The Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond gives teachers free general admission every day. The tickets and admissions page says teachers, along with active duty military, retired military and veterans, receive free general admission everyday, and you claim it by showing a valid ID in person at Guest Services.
If you teach a science unit and want to walk the floor before you plan a class trip, or you’d like a day out with your own kids, the page states the offer in a single sentence. The part to plan around is the desk, since the page asks for ID in person.
How To Get The Science Museum Of Virginia Teacher Discount
The tickets and admissions page says guests must provide a valid ID in person to Guest Services to receive this discount. The museum policies page says the same thing in its own words: guests who qualify for teacher or military discounts must provide valid ID to Guest Services to receive discounted admission, and it tells you to head to Guest Services when you arrive.
Neither page says what counts as a valid ID, or whether a school badge or a pay stub works. The page also doesn’t say whether you can set the offer up ahead of time online, so plan on being at the desk.
What The Free Admission Covers
The page says free admission excludes special events, Dome features and select touring exhibitions. The same page lists a Dome show as an additional $5 after you buy a general admission ticket, and it doesn’t say whether that price changes for a teacher.
If You’re Bringing People
The page doesn’t say whether the teacher offer reaches the people who come with you. For scale, it lists adult general admission, ages 13-59, at $19.00 and youth admission, ages 6-12, at $16.00, with children 2 and younger listed as free. It also says guests who purchase general admission tickets online before their visit receive a $1 discount on each ticket.
The Educator Membership Discount
The membership FAQ mentions a discounted membership rate as an educator, and it says a membership bought at an educator rate isn’t eligible for auto renewal and must be renewed in person at Guest Services each year. The pages we read don’t give the educator rate or say who qualifies for it. The FAQ points questions about a specific discount to the membership office at 804.864.1449.
Who Counts As A Teacher
The page says Teachers and leaves it there. It doesn’t name a state, a district, a certification or a grade level, and it doesn’t say whether private school teachers, homeschool parents or retired teachers qualify, so those are questions for Guest Services.
What We Couldn’t Confirm
We couldn’t find what ID the desk accepts, whether anyone you bring gets a lower price, or how much the educator membership rate is. The pages don’t give a date range for the offer beyond the word everyday, and they don’t say which touring exhibitions count as select.
Q&A
Is general admission really free for teachers at the Science Museum of Virginia?
The page says teachers receive free general admission everyday, with a valid ID shown in person to Guest Services. It excludes special events, Dome features and select touring exhibitions.
Do I need to buy a ticket online first?
The page doesn’t say you do. It says guests must provide a valid ID in person to Guest Services to receive the discount.
Does it cover a Dome show?
No. The page says free admission excludes Dome features. A Dome show is listed as an additional $5 after general admission.
Does it have to be a Virginia teacher?
The page doesn’t name a state or district. It says Teachers and doesn’t define the word.
Is there a teacher discount on memberships?
The membership FAQ mentions a discounted membership rate as an educator but doesn’t give the rate. It says that membership has to be renewed in person at Guest Services each year.
More Information:
The details above come from the museum’s own pages as they loaded when we checked, and programs change without notice. See more entertainment discounts for teachers.