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*Individual Memberships available at Discovery Place Science and Discovery Place Nature only. **Family Museum Memberships at Discovery Place Kids-Rockingham are $130 ***Guest passes are available for Family Memberships only. |
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Our History
Seventy-five years after opening the doors of its first small museum in Uptown Charlotte, Discovery Place continues to shape a future where people of all ages embrace science to create opportunities, build hope, solve problems and bring positive change for our world.
Humble Beginnings
In 1946, schoolteacher Laura Owens sought a hands-on environment for her students to observe and learn about live animals, specimens and artifacts from the natural world. With help from the community, on July 16, 1947, Owens opened a small museum in the former Sunshine School building on North Cecil Street in Charlotte.
The 1970's – 1990's
Quickly growing into one of the most popular area attractions, and now called the Charlotte Nature Museum, community leaders were intent on expanding the facility’s reach and scope. Amidst growing interest in hands-on science and technology education in the 1970s, the Charlotte community responded by approving funding and plans for a new, comprehensive science and technology center.
Community leaders sought to provide access to a growing city and further encourage economic development by locating the new museum in the heart of Uptown Charlotte. Discovery Place welcomed its first visitors in 1981 along North Tryon Street, occupying 72,000 square feet of space enabling the community to understand, enjoy and apply science to their lives.
The museum expanded in 1986 with exhibition space to accommodate nationally traveling exhibitions, and in 1991 opened the Charlotte Observer IMAX Dome Theatre as the first giant-screen motion picture theatre in the Carolinas. And in 1996, the Carol Grotnes Belk Education and Parking Complex was completed adjacent to Discovery Place.
The 2000's – 2010's
Following an 18-month, $31.6 million renovation, Discovery Place welcomed visitors in 2010 as a reimagined museum with new interactive exhibitions and state-of-the-art labs to engage children, adults and families in real-world science, nature and design problem-solving.
That same year, Discovery Place expanded its footprint in the Charlotte region with the opening of Discovery Place Kids-Huntersville on Gilead Road in downtown Huntersville. Three years later, this footprint extended beyond Charlotte when Discovery Place Kids-Rockingham opened its doors on E. Washington Street in downtown Rockingham.
A network of community-based children’s museums supported by public-private partnerships, Discovery Place Kids feature developmentally appropriate experiences for children that encourage interactive learning through imagination and fun.
Seeking to fill the growing learning needs of the Charlotte region, Discovery Place is further committed to being a leader in STEM education by offering professional development training for area educators. In 2014 through a generous gift from Bank of America, the Discovery Place Education Studio opened on the museum’s Uptown Charlotte campus.
To mark 70 years of science, exploration and wonder, in 2016 the four museums and education, professional development and community outreach programs were integrated under a single brand called Discovery Place. The Discovery Place Museum in Uptown Charlotte was renamed Discovery Place Science, while Charlotte Nature Museum was renamed Discovery Place Nature.
