Points of Interest

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On Campus Points of Interest

Below, you’ll find some suggested places to visit while you’re here in East Lansing. For your reference, click here for a campus map.

Abrams Planetarium

The Talbert and Leota Abrams Planetarium serves as an astronomy and space science education resource center for central Michigan. It’s a great stop on a tour of campus while you’re in East Lansing.

Public planetarium shows, featuring the Digistar 5 projector, are scheduled for Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 P.M., and Sundays at 4:00 P.M.

The planetarium will be having public observing nights on May 30th and 31st from 9:00 P.M. to 11:00 P.M.

Click here to locate the planetarium on a map. Click here for suggested parking.

Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum

The Broad MSU is a contemporary museum devoted to the exploration and exhibition of significant art from around the globe; this international focus is supported by the contextualizing of contemporary art within the history of art by virtue of their historical collection.

During the week of the conference, the following exhibits will be open at the Broad:
Trevor Paglen: The Genres
Focus: Pao Houa Her
East Lansing 2030 | Collegeville Re-envisioned
The Broad Gift
Conversations Around the Table: an American Experience
Sculpture Garden

Weekend Hours:
Friday: 12 – 9 PM
Saturday & Sunday: 10 AM – 5 PM

Click here to locate the Broad on a map. Click here for suggested parking.

ICER - Institute for Cyber-Enabled Research

ICER is the new home of MSU’s High-Performance Computing Center. ICER’s goals include developing collaborative, interdisciplinary projects through a faculty scholars program and post-doctoral fellowships.

Click here to locate ICER on a map. Click here for suggested parking.

Matrix - Center for Digital Humanities and Social Sciences

As one of the premier humanities computing centers in the United States, Matrix creates and maintains online resources, provides training in computing and new teaching technologies, and creates forums for the exchange of ideas and expertise in the field.

Click here to locate Matrix on a map. Click here for suggested parking.

MSU Dairy Store

The MSU Dairy Store is many things—a plant, some stores, an educational and outreach center, and more. They make, package and sell delicious ice creams and cheeses. This is necessary stop during your visit to Michigan State University. Check out all of the delicious flavors here.

Click here to locate the union location. Click here for suggested parking.
Click here to locate the main location. Click here for suggested parking.

MSU Horticulture Gardens

One of the top university horticulture gardens in the country, MSU has 14 acres of diverse gardens. This is a relaxing stop on your tour of MSU. Visit the website for more information.

Click here to locate the horticulture gardens on a map. Click here for suggested parking.

Check out the MSU Butterfly House and the 4-H Children’s Garden while visiting.

MSU Museum

The Michigan State University Museum, founded in 1857, is the first collection holding unit established on campus. It has comprehensive natural science collections and the university’s most extensive and diverse cultural collections. These collections are used for research, education, exhibition, outreach and engagement projects.

Exhibitions during the week of the conference include:
Deep-Play: Creativity in Math & Art through Visual Wordplay
Growing Up Digital in Michigan and Morocco
Seeing China: Photographic Views and Viewpoints
Michigan Folksong Legacy: Grand Discoveries from the Great Depression
Land of the Feathered Dragons
Long-Term Exhibitions

Click here to see the Museum’s Historic North Campus Walking Tour.

Click here to locate the museum on a map. Click here for suggested parking.

National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory

NSCL is a world-leading laboratory for rare isotope research and nuclear science education. In mid-2009, MSU and the Department of Energy Office of Science signed a cooperative agreement to design a build a new Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB). Those wishing to visit should look for more information on the website.

Click here to locate the cyclotron on a map. Click here for suggested parking.

W.J. Beal Botanical Garden

The W. J. Beal Botanical Garden is an outdoor laboratory for the study and appreciation of plants. This garden, established in 1873 by Professor William James Beal, is the oldest continuously operated university botanical garden of its kind in the United States. This is a beautiful place to stop and rest next to the Red Cedar River.

Click here to locate the garden on a map. Click here for suggested parking.

Wharton Center for the Performing Arts

Wharton Center is Michigan’s largest performing arts venue with four unique stages and plenty of things to do and see all season. Wharton Center is the leading presenting venue among Big 10 institutions and has the largest programming schedule of any independent performing arts center affiliated with a university in the country.

The touring production of Kinky Boots will be at the Wharton Center during the week fo the conference.

Click here to locate the Wharton Center on a map. Click here for suggested parking.

Off Campus Points of Interest

If you want to venture off campus, there are also many interesting spots in the greater Lansing area. Interested in visiting any of these locations? Visit our Local Transporation and Parking Page for options.

Fenner Nature Center

Fenner Nature Center is an environmental education center encompassing 134 acres. The property includes over four miles of trails that are open from 8 A.M. - sunset. Admission free, but there is a suggested donation of $2.