The Adirondack Wild Center Voted Best Science Museum
USA TODAY Readers’ Choice Awards selects Tupper Lake’s Wild Center as Best in the U.S.
Photo credit: TupperLake.com (ROOST)
The Wild Center, located in scenic Tupper Lake, NY, has emerged victorious as the winner of the coveted title of "Best Science Museum" in USA TODAY’s 2024 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. After a lengthy four-week voting process, readers declared The Wild Center the top choice, solidifying its position as a leading institution in American science museums.
The USA TODAY Network is the country's most extensive local-to-national publishing and digital media organization. It has the fourth-largest circulation of any newspaper in the United States.
Tupper Lake’s Wild Center recognized as the best U.S. science museum by leading travel experts.
The Wild Walk, open year-round, at Tupper Lake’s Wild Center. Photo courtesy The Wild Center.
"Winning this award is a testament to our community. It's not just about being named the best; it's about showing the world what the Adirondacks are made of," remarked Nick Gunn, Marketing Director at The Wild Center.
"We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has supported us." ADK Taste is proud to say that we voted early and often for The Wild Center and hope we played even a small part in their success.
The Wild Center rises to the top in 2024 as the leader in science education and public engagement.
In 2023, Tupper Lake’s The Wild Center secured an impressive second-place finish, trailing closely behind another esteemed institution, COSI (Center of Science and Society) in Columbus, Ohio, which claimed the title for four years in a row.
Lil’ ADKers checking out one of The Wild Center’s amazing wild life exhibits. Photo courtesy The Wild Center.
Now, in 2024, The Wild Center has risen to the top, cementing its status as a leader in science education and public engagement in New York State’s forever wild Adirondack Park.
The Wild Center was one of 21 nominees chosen by a panel of travel experts. USA TODAY readers then voted for their favorites on the list.
The competitors included some of the most recognized and esteemed science and natural history museums nationwide, including the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, the Saint Louis Science Center, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, and the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.
USA TODAY Readers’ Choice Awards help people find the best museums in the United States.
According to USA TODAY, there are more than 35,000 museums in the United States, based on data obtained from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. That means there are more than twice as many museums in the country as there are McDonald's restaurants — a staggering figure.
Scenic Tupper Lake in the Adirondack Tri-Lakes & High Peaks Region. Photo courtesy TupperLake.com (ROOST)
To help their readers navigate such a large list of museums, USA TODAY’s editors sorted the institutions into eight categories, such as Children’s, History, or Music museums. They tasked an expert panel to nominate the top picks in each category. Then, readers vote for their favorites to decide the winners.
The Wild Center tops the list of the best science museums in America.
USA TODAY's 2024 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Science Museum in the U.S. includes:
Center of Science and Industry (COSI) - Columbus, Ohio
Michigan Science Center - Detroit, Michigan
Tellus Science Museum - Cartersville, Georgia
Saint Louis Science Center - St. Louis, Missouri
Discovery World - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
The Franklin Institute - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Exploratorium - San Francisco, California
The Bakken Museum - Minneapolis, Minnesota
Being named "Best Science Museum 2024" in USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards confirms what we already knew: The Wild Center is a true Adirondack gem. Make sure it’s on your To-Do list next time you’re visiting the Adirondack Park in New York State.
For more information and to plan your visit, check out The Wild Center’s website.
Places to stay, shop, eat, and things to do near The Wild Center and Tupper Lake.
