DISCOVERY Children's Museum

DISCOVERY Children's Museum

As featured on Blippi

Let your kids be kids at the coolest museum in the city of Las Vegas, NV. while learning. How great is that? Learning while playing, sounds to good to be true.

Located in the heart of downtown, this three-story museum is full of interactive exhibits promoting science, art and culture. DISCOVERY, home to nine themed exhibition halls, the 58,000-square-foot museum entices children of all ages with a well-rounded array of learning experiences that will feel a lot more like play. As soon as you enter the building your kiddos will be so filled with joy that they will jump with excitement and possibly take off running squealing with happiness!

Floor Plan & Exhibits

The adventure begins on the first level where there is The Summit, Water World, Fantasy Festival, and Toddler Town.

The Summit

This is 70-foot tower encompasses 2,200 square feet and is made up of 12 levels that ascend all three floors of the museum. Each level features different climbing structures and interactive science exhibits, making the climb a fun physical and mental challenge. From the bottom level, where kids can lift an actual car using a giant lever, to the top of the Summit’s, where they can take in the view of Downtown Las Vegas.

*Important Note: Be sure to keep a close eye on your children in here. There are multilevel entrances and exits (particularly the enticing slides and climbing tubes) make it easy for you to get separated.

Water World

Children can make a splash as they learn about the movement and power of water at play stations with turbines, whirlpools, water wheels and more. This wet and wild adventure includes colorful lessons and fast facts on water so your child dive right into learning. And no need to bring a swimsuit, they have hooded raincoat to keep your child dry as they splish and splash through this hands-on exhibit celebrating the power and movement of water.

Fantasy Festival

Fantasy Festival is such an awesome place for children to use their imagination and turn it into play. This area has the Riseman Family Theater which includes a complete functioning lighting and audio booth. It’s also home to a life-size pirate ship where the kids can shoot cannonballs and sail the seas, and a medieval castle where they can become kings, queens, princes, princesses, and even jesters for the day. Imagination reigns in Fantasy Festival! It's so awesome to see children turn their imagination into reality.

Toddler Town

This is a desert-themed exhibit designed specifically for children under fiver years of age and children of all ages who have sensory issues in mind. Toddler Town is also home to a sensory crawl space for babies who aren’t yet walking but are active explorers. Toddlers also get to try their hand at mining by loading “rocks” and “boulders” into an overhead bucket system, learn about Nevada’s animals, and even pretend to be train engineers! My favorite part of toddler town is the beautiful new Sensory Room it is a soothing experience unlike any other! Definitely check it out.

On and upward to the second level Eco City and the DISCOVERY Lab.

Eco City

Does your kid ever wish they were a grown-up? Well this is the perfect area for them to do so. Now this is one of my favorite parts of the museum. Eco City is environmentally-friendly area, where kids learn what it takes to earn a paycheck and become contributing members of a community. This interconnected city features many businesses kids are already familiar with like Smiths grocery store, Wells Fargo Bank, and McCarren International Airport. It’s also got its own mini Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders! Throughout Eco City, visitors have multiple opportunities to learn about green living and make choices that they will eventually need to make in the real world.

DISCOVERY Lab

The DISCOVERY Lab offers a unique learning environment and workspace designed to stimulate exploration, creativity, risk-taking, critical thinking, and collaboration through a hands-on approach. It's a place where all visitors are encouraged to dive into the design thinking process without fear of failure – in fact, failure is encouraged! Successful outcomes result from routine trial and error, and failure is considered an important stepping stone to knowledge in DISCOVERY Lab.

DISCOVERY Lab offers a variety of interactive experiences. The open-making area presents design materials that provoke inquiry, and the guided-making area provides cutting-edge technology through an interactive computer lab featuring coding and CAD software, and a workshop space featuring a laser cutter, 3-D printers, and a kiln. Special resources available for use in this space include tools for woodworking, circuitry, sewing, sculpting, ceramics, painting, and more! Special STEAM-themed workshops and camps are also presented by community artists, engineers, and tinkerers.

Last but not least, the sky's the limit... Patents Pending, Young at Art, and Solve It! Welcome to the third floor.

Patents Pending

Invention, problem-solving, experimentation, tinkering: these are the things that make up the Patents Pending gallery. This area really gets your mind moving.

In this lively laboratory environment, everyone is encouraged to take on design and engineering challenges and then work to create and test their own ideas. Can you and your child create something that will withstand a 14-foot drop, sudden blast of air, or an earthquake?

Young at Art

This exhibit is very colorful and vibrant. This exhibit teaches the language of art through hands-on investigations of its elements: color, line, shape, texture, space, and form. Children are provided with a variety of materials, including watercolors, fluorescent melted crayons and more. Have your child unleash the inner artist in them are as they paint a picture on paper or draw on a computerized wall, also known as a smart-board. This section also have a drying rack where you can leave your creation(s) there and pick them up after your day exploring the Museum. Here you can also learn about the intricacies of everyday objects such as pennies and wood as you put them under a microscope, and more.

Solve It!

Crack the case and put your investigative powers to the test as your child uncover clues in this interactive exhibit for mini-mystery-solvers.

This exhibit is all about the art of investigation. Have your child test their problem solving skills in this interactive exhibit that invites visitors to join a team of archaeologists in solving unique mysteries. Gather clues, dig up and examine evidence, and analyze DNA samples to develop your own theories about what may have gone down.

Now that you've read this far, are you planning on taking a trip to the museum? If so, continue reading below for more details on location and hours of operation.

About DISCOVERY Children's Museum

DISCOVERY Children’s Museum is a nonprofit organization that offers a one-of-a-kind experience for families in southern Nevada and tourists from all over the world.

At DISCOVERY, they put children’s needs for play, exploration, inspiration, belonging, and unique learning experiences above all else for over 30 years.

Their Mission

Their mission mission is to foster a welcoming, vibrant, and inclusive environment where all are invited to engage in playful and educational experiences that ignite a lifelong love of learning.

Their Values

• DREAM: Curiosity is at the core of innovation and creative thinking. Celebrate new ideas and help children turn imagination into reality.
• INCLUSIVITY: Honor the power of different perspectives from people of all abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs.
• SAFETY: Take pride in providing a safe, clean, and accessible environment.
• COLLABORATION: Believe our community is stronger when people connect and organizations partner together. Thoughtfully create partnerships that serve the diverse needs of our community.
• ONE-OF-A-KIND.
• VALUE: Deliver an exceptional experience families can trust, and create lasting memories for every generation.
• EDUCATION: Serve the developmental needs of all children through interactive exhibits and informal learning experiences. Committed to meeting the ever changing needs of our society.
• RESPECT: Create a culture of respect by valuing human dignity and kindness.
• PLAY: Play is a child’s way of learning, and laughter and happiness are essential for every child to experience.

Location & Contact Information

• Address: 360 Promenade Place Las Vegas, NV 89106
• Phone: (702) 382-3445

Hours of Operation

• Mondays – Saturdays: 10 a.m.– 5 p.m.
• Sundays: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
• Closed on the following holidays: Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year’s Day: Mondays – Saturdays: 10 a.m.– 5 p.m.

Daily Admission

• General Admission (Admission for all non local patrons.): $14.50
• Local Admission (Admission for all patrons with a valid Nevada ID.): $12.50
• Museums For All Admission (Admission for patrons with a valid EBT, SNAP or WIC card. Cards must be presented at entry for verification. ONLY valid for 4 tickets per adult cardholder.): $3.00

Now if you decide to take your kids here, prepare to be at the museum for at least 2-3 hours. Parking is literally next door to the museum. It is going the parking garage attached to the museum, I always park here because it is free for those who visit the DISCOVERY Children's Museum, just make sure to get your parking pass validated inside the museum near the receptionist area. For the latest updates and frequently asked questions you can check them out here. I hope you and your children enjoy the endless hours of fun!

Stay safe!

Have fun!

One Love!