Danville Science Center facts for kids

The Danville Science Center is a super cool place where you can explore the world of science! It's a science museum located in Danville, Virginia. This museum is connected with the Science Museum of Virginia, which means it's part of a bigger family of science centers. You can find it in an old tobacco warehouse district in Danville.

Inside the museum, you'll discover lots of exciting things. The lower level often has "rotating exhibits." These are special displays that change over time, so there's always something new to see! On the upper level, you'll find "permanent exhibits." These are displays that stay there all the time. One of the coolest permanent exhibits is a Science On a Sphere installation. Imagine a giant globe that can show you Earth's weather, ocean currents, and even other planets!

What Can You Explore?

The Danville Science Center covers many different science topics. You can learn about:

• Biology: The study of living things, from tiny cells to big animals.
• Gravity: The force that pulls everything down to Earth.
• Friction: The force that slows things down when they rub together.
• Force: What makes things move or stop.
• Light: How we see colors and how light travels.
• Magnetism: The invisible force that pulls magnets together or pushes them apart.

You can also see the Estelle H. Womack Natural History Collection. This collection has many taxidermied animal mounts. These are animals that have been preserved so you can see what they looked like up close. The museum also has exhibits about the area's train history. This includes the story of the Wreck of the Old 97, a famous train accident. These exhibits are in the building next door, which used to be the Danville station. If you visit at the right time of year, you might even get to see a seasonal butterfly station, where beautiful butterflies fly around!

History of the Science Center

The Danville Science Center first opened its doors in 1995. It was built right next to the Dan River. The museum is part of a special area called the "Crossing at the Dan." This area is a group of old, historic buildings in downtown Danville that have been fixed up.

When it first opened, the museum was in part of the old Danville station building. But it grew bigger! In 2005, the museum expanded into another building. This was the Southern Railway Administrative Building, which was also renovated. Then, in 2014, something really exciting was added: a full digital dome theater! This theater makes you feel like you're right inside the movie, with images projected all around you on a giant dome screen. It's a fantastic way to learn about space, nature, and more.