Spark Wonder at The Frost Science Museum

The Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science in Maurice A. Ferré Park includes a world-class planetarium and aquarium, and is situated on four acres of beautiful bayfront land.

Frost Science stands out as one of only a few institutions worldwide to have both an aquarium and a planetarium in one museum. The North and West wings provide six floors of interactive exhibitions dedicated to the ecosystem of the Everglades.

The museum is located next to Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), completing the vision of Maurice A. Ferré Park as a hub dedicated to science, art and culture in the heart of Downtown Miami. The PAMM made the move from a former location in Downtown Miami to its 200,000-square-foot landmark building designed by award-winning architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron.

Frost Science, conceived by Grimshaw Architects, cuts an equally impressive silhouette on Miami’s skyline with a free-standing, spherical planetarium, the 500,000-gallon, cone-shaped aquarium and an indoor-outdoor campus offering ample views of both Biscayne Bay and the sparkling city surrounding it.

Interactive tanks and panoramic views on the Vista Level

The Aquarium

The centerpiece of Frost Science is its stunning, three-level aquarium containing multiple habitats, ecosystems and subaquatic depths. Visitors begin at the open-air rooftop Royal Caribbean Vista level, which is designed to represent the surface of South Florida’s ecosystem. Here, you’ll find the open waters of the Gulf Stream Aquarium, where pelagic fish such as hammerhead sharks and devil rays glide in the current. Additional exhibits are dedicated to South Florida’s biodiversity, including coral reefs, mangroves, sandy beaches and the Everglades. There’s also a touch tank where visitors can pet a stingray, and an aviary.

Descend to the second Dive level where you’ll view nearly 30 aquariums and interactive vessels, with everything from colorful damselfish to parrotfish and snapper swimming amid coral heads. You’ll also see the prop-and-drop roots of mangrove forests.

The bottom Deep level represents the vast depths of the Gulf Stream, the swift-moving, cold-water current that traverses the globe and runs parallel to Miami’s shoreline. Here, you can view the Gulf Stream Aquarium through a 31-foot oculus lens and watch the mysterious fish of the ocean’s depths swimming above you.

The Planetarium

The Frost Planetarium is one of the most innovative on the planet. The 250-seat auditorium is powered by an 8K visual system using six 3D-capable projectors with 16 million colors and surround sound. Tilted forward at a 23.5-degree angle, the auditorium offers viewers a nearly 360-degree virtual experience inside the planetarium’s 67-foot span. Whether you’re tumbling through space, exploring the ocean’s depths or stargazing, the Frost Planetarium provides an immersive and exciting educational experience.

Planetarium interior, by Ra Haus

Featured Exhibitions

The majority of Frost Science’s exhibits are divided between the North and West wings. Here, you’ll find ample space for research, education and special events. The ground level of the West Wing is home to the museum’s onsite café.

In the Batchelor Foundation Gallery, Feathers to the Stars charts the history of flight from winged and feathered dinosaurs to migratory birds and human ingenuity in aviation and space travel. The exhibit includes a 30-foot dinosaur known as Yutyrannus Huali, a military fighter jet and a virtual Apollo space mission launch.

The Ocean Decade exhibit showcases conservation-themed artwork by artists around the world, intended to inspire sustainable use and protection of our planet’s oceans. It also draws attention to Frost’s own marine and coastal conservation program.

Another exhibition, MeLaβ, is located in the West Wing and is dedicated to health, fitness and how your body and mind function. You’ll experience five interactive zones that will unlock fun facts about yourself, such as how you perform under pressure and what kind of music relaxes you.

Power of Science at Frost Science, photo by Squint/Opera

For a hands-on experience, the Power of Science lets you explore the four frontiers of science: the environment, our oceans, our bodies and the universe as a researcher, explorer or inventor would. Learn about groundbreaking research and discoveries, while analyzing rare specimens, scientific instruments, cutting-edge interactive exhibits and more.

The Florida Power & Light Company Solar Terrace on the sixth floor’s rooftop brings you The Sun Spot, where you’ll experience the power of the sun and the ways its energy can be used as a renewable resource.

From out of this world to under the sea, Frost Science is a game-changing Miami aquarium and museum that’s a must-see attraction for everyone.

By Shayne Benowitz | June 13, 2023

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