H.M.S. Beagle

My boyfriend and I love the H.M.S. Beagle. We love the selection of minerals and fossils. The first time we found this store, we accidentally spent about 3 hours rooting through fossils, minerals, semi-​precious stones, and other various odds-​and-​ends science-​y stuff. This place is really a great location for anyone interested in science. We hadn’t been there in a while, and they’ve rearranged. It looks like they’ve had to decrease their inventory significantly, which makes me sad. Give money to local businesses, people! H.M.S. Beagle is a gem and we need to do our best to support it as it deserves.

Very nice store! One of the few in the Kansas City area that has rocks, minerals, and various scientific fun stuff! It has a lot of range in it, and if you are looking for something specific, definitely check them out, as the owners will often oblige to try and help you locate what you’re looking for. The owners are very friendly and helpful, as well as the staff in general. A very fun place to visit that I try to stop in every time I’m in Parkville.

This store is a dream for those interested in science. From chemistry to physics, from geology to zoology, this store has it all. Of special interest to those who love chemistry, the H.M.S. Beagle has hard-​to-​find glassware and chemicals plus high quality samples of the elements.
Every time I have visited the store I have been greeted so kindly and have had all my questions answered. I admire the owners of the H.M.S. Beagle for creating such a fantastic store and community for exploring the sciences. I wish there were more stores of this nature around the country.
Whether you’re 5 years old or 100, I guarantee you will find something that piques your interest at the H.M.S. Beagle.

Best place in the known universe for scientific goods for kids and adults. The kids’ Science Club is fantastic… great presentations and lots of time for Q&A. Fantastic collection of minerals and fossils, books and experiment kits, chemicals and telescopes. Carol and John have created a truly amazing shop… this is independent ownership at its very finest. They can answer any question you have, as can anyone else who works there, they’re great with kids (I have a hard time pulling my 10 year old out of here because he’s nothing but questions), and full of suggestions for learning possibilities.

This is my go-​to store for buying gifts for kids’ birthdays. They have a great selection of science based children’s activities, books, chemistry sets, optical equipment, rockets, geodes, fossils, etc. If you want to buy a kid something cool, that isn’t some made in China piece of junk from WalMart, this is the place for you! I just bought my friend’s son a real rocket! How cool is that?

For those of us still re-​living our childhood, this store is a dream come true. We are so lucky to have a business like this… At Age 10, My Gilbert Chemistry Set changed my life… and HMS Beagle provides the way to improve many other lives… I can’t say enough good tings about the products that they provide… Quality of products and services just can’t get any better… Highly Recommended… J. Markee

Cure little science store, especially if you consider yourself a rock hound.
Impressive selection of fossils and such. Some are very pricey and impressive; some are tiny and cheap.
They also carry a nice selection of kid-​focused science kits and projects — from rockets, to crystal growing, to make your own perfumes.
The staff is friendly, as were the store dogs.

I ordered online. I found H. M. S. Beagle to be the best source of chemistry sets like they used to be: Lots of fun and interesting chemicals for experiments. I don’t think there is another source for the vintage chemical collections. I hope this vendor stays around a long time.

Great Store for the Science mind with very helpful and knowledgeable people. If you follow them on Twitter and Facebook, you’ll see how much work they do in the community as well helping young science students. Also, a great place to get science fair supplies!

This place is great for kids and adults!

Awesome store. You don’t have to be geeky to fall in love with it. I dare you to come in, look around, and not find something ‘cool’. I’ve met several great people through this store and the various workshops and clubs they offer. Recently attended one of their free star parties. Huge turnout, met several cool people, and many telescopes to look through. I’ve bought way too many books through that place but not complaining. They have an amazing selection. And I’ve bought two of my telescopes through them! I’m totally in love with my 10 inch Dob.

Great for kids and adults alike — lots of serious science stuff (telescopes, books, etc) and some fun stuff for kids as well. My four-​year-​old got a shark flip book and a kids magnifiying glass with tweezers and he couldn’t be happier. Check this place out if you’re anywhere in the vicinity!

Creationists beware: The H.M.S. Beagle transported Darwin during the scientific voyage that led to his discovery of you-​know-​what. The Parkville store with the same name also stocks dinosaur posters, fossils, rocks and other stuff that doesn’t conveniently fit into the story that Earth is 6,000, rather than several billion, years old.
Oh what the hell. Leave the Earth’s history to carbon dating and enjoy wandering around «the ultimate science store.» You’ll find make-​a-​robot kits, atlases, and lots of educational toys that help kids understand everything from photosynthesis to physics. If you don’t have a child to shop for, H.M.S. Beagle has grown-​up toys too, like telescopes and rocket-​making kits.
If you love stargazing but hesitate to buy a moderately expensive instrument you don’t know how to use, H.M.S. Beagle offers telescope how-​to workshops and events that coincide with astronomical events. If you’re going to explore the heavens, the relatively dark night sky in Parkville seems like a great place to start.