The Space Station Museum
The Space Station Museum
4.5
This location was reported permanently closed
About
The Space Station Museum is a privately funded, volunteered staffed space exploration museum that is operated by the 501c3 non-profit corporation, "The W Foundation" (TWF). TWF owns one of the largest private collections of U.S., Russian and Soviet space exploration artifacts.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
32 reviews
Excellent
24
Very good
4
Average
3
Poor
1
Terrible
0
heckfy
Pleasanton, California1,211 contributions
Feb 2015 • Friends
Ok, where should I start ... This museum is free (but they really deserve a donation), easy to get to, and it was built by people who really love space exploration and it shows. They are fairly small, but they got some really cool staff and they can really tell about it in the way which makes the visitors excited too.
So if you get there, this is what you should check out:
1. The rocks from space
2. The space diaper!!!
3. Check the mechanical control modules with a real globe and protected knobs
4. The lunar lending module and the lunar car. I've seen them in other museums, behind the glass and far away. Here you can get really really close.
5. Space suite. Again, you can see every stitch - can't get any closer.
But at the end of the day, it's really the staff which makes all the difference. Their positive energy makes the place shine.
By the way, it's located next to a nice coffee shop and a grocery store, so if some people in your party really allergic to space (unlikely, of course), they can spend that time with a cup of coffee.
So if you get there, this is what you should check out:
1. The rocks from space
2. The space diaper!!!
3. Check the mechanical control modules with a real globe and protected knobs
4. The lunar lending module and the lunar car. I've seen them in other museums, behind the glass and far away. Here you can get really really close.
5. Space suite. Again, you can see every stitch - can't get any closer.
But at the end of the day, it's really the staff which makes all the difference. Their positive energy makes the place shine.
By the way, it's located next to a nice coffee shop and a grocery store, so if some people in your party really allergic to space (unlikely, of course), they can spend that time with a cup of coffee.
Written February 16, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RFW1943
Mill Valley, CA111 contributions
Oct 2018
This is a pretty small museum but it is packed full of information that kids are interested in. Want to see a full size space suit? This is your place. Easy parking too.
Written January 8, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ProfCB
San Francisco, CA101 contributions
Mar 2017
This privately owned museum is one of six little museums in the city of Novato. Take time to see them all! This one is privately owned by someone who has serious connections with people in the space business and has an amazing collection of memorabilia. Try to visit on an event day, and you will actually meet a famous space person! Because it is private, the hours are limited, so check the website.
Written April 9, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mjmbkk
Novato, CA411 contributions
Feb 2017 • Business
We hung our while waiting for a table at Boca. It was a very pleasant surprise. The best part was the docent, former astronaut.
Written March 1, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TheBlum
Escazu, Costa Rica388 contributions
Jul 2014 • Couples
It is a facility on the small side, but don't let that deter you.
This is an interesting exhibit of stuff from the space shuttle, space suits, other objects and great history of the space race and exploration.
It is worth the trip to see it.
This is an interesting exhibit of stuff from the space shuttle, space suits, other objects and great history of the space race and exploration.
It is worth the trip to see it.
Written August 5, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
claireleefl
Winter Springs, FL1,220 contributions
Mar 2014 • Family
Even the three year old in our party was captivated by the space suits and memorabilia. Not surprisingly, his favorite was the cosmonaut "diaper". One nice feature of this little jam-packed museum is that almost everything is "hands on". You can try on a space suit sleeve or a helmet, and pick up various kinds of meteorites.
Volunteers staff the museum and are very knowledgeable and eager to show you everything they have on display.
Be sure to check on whether they will be open when you are there, as the hours are limited. If you find them closed, you can walk next door to Marin Coffee Roasters to savor great coffee and unique pastries.
Volunteers staff the museum and are very knowledgeable and eager to show you everything they have on display.
Be sure to check on whether they will be open when you are there, as the hours are limited. If you find them closed, you can walk next door to Marin Coffee Roasters to savor great coffee and unique pastries.
Written March 25, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
50PlusCalifornia (in 2001 !)
California165 contributions
Apr 2013 • Couples
This is a cool place to visit. Good history, authentic memorabilia and history. Only problem I had was there was NOTHING about our own Novato female astronaut, Yvonne Darlene Cagle, M.D., NASA Astronaut. WHAT is up with that?? I hope the owners of the museum see this and add her pics and history to their personal exhibition!!!
Written March 24, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LDb
46 contributions
Sep 2019
What a hidden gem! Eclectic space exploration artefacts from an individual's collection. A Russian cosmonaut suit, a model Apollo LEM, a Space Shuttle tire, and lots of documented details about the US programs. Note: due to remodeling, will be closed 15 Sep 2019 ~ Jan 2020.
Written September 9, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
startreklover
Mountain View, CA20 contributions
Sep 2018 • Family
It had surprising items pertaining to space and I loved it! Doesn't take too long to see. I spent almost one hour there, but they were chatty about people in the area and it was over all really wonderful.
Written March 15, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shu K
San Jose, CA372 contributions
Aug 2017 • Family
The museum itself is tiny, though there is some interesting stuff. It's a place you visit if you happen to be there to eat lunch or go shopping.
I visited the place when they had the Novato Space Festival. They put up tents out in the open area in front of the museum, and it was cool in that they had 5-6 astronauts there and were available to meet and greet (and sign their books). There were other attractions but the big draw was a bunch of guys in Star Wars costumes. Overall a fun event, but you need to be a space enthusiast to benefit.
The astronauts had their Q&A session for an hour, but otherwise an hour to see everything was more than enough time.
I visited the place when they had the Novato Space Festival. They put up tents out in the open area in front of the museum, and it was cool in that they had 5-6 astronauts there and were available to meet and greet (and sign their books). There were other attractions but the big draw was a bunch of guys in Star Wars costumes. Overall a fun event, but you need to be a space enthusiast to benefit.
The astronauts had their Q&A session for an hour, but otherwise an hour to see everything was more than enough time.
Written August 7, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Will there be an astronaut from the Apollo moon landings at the festival this August?
Written January 11, 2019
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