The Ultimate Guide to the Minecraft Exhibition at the Liberty Science Center

Minecraft, only one of the most popular video games EVER, is now a world-traveling exhibition, and that exhibition’s first stop is in Jersey City. Yes, the Minecraft Exhibition is on tour at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, New Jersey and we have the information grown-ups and kids are going to want to know.

We had the opportunity to visit the Minecraft Exhibition at the Liberty Science Center in late February as part of a collaboration they were doing with bloggers and influencers. We were provided with tickets and hired to share our experience on our social media channels. But we had such a great visit and felt this Minecraft exhibit was one our readers were definitely going to be curious about. With that in mind, I felt I had to write this guide to the Minecraft Exhibition.

We had the opportunity to revisit on July 19, 2022 as part of another partnership so some details have been updated.

Whether you see the Minecraft Exhibition at the Liberty Science Center or somewhere else along its tour around the world, our guide will help you know what to expect and can help you prepare for the best Minecraft experience.

Minecraft at the Liberty Science Center – What you need to know

Whether everyone in your family is fans of Minecraft or just some of the members are, everyone will find something to do, learn, or explore in the Liberty Science Center’s newest exhibit area. There’s nowhere else that gamers can feel like they’ve stepped right into a Minecraft world.

As we made our way through the exhibit this past weekend, I overheard parents saying “this is so cool!“ We couldn’t help but agree.

Fast Facts About the Minecraft Exhibition

• It took over four years to build.
• The immersive, experiential exhibition was designed to mark the 10th anniversary of the game’s public debut in 2009.
• The traveling exhibition spans over 6,000 square feet featuring scenes, patterns, colors, and textures inspired by in-game biomes and player-built structures.

When is Minecraft at the Liberty Science Center?

The Minecraft Exhibition is at the Liberty Science Center from February 18, 2022, until September 5, 2022.

Where can I find the Minecraft Exhibition?

The Minecraft Exhibition is on the upper level, fourth floor, of the Liberty Science Center. It is accessible by the elevator or stairs.

What Minecraft activities are available?

Over that 6,000 square foot Minecraft exhibit, there’s so much guests can do, see, read, and watch. Here are a few highlights.

Watch videos

Throughout the exhibit are screens showing videos of

• time-lapse builds,
• history of Minecraft,
• veteran players at work.

These interviews with the game’s developers, creative team, and legendary Minecraft players help visitors and possibly non-gamers understand Minecraft’s broader impact over the last 12 years.

In some of the spots, there is theater-like seating. Take a rest. Sit back. Watch and learn.

Take a pretend nap in a Minecraft bed. 

In one of the first spaces in the Minecraft Exhibition is a large panel screen with a makeshift Minecraft bed.

Play games

There are multiple gaming stations throughout the Minecraft exhibit. Some will have games playing while standing. Others allow players to be seated while playing.

Guests can play on Inspiration Island (creative mode), Minigames/Mods, Nether exploration, exploring big builds, and more.

There was at least one gaming station available with signage and gaming options in Spanish.

Pose with life-size figures

The Minecraft Exhibition at the Liberty Science Center includes 15 life-size Minecraft characters, called “mobs”.

• Creeper
• Steve
• Enderman
• Zombie
• LLamas
• Alex
• Panda
• Tamed Wolf
• Husk
• Cow
• & More

Take all the pictures

This Minecraft exhibit is going to put your kids in a good great mood. They may even let you take pictures of them. Take advantage of it. In addition to the life-size figures, there are murals and backdrops in the hallway leading into the Minecraft Exhibition as well as inside. Start with the one in the main lobby of the Liberty Science Center.

Compare first night stories

The first night is always the hardest in Minecraft as many players don’t know what to expect. Step inside an alcove and listen to stories from other players on how they survived or didn’t survive during their first Minecraft night.

Practice your crafting

At one crafting table, guests can use tiles that represent building materials from the game—such as wood, iron, and obsidian—to make their own objects and tools.

Peek into Minecraft worlds

On several walls of the exhibit, there are Minecraft dioramas featuring biomes, giant trees, flying overhead Phantoms, scrambling chickens, baby pandas, and more.

Enter the Nether

Enter the Nether if you dare. You won’t get burned by lava, but you may encounter Zombie Pigman as you enter this other dimension of Minecraft.

Destroy blocks

At another table, Liberty Science Center guests can use their hands and interact with a screen to destroy blocks.

Punch a tree

In Minecraft, the first step is to build your own pickax. But you can’t have an ax, without a stick. You can’t have a stick without wood. That’s where the tree comes into play. Minecraft players need to punch trees to gather woods. At the Minecraft exhibit, visitors can really punch a ‘tree’ to see how successful they are in obtaining wood.

Experience day and night in a Minecraft world

Did you know that in Minecraft time moves quickly? Forget 24 hours, in Minecraft it only takes 20 minutes to cycle between night and day. Visitors to the exhibit will experience that day-night cycle as the lights of the gallery change and the moonrises at the same pace.

Ride into the caves

Visitors can sit inside a minecart and pretend to ride into the caves to gather loot like diamonds, iron, gold, Redstone, and more.

How big are those blocks? How tall is an Enderman?

Did you know that a Minecraft block is a meter on each side? My husband and kids had no idea. Proportionally that makes an Enderman close to 10 feet tall.

Get inspiration for the ultimate Minecraft bedroom

If you’ve got a kid that loves Minecraft and would be thrilled to have a Minecraft bedroom makeover, you won’t be able to leave the Minecraft exhibition without both of you being inspired.

Jersey Family Fun is a participant in the Amazon Affiliates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. Some links listed below in this post are affiliate links. They do not add any additional costs to the purchase price.

Once inspired head over to Amazon or Etsy to see the latest in Minecraft bedroom decor.

Art Appreciation – Minecraft Style

As you exit the Minecraft Exhibition at the Liberty Science Center don’t miss the variety of pixel art inspired by Minecraft.

See what’s possible as far as gameplay and what you can build

Talking about inspiration? The Minecraft gamers in your family won’t be able to leave the Minecraft Exhibition at the Liberty Science Center without being inspired. There’s something about seeing what others have done and hearing how they’ve done it that makes you want to try and do it yourself or at least be inspired by it. So yes, the kids (and maybe even the grown-ups) are going to want to go home and play.

New to Minecraft?

If you’re new to Minecraft you can use the signage and gaming stations to learn the fundamental skills, basic moves, and build your own worlds.

How much are the Minecraft activities?

Minecraft: The Exhibition is a premium exhibition. There is an admission fee to the exhibit in addition to general admission.

An admission ticket to the Minecraft exhibit is an additional $8 per person. The admission ticket will allow guests to enter the Minecraft area once and participate in all the additional activities at no additional charge.

Is there a Minecraft gift shop at the Liberty Science Center?

Believe it or not, there was no Minecraft gift shop inside or at the end of the Minecraft Exhibition. You can get through it without having to buy anything. (lol) If you or the kids do want some Minecraft merch check the Liberty Science Center gift shop on the main floor.

Tips for visiting Minecraft at the Liberty Science Center

• If you can reserve your Minecraft ticket for earlier in the day. The crowds will be smaller and you’ll have more time to explore. There’s no time limit for how long you can stay in the Exhibition.
• While there’s no time limit once inside, you can not return if you leave the Minecraft Exhibition. Take bathroom breaks before entering.
• No food or drink is allowed in the exhibit. Have a quick snack before entering to hold you over, just in case you do want to spend an extended amount of time exploring and playing.
• Talk to your kids ahead of time about sharing and taking turns. The gaming stations are set up to help sharing happen. After a designated period of time, a pop up message will appear on the screen encouraging players to give someone else a turn.
• Strollers were not allowed in the Minecraft Exhibition.
• There is some seating available in the exhibition.

About the Liberty Science Center

Liberty Science Center (LSC.org) is a 300,000-square-foot, not-for-profit learning center located in Liberty State Park on the Jersey City bank of the Hudson near the Statue of Liberty.

Dedicated to inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers and bringing the power, promise, and pure fun of science and technology to learners of all ages, Liberty Science Center houses the largest planetarium in the Western Hemisphere, 12 museum exhibition halls, a live animal collection with 110 species, giant aquariums, a 3D theater, live simulcast surgeries, a tornado-force wind simulator, K-12 classrooms and labs, and teacher-development programs.

Where is the Liberty Science Center?

The Liberty Science Center is located at 222 Jersey City Boulevard in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Quick things to know when planning your visit to the Liberty Science Center

• The Liberty Science Center has limited capacity. It is strongly recommended that guests purchase their tickets in advance.
• The Liberty Science Center is closed on Mondays.
• Properly wearing a face mask is highly recommended for LSC guests, but is no longer required. Liberty Science Center staff members, volunteers, and vendors will continue to wear masks while working at LSC. Read our updated COVID-19 policy for visitors here.
• I find that since there’s so much to do at the Liberty Science Center it’s best to arrive earlier in the day.
• If you can, plan to stay till later in the day. Most camps and field trips will have cleared out and you’ll have more of the museum to yourself.
• Save time by purchasing tickets to premium exhibits and shows ahead of time.
• All guests, regardless of how they purchased their tickets, will need to proceed through the COVID vaccine check and security screening before going to the ticket counters to obtain your wristbands for the day. Allow yourself ample time to do so.
• The regular cafeteria has reopened. Hot and cold foods, drinks, and snacks are available for purchase. There is also a convenient grab-and-go option. There is indoor and outdoor seating available for eating food purchased at the Liberty Science Center.

MORE Liberty Science Center areas to explore

Take a look at these stories about other Liberty Science Center exhibits we know you’ll enjoy.

• What can Toddlers and Preschoolers do at Liberty Science Center?
• The NEW Liberty Science Center Planetarium ~ The Country’s Largest & Most Advanced Planetarium
• Searching for Dinosaurs? The Best Places to See Dinosaurs in New Jersey

How much is admission to the Liberty Science Center?

This is the admission pricing for the Liberty Science Center as of July 20, 2022. Always call or check their website for the most up-to-date pricing.

Advanced General Admission (Buy in advance and save!)

• Adult: $29.99
• Child (2-12): $24.99

Same Day General Admission

• Adult: $31.99
• Child (2-12): $26.99

Kids under 2 receive free admission to the Liberty Science Center.

How can I save money on admission?

There are a few ways to save money on tickets to the Liberty Science Center.

• Buy your tickets in advance. Guests can save $2 per ticket when they reserve them in advance of their visit.
• Educators receive $10 off of their general admission when ID is shown on site at the Box Office on the day of visit.
• Active duty and veterans of the US Military receive free general admission for themselves when ID is shown on site at the Box Office on the day of visit.
• Visit during a Bank of America Museums on Us weekend.
  • Bank of America cardholders wishing to redeem the Museums on Us benefit can continue to redeem their complimentary general admission on site at the Box Office on the day of their visit with an active BoA credit/debit card and matching photo ID provided upon check-in. The admission is for the cardholder only. Any additional tickets beyond those obtained via this benefit can be purchased in advance.
• Call ahead for group rates. Discount rates apply to groups of 10 or more people.
• Become a member. Liberty Science Center members receive free admission yearround and other benefits.

Where is parking for the Liberty Science Center?

The Liberty Science Center has a dedicated parking lot in front of the building.

How much is parking?

The Liberty Science Center parking lot is owned by the state of New Jersey and operated by a private company. The Liberty Science Center does not receive parking revenue. As of July 19, 2022, the fee for cars and vans during the day is $7.00.