Imaginarium of South Texas

Imagine a place where science turns into an exciting game and imagination knows no bounds. The Imaginarium of South Texas is a unique interactive children's center and museum located in Laredo, USA. Located on the Laredo College campus, this space of over 760 square meters serves as a real bridge between the world of knowledge and children's curiosity.

The museum specializes in STEM education, offering visitors more than 30 interactive exhibits. The heart of the Imaginarium is the Town Plaza—a miniature city square surrounded by zones dedicated to technology, history, commerce, and art. It has its own Tech Lab, a library, and a cozy area for the youngest explorers.

Over three decades of operation, this place has become an important social and educational hub. Visitors come here to build, invent, and explore together with their children using the tools of science and creativity. It is not just a museum, but a creative workshop where every child can feel like a great discoverer.

To plan your visit or get information about special events, you can use the museum's contact details. This interactive center is always happy to welcome new visitors and young explorers.

There is one rule in this museum: "hands-on exploration is mandatory." You will be able to interact with three dozen exhibits that explain complex laws of nature and technology in simple language. In the Tech Lab, young engineers can try their hand at construction, while in the creative workshop, they can engage in inventing using a wide variety of materials.

The conditions are ideal for family vacations: while older children explore STEM concepts through building and physical experiments, toddlers can play safely in the specially equipped Toddler Area. If you happen to visit during one of the "family nights," participation in activities is completely free.

Organizing parties is particularly popular here. Birthdays at the Imaginarium include room rental, host services, and VIP wristbands that grant unlimited access to all exhibits. The cost of a regular visit is quite budget-friendly: about $10 for children and $5 for adults, making this place one of the best options for meaningful leisure in Laredo.

Finding the Imaginarium of South Texas is easy: it is conveniently located on the main campus of Laredo College in Building P-149 at West End Washington St. If you are driving from downtown, the trip will take about 10–15 minutes, and there is free parking for visitors on the college grounds.

For those who prefer public transport, you can use the Laredo Transit Management bus routes that go directly to the campus. Taxi services or Uber are also popular and fast ways to get right to the doors of the science center.

Interestingly, the museum is within walking distance of the Mall del Norte. If you decide to combine shopping with educational leisure, head through the Dillard’s department store entrance to reach the campus and find the museum building.

The story of this amazing place began more than 30 years ago. Over three decades of existence, the Imaginarium of South Texas has evolved from a modest initiative into a key educational resource for the state, helping generations of children develop curiosity and self-confidence.

A significant milestone in the museum's life was 2016, when a large-scale renovation and expansion of the premises took place. Architects created a unified space centered around the Town Plaza—a miniature city square. This concept helped logically connect all the exhibits, highlighting how science, art, and commerce intertwine in modern society.

At the heart of the Imaginarium's work lies a simple but profound philosophy: "children learn best by doing." The museum continues to evolve constantly, introducing new technologies and programs to remain a flagship of creative education in the region and inspire future inventors.

To explore all 30+ interactive exhibits at your own pace and let your child experiment to their heart's content in the Tech Lab, we recommend setting aside 2 to 3 hours for your visit. This is the optimal time for a thoughtful immersion into the educational process through play.

If you plan to visit the Imaginarium of South Texas as part of a special event, such as a birthday party or a themed workshop, you should count on half a day (about 4 hours). This will allow children to enjoy both the main exhibition and the holiday program without any rush.

The museum's schedule is mainly focused on the latter half of the week and weekends. Usually, the doors are open on Friday (from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM), Saturday (from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM), and Sunday (from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM). From Monday to Thursday, the center is typically closed to the general public.

Please note that during the summer period or school holidays, opening hours may change. Before your trip, we strongly recommend checking the official website istx.org to confirm the current schedule and information about any possible maintenance days.

Exploring the surroundings of the Imaginarium will allow you to dive even deeper into the atmosphere of this border region. Right next to the science center are historic sites and cultural monuments worth visiting after seeing the exhibits.

Below are the most interesting places located in the immediate vicinity: