How your Washington Pavilion membership travels with you, offering admission to museums worldwide

This piece is sponsored by Washington Pavilion Management Inc.

Whether you’re planning to hit the road for a vacation this summer or heading to destinations from coast to coast, you can visit some of the nation’s most well-known museums with free or discounted admission if you’re a member of the Washington Pavilion.

The Washington Pavilion is part of the ASTC Passport Program, organized by the Association of Science and Technology Centers, which connects members of partner organization with admission to more than 400 participating locations worldwide.

The Kirby Science Discovery Center at the Washington Pavilion 

“A membership at the Washington Pavilion opens the door to traveling whether you’re going to Minneapolis or Chicago, Denver or Des Moines, to some of the best museums in the world,” said Timothy Sax, director of sales.

“Your membership doesn’t just stay in Sioux Falls and support Sioux Falls. It travels with you and allows you to experience the world.”

This benefit is available with Washington Pavilion Discover and Explore memberships.

For families planning vacations, the benefit goes beyond saving on admission costs. It removes the guesswork of deciding whether a museum stop is “worth it.”

“It turns every city into an accessible, already-purchased experience,” Sax said. “You can add it to your to-do list without hesitation. It removes some of that parent guilt and makes it easy to turn travel days into learning days.”

Regional options alone can offset quickly the cost of membership.

Science Museum of Minnesota

In the Twin Cities, Pavilion members can visit the Science Museum of Minnesota, where a family Pavilion membership grants admission for two adults and those younger than 21, or the Minnesota Children’s Museum, which admits two adults and up to four children.

Minnesota Children’s Museum

In Des Moines, the Science Center of Iowa participates in the program, while families heading south can stop at Omaha Children’s Museum. A trip west might include the South Dakota Discovery Center in Pierre.

Omaha Children’s Museum

Further destinations expand the value even more. In Denver, members can visit both Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. In Chicago, three of the Midwest’s most prominent museums — Adler Planetarium, the Field Museum and the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry — are all included.

Field Museum

“If you take a day trip and hit those, you will spend more than you would on a year’s Pavilion membership just getting people into those museums,” Sax said.

Even lesser-known stops can add value along the way.

“There are world-class museums, but I also love finding smaller museums you wouldn’t expect,” Sax said. “On a long road trip, you can take a one-hour break and turn it into an activity.”

Omaha Children’s Museum

The program also works in reverse. Visitors to Sioux Falls who hold memberships at participating institutions can use them for admission to the Washington Pavilion — reinforcing its role as part of a global network of learning destinations.

“It’s a great way to introduce your guests to Sioux Falls, no matter what their age or interest,” Sax said.

And that’s just one benefit of becoming a member of the Washington Pavilion. While in Sioux Falls, you can enjoy a wide range of experiences anytime you choose:

Unlimited free admission to the Kirby Science Discovery Center, Visual Arts Center

Members receive unlimited admission to the Kirby Science Discovery Center and the Visual Arts Center, offering access to hands-on exhibits and rotating gallery installations across eight spaces.

With more than 100 interactive exhibits, the Kirby Science Discovery Center offers an experience for all ages, including the new Space Explorers: Mission Infinity, where visitors can build and launch a rocket at Mission Control, step inside a Mars habitat and explore the Red Planet and imagine alien worlds and life beyond our solar system.

The Visual Arts Center continues to expand its appeal to a wide range of audiences, from families to adults seeking cultural experiences.

“It’s an affordable way to unlock a world for learning whether you’re 9 or 90,” Sax said.

Current and upcoming exhibitions include work from local and regional artists, as well as nationally recognized names. One highlight is a large-scale exhibition from Hazel Belvo, a 91-year-old artist whose decades-long career has made her a standout in the Midwest arts scene.

Another exhibit features Sioux Falls School District art teachers, showcasing the work of educators who also are practicing artists.

Visitors also can experience unique installations like a tactile exhibit designed for visually impaired guests, which features raised versions of iconic works such as the Mona Lisa and Vincent van Gogh paintings.

“It’s continually changing,” Sax said. “There are so many reasons to come back.”

Add unlimited Wells Fargo CineDome, Sweetman Planetarium membership

For a lower cost this year, add on a membership to the upgraded Wells Fargo CineDome and Sweetman Planetarium and your membership will pay for itself in just a few visits.

“Not only that, you’ll find new shows and programs more regularly in the year ahead,” Sax said. “We have the Cadillac of CineDomes, so we’re rolling out more shows and investing more into bringing high-quality programming throughout the year.”

A new show, “Global Soundscapes,” allows guests to travel to faraway ecosystems, investigate how sound behaves and learn how listening helps scientists understand the health of our planet.

The program explores how researchers use sound data to study ecosystems such as the Amazon rainforest, identifying species and tracking environmental changes through audio analysis.

“It’s more than just a cool screen,” Sax said. “It’s an immersive experience you can’t get anywhere else in the state.”

Members can add unlimited CineDome and planetarium access for an additional cost — $20 for individuals or $50 for families — a benefit that quickly can pay for itself over multiple visits.

“Spend it once, and you double the experience you can have,” Sax said. “Even if you pop in for a show and grab lunch, it can transform your visit.”

Members-only events

As a member, you’ll also enjoy free film screenings from January through August at the CineDome, along with special members-only hours and events throughout the year.

“You’ll be able to find a date night every month of the year,” Sax said.

Members also receive discounts on ticketed experiences such as Cosmos & Cocktails and Art After Dark.

Other benefits of membership include:

• Early ticket access: Be the first to grab tickets for select shows and events during presales.
• Educational discounts: Save 10 percent on classes, camps and birthday parties.
• Dining perks: Receive 10 percent off at The WP Cafe, and enjoy discounts on gourmet ice cream and snacks at Parlour.

“Historically, membership here has been thought of as something to do with your family,” Sax said. “While that’s still the case, there are so many places to come and things to do without kids too. You’ll find it easily pays for itself whether you’re visiting the Pavilion or putting your membership to work worldwide.”

To learn more about Washington Pavilion membership and sign up today, start here.