The museum opened at its permanent location in 1982 in the city's historic brick firehouse with 25 exhibits on two floors, one staff person, and ten volunteers.

[3] The Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum now features over 250 interactive exhibits on subjects including physics, geology, math, music, and technology while entertaining over 200,000 visitors each year.

More than just a local attraction, the now over 40,000 square foot museum has become a regional destination that draws more than 60 percent of its visitors from outside the Ann Arbor area.

The Outreach Program began in 2000[4] to give children an opportunity to explore science in a classroom, library, festival, or youth center setting.

[6] All programs address objectives outlined in the Michigan Grade Level Content Expectations and include pre- and post-visit activities.

This program helps bring science and health related activities and exhibits to the museum and to the hospitals themselves to provide a more enriching stay.

[11] The museum has also paired up with the Mechanical Engineering department at the University of Michigan to win an Editor's Award for outstanding exhibitions at the Maker Faire in 2010 which was held at The Henry Ford in Dearborn.

The students and faculty of the Mechanical Engineering department presented the inverted pendulum, much like those in a human transporter Segway, to highlight the importance of feedback controls and balance in systems.

This world-renowned interactive exhibit was created by Ann Arbor inventor Michael Flynn; his cooperatively controlled levitating liquid is one of over 250 to explore at the museum.

Visitors can climb aboard a full-sized Huron City Ambulance, hear their heartbeat and measure Physical fitness.

A pure Michigan experience that includes a soundscape, an interactive nature wall, native lake fish and geology samples.

Major funding for this exhibit provided by Hooked on Nature and the James A & Faith Knight Foundation with additional support from Friends of the Museum.