, Connecticut, serving 300,000+ annual visitors through 165+ hands-on exhibits, a 3D theater, educational labs, and corporate-sponsored STEM programming for families, K-12 schools, and teens.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Connecticut Science Center industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Interactive Science Museum and Informal STEM Education
- NAICS
- Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Museums (712110), Museums (71211)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Science & Technology Museums (THAJADAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA), Science Camps & Field Programs (Nature, Space, Marine, Geology) (EDAMABAB)
Keywords
Where Connecticut Science Center is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hartford
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Connecticut Science Center business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- General Admission Tickets: Dynamic-priced day tickets for individual and family visitors. Prices vary based on demand, date, and advance purchase timing.
- Memberships: Annual membership programs offering unlimited general admission, express entry, discounted add-ons (movies, Butterfly Encounter), and member-only pricing.
- School Field Trip Programs: Discounted group admission ($15/student) plus add-on Discovery Center Lab Programs, Butterfly Encounter Programs, Stage Shows, and Movies for school groups. Supported by sponsors such as Travelers.
- Private & Corporate Events: Rental of function rooms and spaces for private events, corporate gatherings, and weddings.
- Gift Shop: On-site retail gift shop selling science-themed merchandise.
- Donations & Grants: Individual giving, corporate giving, foundation grants, and annual gala revenue supporting the nonprofit's educational mission.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Youth (ages 3-12) day ticket |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Adult day ticket |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Senior (65+) day ticket |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | School Group (K-12) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Discovery Center Lab Programs (school groups) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Stage Shows (school groups) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 3D Movies (school groups) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Butterfly Encounter add-on |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sharks 3D Movie |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual Membership |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Member Parking |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
Connecticut Science Center product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Connecticut Science Center is a nonprofit interactive science museum operating a LEED Gold-certified facility with over 165 hands-on exhibits, a 200-seat 3D digital theater, five educational labs, and a year-round butterfly habitat. It delivers STEM educational programming including school field trips, NGSS-aligned lab programs, teen STEM career pathway programs, traveling off-site programs, and special exhibitions. The Center also hosts private and corporate events, birthday parties, and an annual gala, supported by memberships, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and individual donations.
Product overview
The Connecticut Science Center is a science museum offering a unified experience centered on interactive STEM exhibits and educational programs. The core product is General Admission providing access to over 165 hands-on exhibits across multiple permanent galleries including Exploring Space, Forces in Motion, Sports Lab, Energy City, Engineering Lab, River of Life, Health Lab, Genome in Me, Invention Dimension, Butterfly Encounter, KidSpace, and KidSpace Outdoors. The Science Center operates as a single integrated venue with optional add-ons including 3D Movies in the Hoffman Foundation Science Theater, Butterfly Encounter premium experience, Wildlife Encounters animal shows, and Science on Screen film series. Educational offerings include School Field Trips, Discovery Center Labs, Teen Programs, and STEM Career Connections. Additional revenue streams include Venue Rentals for private events, Birthday Parties, and Annual Memberships. The Science Center also hosts rotating special exhibitions like Sharks and Science Fiction, Science Future, and traveling exhibitions like The Science Behind Pixar.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- General Admission Daytime admission ticket providing access to over 165 hands-on interactive exhibits, live demonstrations, and immersive STEM experiences at the Connecticut Science Center for individual visitors and families.
- Sharks Exhibition A special exhibit featuring dozens of life-sized shark models from megalodon to lanternshark, exploring how sharks evolved, hunt, and sense the world. Organized by the American Museum of Natural History.
- Butterfly Encounter
Quantifiable outcome
- 5 million cumulative visitors since opening in 2009, including visitors from all 50 states and numerous countries
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Connecticut Science Center
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Connecticut Science Center technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Connecticut Science Center partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc.coreJoint launch of an Innovation Lab within the Connecticut Science Center focused on expanding STEM education opportunities in human health, biology, and pharmaceutical sciences. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held March 27, 2026, as part of a STEM career event expected to draw more than 500 middle and high school students. The initiative connects classroom learning with career pathways in science and medicine.
- East Hartford Public Schools (EHPS)corePartnership to provide a dedicated EHPS STEM Lab at East Hartford High School, offering elevated hands-on STEM learning experiences for elementary students. Lab opened October 20, 2025.
- Aetna (CVS Health company)coreCornerstone sponsor of the Connecticut Science Center's STEM Career Connections initiatives through 2030. This multi-year commitment represents a significant investment in Connecticut's future workforce and long-term economic vitality, reinforcing Aetna's dedication to Hartford and strengthening the STEM pipeline.
- TravelerscoreDigital experience presenter and premier partner. Supports the Pfizer Discovery Center laboratory programs and provides funding for educational lab experiences.
- Hartford HealthCarecoreSponsor of Long Weekend free museum access during America's 250th / CT Commemoration. Provides free general admission for up to 250 Connecticut residents daily. Also partner supporting Health Lab exhibit and accessibility initiatives.
- Real Art WaysminorCo-presents the Science on Screen series at the Connecticut Science Center, pairing feature films with talks from notable scientists. Series includes Wall-E, Agent of Happiness, Point Break, and Bringing Up Baby screenings with UConn, Yale, and University of Hartford faculty.
- The Jackson LaboratoryminorPartner sponsor for the Genome in Me exhibit, supporting programming around genomics and DNA exploration.
- Pitney Bowes FoundationminorPresenting sponsor of KidSpace exhibit, supporting hands-on sensory water play experiences for children 6 and under.
- Maximilian E. & Marion O. Hoffman FoundationcoreSupports the Maximilian E. and Marion O. Hoffman Foundation Science Theater (200-seat 3D digital theater) and the Sharks 3D film presentation.
- Maximilian E. & Marion O. Hoffman Foundation, Inc.corePrimary sponsor of KidSpace Outdoors, the outdoor science playscape for children 6 and under featuring climbing structures, pollinator habitats, and sensory landscapes.
- Energize ConnecticutminorPartner supporting Energy City exhibit, which teaches visitors about renewable energy, wind turbines, solar panels, hydropower, and fuel cells.
- Stanley Black & DeckerminorSupports the Engineering Lab exhibit, which features challenges across structural, mechanical, electrical, aerospace, and software engineering.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Connecticut Science Center competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- COSI (Center of Science and Industry): Columbus, Ohio science center with 300+ interactive exhibits, giant-screen theater, and strong K-12 STEM curriculum alignment. Comparable as a regional STEM hub with hands-on exhibits, theater, school programs, and corporate-sponsored labs.
- Museum of Science, Boston: Large New England science museum with hands-on exhibits, IMAX theater, and K-12 programming. Directly comparable in mission, scale, and audience to the Connecticut Science Center, and a primary regional peer for school groups and family visitation in Greater Hartford's broader catchment.
- The Franklin Institute: Philadelphia science museum featuring 3D theater, permanent hands-on exhibits, traveling blockbuster exhibitions, and K-12 educational programming. Comparable in scale, exhibit philosophy, and reliance on traveling exhibitions to drive visitation.
- Carnegie Science Center: Pittsburgh-based science center operated by Carnegie Museums, with hands-on exhibits, 3D/4D theater, and traveling exhibitions. Comparable in mid-sized regional science center profile, K-12 outreach, and corporate sponsorship model.
- Liberty Science Center: New Jersey-based interactive science center with hands-on exhibits, IMAX/3D theater, and robust K-12 and teen STEM programs. Closely comparable in operating model, exhibit-driven admissions, school field-trip pricing, and corporate-sponsored STEM career programming.
- Saint Louis Science Center: Free-admission science center in St. Louis with 700+ exhibits, OMNIMAX theater, and substantial K-12 and corporate STEM partnerships. Comparable in exhibit breadth, theater programming, and is named alongside the Connecticut Science Center in Burns & McDonnell's multi-museum donation program.
- Pacific Science Center: Seattle-based science center with hands-on exhibits, IMAX theater, and STEM programming. Comparable as a regional interactive science center with similar school-program and membership revenue mix.
- Rochester Museum & Discovery Center: Rochester, NY combined museum and science center with hands-on exhibits, 3D/4D theater, and educational programming. Comparable in mid-sized regional science center scale and K-12 outreach mission.
- New York Hall of Science: Queens, NY science museum with 450+ exhibits, 3D theater, and strong NYC public-school STEM programming. Comparable in exhibit-driven admissions, theater, and large K-12 school-group market focus.
Broad incumbents
- Exploratorium: San Francisco's flagship hands-on science museum, well known for inquiry-based exhibits and STEM educator professional development. Operates at a larger and more internationally recognized scale but shares the interactive-exhibit, teacher-training, and K-12 NGSS-aligned ethos.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Connecticut Science Center social profiles
Digital presenceConnecticut Science Center financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Connecticut Science Center leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Connecticut Science Center funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Connecticut Science Center M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about Connecticut Science Center
What does Connecticut Science Center do?
The Connecticut Science Center is a nonprofit interactive science museum operating a LEED Gold-certified facility with over 165 hands-on exhibits, a 200-seat 3D digital theater, five educational labs, and a year-round butterfly habitat. It delivers STEM educational programming including school field trips, NGSS-aligned lab programs, teen STEM career pathway programs, traveling off-site programs, and special exhibitions. The Center also hosts private and corporate events, birthday parties, and an annual gala, supported by memberships, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and individual donations.
Is Connecticut Science Center a public or private company?
Connecticut Science Center is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Connecticut Science Center founded?
Connecticut Science Center was founded in 2009. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Connecticut Science Center based?
Connecticut Science Center is headquartered in Hartford, United States, in the North America region.
How does Connecticut Science Center make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. General Admission Tickets are the primary driver. The others are memberships, school Field Trip Programs, private & Corporate Events, gift Shop and donations & Grants.
Who are Connecticut Science Center's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are COSI (Center of Science and Industry), Museum of Science, Boston, The Franklin Institute, Carnegie Science Center, Liberty Science Center, Saint Louis Science Center, Pacific Science Center, Rochester Museum & Discovery Center and New York Hall of Science. Exploratorium is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Connecticut Science Center have an API?
No public API is recorded for Connecticut Science Center.
What industry is Connecticut Science Center in?
Connecticut Science Center's product category is Interactive Science Museum and Informal STEM Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJADAD, Science & Technology Museums, with a secondary code of EDAMABAA, Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs). Its NAICS code is 7121.