Design, Build, Test, & Repeat!

Experiment and innovate in Tinker Tank, our hands-on makerspace. Learn new skills to make something from nothing through hands-on tinkering activities. Then revise, redesign and turn that creation into something even better!

PacSci provides the tools you need to persevere through roadblocks, discover new approaches, and solve fun engineering tasks. Celebrate new approaches to creating and making, and take pleasure in knowing that no two design solutions are the same.

About Tinker Tank

Tinker Tank is PacSci’s hands-on maker space located in Upper Building 3. Guests will encounter a variety of areas for tinkering with circuits, clay, textiles, simple machines, wooden architecture, and more. We encourage guests to design, test, and redesign their creations as we work together to solve fun engineering tasks.

our Philosophy

In Tinker Tank there are no right answers, only different ways of approaching a problem. Testing and redesigning are crucial steps in the scientific method and engineering design process, and failures are a learning opportunity. Our staff are eager to help visitors puzzle through design problems and explore new ideas. We want to give guests the tools and support they need to persevere through roadblocks, discover new approaches, and to be proud of their work at the end of the day.

Drop-In Activities

Tinker Tank offers a wide variety of activities all day! Come make with clay, tinker with circuits, and design a weaving pattern. Our digital drawing, vertical wind table, and gravity ball run are always available for exploration.

Additionally, our engaged and knowledgeable staff host facilitated activities every Saturday and Sunday at our Innovation Station. We offer activities that are hands-on, open ended and require thinking outside the box. Some activities are restricted by age or experience level, see the posted schedule in Tinker Tank to learn about upcoming opportunities.

On any given day you could see one of these challenges:

• Scribble-bots
• Paper Rockets
• Frankentoys
• Ozobots
• Book Binding
• 3D Printing
• Paper Lanterns
• Simple Circuits
• Stamp Making

Tinker Tank is made possible in part by:

Additional support comes from more than 1,500 individuals, companies and foundations that donate to Pacific Science Center each year, as well as more than 13,000 member households from every corner of Washington State and around the country. Learn more about ways you can support Tinker Tank and Pacific Science Center.