World Of Wonders Science Museum, Inc.

What World Of Wonders Science Museum, Inc. does

World of Wonders Science Museum, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit hands-on science museum located in historic downtown Lodi, California, founded in March 2009 after a community fundraising effort led by Lodi Rotary Club members that raised over $600,000. The museum operates a 9,000 sq. ft. main facility plus a 1,700 sq. ft. educational science classroom (added in 2014), featuring 70+ interactive exhibits covering energy, electricity, magnetism, optics, and engineering, including differentiated installations such as the Jim Pyers Illumination Lab, the StarLab 360-projection digital planetarium (donated by the Raymus Foundation), and a Moon Walk simulated lunar experience.

The company serves multiple customer segments through distinct revenue streams: general admission ($7-$9 per visitor), tiered annual memberships ($70 Individual to $250 Friends with ASTC Travel Passport reciprocal benefits), standards-based Field Study Trips for PreK-Grade 6 ($180-$250 per class), WOW on Wheels mobile outreach ($230-$1,000 per session plus $0.90/mile travel), birthday parties ($300-$340), summer science camps for ages 5-11 ($225-$349), a science-themed retail store, and donations/fundraising including a ticketed annual WOW Gala at $150/ticket. Pricing is uniformly tiered and published; distribution is regional (Central Valley, California) with physical visitation, mobile school outreach, festival tabling, and recurring memberships.

The museum is governed by an all-volunteer board of local business owners, CPAs, and community leaders, with Sally Snyde (Snyde Vineyards) as President and Christine Franklin (Kemper CPA Group, nonprofit specialist) as a board member providing financial oversight. The organization is currently advancing an ambitious WOW Science Plaza expansion that integrates a 100-room Hilton Tapestry Collection hotel themed to the spirit of discovery, signaling a strategic pivot into mixed-use hospitality and educational tourism.

Name

World Of Wonders Science Museum, Inc.

Legal name

World of Wonders Science Museum

Website

https://wowsciencemuseum.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

World of Wonders Science Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit hands-on science museum in downtown Lodi, California, operating 70+ interactive exhibits and serving families, K-6 school groups, and tourists through admissions, memberships, mobile outreach, camps, and events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Science Museum & Informal Science Education

NAICS

Museums (712110), Museums (71211)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Science & Technology Museums (THAJADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Science Camps & Field Programs (Nature, Space, Marine, Geology) (EDAMABAB), Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA), Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA)

Keywords

• Hands-on science museum
• Informal science education
• STEAM education programs
• Museum field trips
• Science summer camps

Headquarters

HQ city

Lodi

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. General Admission: Entry fees from individual visitors. Adults $9, Children (2-17) $7, Seniors $8, Students $8, Military $7. Children under 2 and Teachers with valid ID admitted free.
2. Memberships: Annual membership tiers providing free daily admissions, store discounts, and event discounts. Family/Grandparent $100, Individual $70, Family Plus $140, Friends $250. Includes ASTC Travel Passport Program reciprocal benefits.
3. Field Study Trips: School group programs with standards-based hands-on science education. PreK-Grade 3 at $180/class (up to 25 students), Grades 4-6 at $250/class (up to 35 students). StarLab add-on available for $225/class.
4. WOW on Wheels Outreach: Mobile science education bringing hands-on activities to classrooms. PreK-Grade 3 sessions from $230-$720, Grades 4-6 sessions from $300-$1000. Travel fees at $0.90/mile round trip.
5. Birthday Parties: Private party packages including museum admission for up to 30 guests, party room, and hands-on science experiment led by WOW educator. Members $300, Non-members $340.
6. Summer Science Camps: Multi-day science camps. Main Camps (Ages 8-11): $299 Members/$349 Non-members. Junior Camps (Ages 5-7): $225 Members/$275 Non-members. 25 kids per camp.
7. WOW Science Store: Retail store selling science-themed gifts, kits, brain teasers, rocks, minerals, astronaut ice cream, and educational toys.
8. Moon Walk Exhibit: Simulated lunar experience requiring visitors be at least 4 years old and weigh 40-120 lbs. $3 per astronaut, 2 free tickets for WOW Members.
9. Donations and Fundraising: 501(c)(3) nonprofit accepting one-time and recurring donations (monthly, quarterly, annual). Also accepts stock donations. Tax ID: 20-3075595. Major donor program with brick wall recognition at $1,000 per brick.
10. WOW Gala Events: Annual fundraising gala with gourmet dinner, live and silent auctions, live music and dancing. Ticket price $150 per person. Third annual event scheduled November 14, 2026.
11. Outreach Tabling Events: Science activity stations at festivals and events. $150/hour within 15 miles of museum, $200/hour plus $0.90/mile beyond 15 miles.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The World of Wonders Science Museum operates a hands-on science museum and informal science education center in downtown Lodi, California, featuring more than 70 interactive exhibits spanning energy, electricity, magnetism, optics, engineering, and physics. The museum delivers educational programs including standards-based field study trips, mobile WOW on Wheels outreach to schools, summer science camps for ages 5-11, science-themed birthday parties, and tiered annual memberships with reciprocal ASTC Travel Passport benefits, supplemented by a retail science store and donor-supported fundraising events.

Product overview

The World of Wonders Science Museum is a hands-on science museum offering a unified visitor experience centered on interactive exhibits and educational programs. The core product is general museum admission providing access to over 70 hands-on science exhibits. The museum complements admission with tiered membership programs (Individual, Family, Family Plus, Friends) that provide free daily entry and ASTC Travel Passport benefits. Educational programs include Field Study Trips (PreK-Grade 6), WOW on Wheels mobile classroom outreach, Summer Science Camps (Main Camps ages 8-11, Junior Camps ages 5-7), and science-themed Birthday Parties. The WOW Science Store sells educational toys and science kits. The museum also offers outreach tabling services for community events. A major expansion project is underway to develop a science plaza with an integrated hotel.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Museum Admission Tiered single-visit admission tickets granting access to all 70+ hands-on science exhibits for adults, children, seniors, students, military, and teachers. Includes free admission for children under 2, teachers with valid ID, and group discounts for parties of 10 or more with advance reservation.
• Annual Memberships Annual membership program offering free daily admissions, store discounts, event discounts, and camp/party discounts across four tiers: Individual $70, Family/Grandparent $100, Family Plus/Grandparent Plus $140, and Friends $250. Higher tiers include ASTC Travel Passport Program reciprocal admission to 300+ science centers and recognition on the WOW website (Friends tier).
• Field Study Trips Standards-based hands-on science education programs for preschool through 6th grade at the museum, including exploration of 70+ exhibits and a hands-on WOW Lab lesson aligned with Next Generation Science Standards. PreK-Grade 3 priced at $180/class (up to 25 students) and Grades 4-6 at $250/class (up to 35 students), with optional StarLab digital planetarium add-on for Grades 1-3 at $225/class.
• WOW on Wheels Mobile Outreach Mobile classroom outreach program that brings standards-based hands-on science activities (topics include Slime, Lava Lamps, and Dinosaur Dig) to PreK through Grade 6 classrooms. PreK-Grade 3 sessions range from $230 to $720 for 1-4 sessions; Grades 4-6 sessions range from $300 to $1,000 for 1-4 sessions. Travel fee of $0.90/mile round trip applies.
• Birthday Parties Private science-themed birthday party packages including museum admission for up to 30 guests, a private party room, and a hands-on science experiment led by a WOW educator. Nine experiment options include Slime, Lava Lamps, and Explosions. Members pay $300, non-members $340; additional guests beyond 30 are $10 each up to 40 total.
• Summer Science Camps Multi-day summer science camps for children ages 5-11. Main Camps (ages 8-11) run 5 days, 8:00am-2:00pm, at $299 for members/$349 for non-members. Junior Camps (ages 5-7) run 5 days, 8:00am-1:00pm, at $225 for members/$275 for non-members. Capacity is limited to 25 children per camp.
• WOW Science Store On-site retail store selling science-themed gifts and educational toys, including Makey Makey invention kits, MAGNA-TILES, Hotlix Bug Candy, Real Insect Co specimens, Lava Lamps, Spirograph, brain teasers, rocks and minerals, astronaut ice cream, and science kits. Members receive a 10% store discount.
• Outreach Tabling Events Science museum tabling services at community festivals and events featuring hands-on science activities and museum information materials. Priced at $150/hour within 15 miles of the museum and $200/hour plus $0.90/mile travel fee for venues beyond 15 miles.

Quantifiable outcome

• Trusted by more than 4,567 happy parents
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, core and major.

• Golden State Pinball FestivalsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2026Annual pinball festival at Lodi Grape Festival Grounds. A portion of proceeds from the festival benefit the World of Wonders Science Museum, providing fundraising support while increasing community awareness.
• Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWOW Science Museum participates in the ASTC Travel Passport Program, providing members free or discounted admission to over 300 science centers and museums across the United States and the world. This reciprocal arrangement benefits WOW members traveling and encourages cross-visitation between institutions.
• Gold Runner/Lodi Transit StationsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerTransit partnership offering 50% off general admission to Gold Runner customers who show same-day tickets. Valid April 1, 2026 - March 31, 2027. Makes museum accessible to travelers throughout California.
• Lodi Rotary Clubs, Kiwanis, RJQmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer organizations that built the outdoor lunch area for WOW Field Study Trips. Organizations include Lodi Rotary Clubs, Lodi Kiwanis, RJQ, Meehleis Modular, Meza Trucking, and Lodi Lowe's. Represents significant community investment in museum infrastructure.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Exploratorium: San Francisco-based hands-on science museum that was the direct inspiration for the WOW founder's vision. Both institutions operate interactive exhibit-based learning environments centered on physics, perception, and natural phenomena — the most direct conceptual and operational peer.
• Gateway Science Museum: Chico State University-affiliated science museum in Northern California with exhibits and K–12 educational programs. Comparable scale, regional museum mission, and university/community partnership structure.
• The Tech Interactive: San Jose hands-on science and technology museum featuring interactive exhibits in engineering, robotics, and physical sciences. Closely comparable product model (interactive exhibits plus educational programs) serving California family and school audiences.
• Lawrence Hall of Science: UC Berkeley-affiliated public science center with hands-on exhibits and K–12 science curricula aligned to NGSS. Highly comparable in mission, audience (school groups + families), and standards-based programming model.
• Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose: Children-focused hands-on science and discovery museum in the Bay Area. Comparable audience (children ages 2–10 and families), similar exhibit philosophy, and overlapping programming including birthday parties, camps, and school field trips.
• Discovery Museum Science & Space Center: Sacramento-area hands-on science and space museum — the closest geographic peer in Northern California. Comparable scale, single-location model, and mix of interactive exhibits with school and family programming.
• ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum: Ashland, Oregon hands-on science museum of comparable scale and rural/small-city catchment. Closely aligned product mix (interactive exhibits, field trips, summer camps, memberships) and nonprofit operating model.

Others

• Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC): Professional association and passport program network that WOW participates in for reciprocal membership benefits. Not a direct competitor but a key ecosystem partner and proxy benchmark for visitor-serving science centers.

Broad incumbents

• Pacific Science Center: Established Seattle-based science center with a much larger footprint, IMAX theater, and broader programming portfolio. Comparable in mission and educational programming but operates at significantly greater scale and geographic reach.
• Carnegie Science Center: Pittsburgh-based established science center with hands-on exhibits, planetarium, and educational programming. Operates as a major regional anchor institution — wider scope and scale but similar core product line.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wowmuseum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/world-of-wonders-science-museum-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about World Of Wonders Science Museum, Inc.