Discovery Place facts for kids
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The main entrance on Tryon Street in Uptown Charlotte.
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| Former name | Discovery Place |
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| Established | 1981 |
| Location | 301 N. Tryon Street Charlotte, North Carolina United States |
| Type | Science Museum |
| Visitors | 520,000 (as of 2009) |
| Public transit access |  Tryon Street |
Discovery Place Science is a fun, hands-on science and technology museum in Uptown, Charlotte, North Carolina. It's a place where you can explore and learn about the world through cool exhibits.
The museum is also home to The Charlotte Observer IMAX Dome Theater. This is a special type of movie theater called an OMNIMAX. Its huge, curved screen makes you feel like you're right in the middle of the action. It is the largest IMAX Dome theater in North and South Carolina.
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History of the Museum
The story of Discovery Place began long before the current museum was built. It started with a small museum founded by a teacher named Laura Owens in 1946.
From a Small Start to a Big Idea
In 1951, a new museum called the Children's Nature Center opened near Freedom Park. It was a place for families to learn about nature together. By 1965, it even had its own planetarium to explore the stars.
During the 1970s, people became very interested in science, partly because of the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union. The city of Charlotte decided it needed a large, modern science museum. They chose to build it on North Tryon Street to help the uptown area grow.
A New Home for Science
The new museum, called Discovery Place, opened in 1981. It was a big hit! Over the years, it got even bigger. In 1986, more space was added for special traveling exhibits. In 1991, the giant IMAX Dome theater opened.
In 2010, the museum had a major makeover. It took 18 months and cost over $31 million to renovate the building and create new experiences for visitors.
The Discovery Place Family
Discovery Place is more than just one museum. It's a network of museums with different names and themes. In 2016, the organization changed the names to make them easier to understand.
- Discovery Place Science is the main museum in Uptown Charlotte.
- Discovery Place Nature is the new name for the old Charlotte Nature Museum.
- Discovery Place Kids are special museums for younger children in other towns.
Discovery Place Nature
Located next to Freedom Park, Discovery Place Nature focuses on the natural world. It has interactive exhibits about nature and live animals. You can see a butterfly pavilion, insects, and many animals that are native to North Carolina.
Discovery Place Kids
Discovery Place wanted to bring the fun of its museums to more communities. In 2010, it opened Discovery Place Kids in Huntersville, North Carolina. Another one opened in Rockingham, North Carolina in 2013. These museums are designed for young children to learn by playing.
Helping Teachers Learn
Discovery Place also helps teachers become better at teaching science. In 2014, it opened the Discovery Place Education Studio. This center helps train teachers in STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math).
