Temporary Exhibits

While PEMS is under development, we are participating in public programming such as Pi Day and creating one temporary exhibit annually. These pop-up shows give visitors a sense of what the new museum will be like, and help to get everyone from funders to teachers to families excited about the new museum.

Albert Einstein: Champion of Racial Justice

Albert Einstein: Champion of Racial Justice

Visit this 2023 pop-up show about Einstein’s close friendships with African Americans in Princeton, and with national leaders such as Paul Robeson (left).

Find background resources and the current location on the detail page.

Einstein’s Attraction to Magnetism

Einstein’s Attraction to Magnetism

When he was five years old, Albert’s father gave him a compass, sparking the boy’s curiosity in invisible forces. Learn more about his interest and about the wonders of magnetism at a free exhibit, "Einstein's Attraction to Magnetism," funded by the Richard Lounsbery Foundation.

The exhibit has been extended through November, 2024. Watch Facebook for announcements of weekend family fun in October and November.

Einstein’s Brain: Mind of a Genius

Einstein’s Brain: Mind of a Genius

Dr. Einstein often said he thought in pictures, not words. His imaginative methods for working out problems are well established, but did you know that he intentionally fueled his subconscious by taking breaks to play his violin or piano, or to take long walks? He also carried small puzzles in his pocket, asking people to solve them while he looked on. Talk about pressure!

Our two 2025 pop-up exhibits offer a glimpse into the workings of the human brain and how one of history's greatest thinkers used ingenuity, visualizations, experience, and persistence to reveal a wholly new understanding of the universe. Both are free and outdoors.

Installing the exhibit at Princeton Shopping Center.

Princeton Shopping Center - THINK LIKE A GENIUS - Now thorough Labor Day
The first, Think Like a Genius, is located near Concord Pet in the Princeton Shopping Center on North Harrison Street. Designed for families, the exhibit helps visitors understand how Dr. Einstein thought through problems, and invites everyone to enjoy a series of brain games. (No peeking at the answers 'til you're sure you have them right!)

Dohm Alley, By 102 Nassau Street - EINSTEIN'S BRAIN - May 21 through Labor Day
The other, Einstein's Brain: Mind of a Genius, was developed for a general audience and will be on display in Dohm Alley next to 102 Nassau Street in Princeton starting May 21. You'll learn about:

-- The Basic Structure of the Human Brain
-- Einstein's Thinking Processes and the Power of Play
-- What We Have Learned (Or Not) From Examining Einstein's Brain
-- Where is Einstein's Brain Today?
-- Minds-on Mental Challenges

FREE SPECIAL EVENT: Meet "Dr. Einstein"
May 24 from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Join us for a day of fun, brainy challenges, and more in Dohm Alley, next to 102 Nassau Street in Princeton. Meet famed Einstein portrayer Bill Agress. Kids can receive a free brain sticker, while supplies last.

Above: Sample panels from the Dohm Alley exhibit opening May 21. Photos used by permission, OHA 184.06 Harvey Collection, Otis Historical Archives, National Museum of Health and Medicine.

The 2025 summer exhibits are sponsored by the William Watt Family Foundation and the FirstBank Charitable Foundation. Special thanks to the Princeton Shopping Center, Stanley Dohm, Experience Princeton, Sustainable Princeton, and the Municipality of Princeton.