Discovery Place will operate differently during its renovation. The Museum on Tryon Street will not be open to the public but Discovery Place will offer increased activities through its ScienceReach programs, which travel to schools and community groups; Charlotte Nature Museum will operate on its regular schedule; and, we will work towards developing Discovery Place KIDS in Huntersville for a potential opening in late 2009 or early 2010.

Planning for the renovation has already begun. The Tryon Street building will close to the public in January 2009 at the conclusion of our spectacular exhibition, A Day in Pompeii.

Discovery Place’s Tryon Street facility will not be open to the public while it is being renovated, beginning in January 2009 for a period of 14 months.

The Museum is planned to re-open to the public in March 2010.

No.

Charlotte Nature Museum will operate as usual.

We are developing the first location of Discovery Place KIDS in Huntersville and are working towards an opening in late 2009 or early 2010.

We are re-inventing the visitor experience at Discovery Place, filling the Museum with all new science and technology exhibits and interactive displays that present science in a topical and contemporary way.

The Museum will be designed to accommodate frequent changes to the exhibition halls and allow greater responsiveness to important scientific developments in the contemporary world. At the same time, those exhibits that families consider all-time favorites and icons of Discovery Place will be renovated and improved.

In addition, infrastructural improvements will be made to the Museum that will allow it to operate more efficiently. The interior spaces will be upgraded to create a bright, fresh look and to improve traffic flow, visitor amenities and exhibition space.

The renovated Museum will continue to develop and bring world class exhibitions to Charlotte such as The Dead Sea Scrolls, Body Worlds and the upcoming A Day in Pompeii.

Discovery Place’s Tryon Street facility is 26 years old. Since the addition of the Carol Grotnes Belk Education and Parking Complex in 1996, the Tryon Street facility has not been updated. The visitor experience at Tryon Street needs to be improved to make the exhibits more contemporary and to make the Museum more accessible and inviting.

One of the most frequent visitor comments is that the Museum doesn’t change often enough. The new Discovery Place will be designed to accommodate more frequent changes to the exhibition halls and allow greater responsiveness to important scientific developments in the contemporary world. At the same time, those exhibits that families consider all-time favorites and icons of Discovery Place will be renovated and improved.

We have not yet been determined which exhibits will be removed and which will remain.

Discovery Place will increase activities offered through ScienceReach, our museum on wheels. Charlotte Nature Museum will remain fully operational and we hope you will use this opportunity to explore the many wonderful exhibits and programs this Museum provides.

The Museum will be filled with all-new science and technology exhibits and interactive displays that present science in a topical and contemporary way.

The admission and membership prices have yet to be determined.

Yes, however, due to the renovation, the membership options will change. Beginning in January 2008, guests can become a Charter Member of the new Discovery Place. For detailed information regarding the Charter Membership Benefits, please visit discoveryplace.org.

When memberships come up for renewal, guests will have the opportunity to become a Charter Member of the new Discovery Place. For detailed information regarding the Charter Membership Benefits, please visit discoveryplace.org.