Discovery Place Science in Charlotte, North Carolina

 

The Discovery Place Science museum is focused on making science come alive. My kiddos loved the live demos and interactive exhibits. They played and explored at this museum for hours. And, as they were playing, they were learning the basics about physics, chemistry, and electricity.

There are actually three Discovery Place Museums in or near Charlotte, North Carolina:

• Discovery Place Science
• Discovery Place Kids
• Discovery Place Nature

 

The Discovery Place Kids is a smaller hand-on museum catering to young children. Kids (and adults too actually) can learn all about nature through labs and exhibits (like the Butterfly Pavilion or Fort Wild) at Discovery Place Nature.

We actually visited the Discovery Place Science, which is an interactive science museum for kids.

 

 

 

2nd Level

If you enter the museum from Tryon, you enter the 2nd Level of Discovery Place Science. This is how we entered the museum (and why I’m starting our tour from the 2nd Level). We first saw the admissions area and the gift shop. After turning the corner, we saw the Rainforest, Project Build, and Cool Stuff. We actually spent a lot of time on the second level.

This level has these exhibits:

• Traveling Exhibition Hall
• Explore More Stuff
• Upper Rainforest
• Project Build
• The Stage
• Cool Stuff
• Being Me
• Explore More Me

 

Cool Stuff

My two kids learned about the physics of lifting, pulley systems, and chemical reactions in this exhibit. The vacuum-powered Air Chair was a big hit with them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Rainforest {Upper Level}

Project Build

The kids were able to learn to design and build their own forts and other structures at Project Build.

 

 

 

 

Explore More Me

The kids could learn more about the human body and how it works in this lab.

Explore More Stuff

There are lots of fun lab activities here at the Explore More Stuff Lab. The kids loved feeling like scientists and testing out different theories and ideas and learning how things work.

 

The Stage

We all really enjoyed the science shows at The Stage. We actually had the time to watch two of these shows. It was very educational and also very cool.

 

Above: Chemical Reactions and Fire Show

 

Above: Sub Zero Show at The Stage

 

 

1st Level

If you are entering from 6th Street, you will be on the 1st Level. We took the elevator down to the first level.

The exhibits on the first level include:

• Lower Rainforest
• Mackay Field Station
• Aquarium
• Explore More Life
• Explore More Collections
• Discovery Theatre
• KidScience
• IMAX Dome Theatre

 

 

The kids could learn about the Earth’s biodiversity, including the oceans and the rainforest. There is an aquarium and a rainforest habitat in this area. There are also two hands-on labs in the World Alive Exhibit.

 

 

 

I loved how bright and colorful the first floor is!

 

The Rainforest {Lower Level}

 

Curio City Kitchen -1st Level

There is a really cute eating area called Curio City Kitchen on the first floor as well. They offer drinks, meals and snacks. We were only there for a few hours so we got some drinks and a few cupcakes.

 

 

 

Level 3

This floor is great for the kids to use their imaginations, learn to repurpose everyday items, and make their own creations. The museum provides all the supplies, including plenty of duct tape and hot glue guns. It’s such a simple concept, but my kids loved it so much. They could have stayed here forever.

 

 

 

 

The kiddos were able to make their own mini movie. They could move small items (small snakes) and record small movements until they had the footage they wanted. It reminded me of those “clay-mation” movies.

There were so many things to do and learn at Discovery Place Science. We really had a great time here!

Has your family been to the Discovery Place Science? How was your experience there?

 

Discovery Place Science // 301 N Tryon St. –  Charlotte, NC 28202  //  704.372.6261

Discovery Place Science WEBSITE

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