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Membership Policies and FAQ

Membership Policies

  • Up to two adults living in the same household may be listed on the membership card.
  • When visiting, at least one member who lives in the household must be present.
  • Admission privileges do not include visits with school groups.
  • Memberships are nontransferable, and cannot be shared between households.
  • Memberships are not refundable.
  • Legal Notice. All annual and other memberships are revocable licenses. The Museum reserves the right to refuse or revoke membership and/or deny admission without refund for noncompliance with applicable rules and terms or for inappropriate conduct.

Privacy Policy

The Museum of Science never exchanges or sells member email addresses. From time to time we collaborate with other not-for-profit organizations to offer special promotions and interesting opportunities to our members. In such cases, we may exchange member names and postal addresses. If you do not want your name or mailing address shared with other organizations, please notify us at 617-589-0180 or membership@mos.org.

Purchasing a Membership

  • +  -   I already bought Exhibit Halls tickets. Can my purchase go toward a new membership?

    Yes! If you decide to purchase a membership after visiting the Museum, you may apply the cost of your Exhibit Halls tickets to a new membership if it is purchased on-site on the same day as your visit. The maximum number of tickets you may apply is limited to the number of admissions the new membership allows (e.g., if you purchase a Premier 2 membership you may put the cost of two tickets towards your year of membership). Omni and Planetarium ticket costs may not be applied to memberships.

  • +  -   Can I put more names than just my own on a membership?

    You can name up to two adults who reside in your household on a membership. Adults living at separate addresses cannot be named on a single membership.

  • +  -   If I buy my membership today, can I visit and use my passes today?

    Yes, no matter how you purchase your membership you will have immediate access to your benefits.

    Online

    When purchasing online, you can buy a membership and any additional tickets you may want in the same transaction. Your order confirmation will include both a temporary membership card and your tickets, which may be displayed on your mobile device or printed at home for express entry. If you prefer, you may pick up reserved tickets at the Museum using a self-serve kiosk, or by presenting your order number to a box office cashier.

    On-site

    To purchase your membership at the Museum and use your passes, go to the purple Member line at the box office in the Museum lobby.

    By Phone

    If you have called to purchase a membership and make ticket reservations using your passes, the phone representative will give you an order number and send you a confirmation email. Your order confirmation will include both a temporary membership card and your tickets, which may be displayed on your mobile device or printed at home for express entry. If you prefer, you may pick up reserved tickets at the Museum using a self-serve kiosk, or by presenting your order number to a box office cashier.

  • +  -   Is my membership good for a calendar year, or for a full year from time of purchase?

    Memberships are good for one full year from the time of purchase. Our memberships expire at the end of the month of purchase the following year. If you are renewing, your new membership year will begin when your current membership expires.

  • +  -   What exactly does membership give me free or unlimited admission to?

    Membership gives you free, unlimited access to our Exhibit Halls and the Discovery Center every day we are open. Free, unlimited admission benefits do not extend to the Mugar Omni Theater, Charles Hayden Planetarium, Butterfly Garden, 4-D Theater, or temporary exhibits requiring an additional ticket.

Membership Cards

Membership Levels

  • +  -   What is the difference between a Basic membership and a Premier membership?

    The difference between the two levels of membership is the number of free, one-time use passes and the parking benefit:

    • All Basic Levels come with two Omni, two Planetarium, and two Exhibit Halls guest passes each year — plus a 10% parking discount.
    • All Premier Levels come with four Omni, four Planetarium, and four Exhibit Halls guest passes each year — plus two hours of free parking. Premier Level members also receive advance registration opportunities for some of our more popular member events. Parking in the Museum garage is available on a first come, first serve basis.

    All members receive discounted tickets to Omni, Planetarium, Butterfly Garden, and 4-D Theater ($5 per ticket). Members also receive a 10% discount in the store and café.

    Check out the full list of benefits

  • +  -   What does 2, 5, or 8 mean?

    Each of these refers to the number of people allowed in the Exhibit Halls each day you visit. A Basic 5 or Premier 5 admits up to five people to the Exhibit Halls, including the card holder.

  • +  -   I'm a Basic Level member. Can I upgrade my membership level to Premier? Can I upgrade the number of guests that my membership level permits?

    Members may upgrade from Basic to Premier and/or any increase in admissions at any time. If your membership expires within four months, consider renewing early and receive your new benefits for the duration of your current membership in addition to the new membership year. Upgrades are not prorated. Downgrading to a lower number of admissions, or from a Premier to Basic level, is only allowed during renewal.

Your Online Account

Bonus Passes

  • +  -   Paper passes vs electronic passes, what is the difference?

    Since May 2016, all memberships have included electronic bonus passes. These passes may be redeemed online, by phone, or in person at the box office.

    Legacy paper passes for the Omni or Planetarium, which are generally blue or ivory colored, can only be redeemed in person at the box office, although members can make reservations using these passes by calling 617-589-0180. Exhibit hall passes, which are generally green, may be used directly at the lobby entrance. Active members may use expired legacy paper passes.

    Paper passes with a gift code, which are white with a red bar on top, may be redeemed online, by phone, or in person at the box office. Exhibit hall passes may be used directly at the lobby entrance.

  • +  -   Can you explain the passes to me? Do I get them every time I visit?

    Each year that you are a member, you receive Omni, Planetarium, and Exhibit Halls guest passes. Membership passes expire one year from date of purchase and must be used prior to expiration. Each pass may be redeemed for one free ticket to the specified venue. Exhibit Halls passes can be used to admit visitors above the number of admissions your membership allows.

    Electronic passes and paper passes with a gift code can be used when making a reservation online, over the phone, or in person. All passes, except paper exhibit hall passes, must be exchanged for tickets, which may be picked up at the museum, printed at home, or delivered directly to your phone. Paper exhibit hall passes may be used directly at the lobby entrance.

    Legacy paper passes, which are generally blue, ivory, or green, can be redeemed in person, or used when members make reservations by phone. Unfortunately, they cannot be redeemed online. All passes for the Omni and Planetarium must be exchanged for tickets at the box office. Exhibit hall passes may be used directly at the lobby entrance. If you make a reservation on the phone using paper passes, be sure to bring both the passes and the confirmation number to the box office to pick-up your tickets.

  • +  -   Can I still use my expired bonus passes?

    Membership passes expire one year from date of purchase and must be used prior to expiration. If you do not believe you will be able to use your passes before they expire, you may gift them to friends or family online at www.mos.org/memberships-and-passes.

    Expired legacy paper passes, which are generally blue, ivory, or green, may be used by active members only. Paper passes that contain a gift code must be used prior to their printed expiration date.

  • +  -   I lost my bonus passes. Can I have new ones?

    Unfortunately, because of their cash value, we cannot replace lost paper passes. Electronic passes are attached to your account so even if you lose your membership card you can still use your passes.

  • +  -   Can I give my bonus passes to family or friends?

    Valid paper passes may be given to family or friends and exchanged at the museum for timed tickets (non-members cannot use passes to make phone reservations). Electronic passes must be redeemed by the member, however, members may purchase tickets online using their passes and then email those tickets to friends or family, or gift them to friends or family online at www.mos.org/memberships-and-passes.

    Be sure to review our daily schedule prior to purchase as you will need to buy timed tickets for the Omni and Planetarium, and dated tickets for the Exhibit Halls.

  • +  -   Can I convert my paper passes to electronic passes?
    Not at this time.

Discounts

  • +  -   Is there a membership discount for teachers? Military personnel?

    Teachers who are an active member of the Museum’s Teacher Partner Program receive $10 off a household membership. Get details about the Teacher Partner Program. Active Teacher Partner Program members can purchase a household membership online, by calling 617-589-0180, or at the box office. If purchasing online, discount should appear in your cart. If it does not, call us at 617-589-0180.

    There is no membership discount for active military personnel but they do get free admission to the Exhibit Halls for themselves only.

  • +  -   What is the One-Step Program?

    When you enroll, we automatically renew your membership annually at a 10% discount using the same credit card you used to purchase your membership. We will send you a reminder each year, six weeks before we charge your credit card, to allow you to make any desired changes to your membership, including canceling your participation.

    Members can sign up for the One-Step Program up to three months before their expiration date. In addition to saving 10% on your membership each year you renew, this is a great way to save time.

  • +  -   Is my membership tax deductible?

    A portion of your membership may be tax deductible based on the amount paid less the value of benefits provided in return. As of July 2018, the fair market value of member benefits is:

    • $6 for each Omni Theater pass received with your membership
    • $8 for each Planetarium pass received with your membership
    • $27 for each Exhibit Hall pass received with your membership

    Please note that prices and market values are subject to change. We recommend you consult a tax advisor with questions.

Parking, Lost and Found, and Accessibility