Past Events
DIY Sail Cars
Harness the power of the wind when you visit The Shop to design and build your own sail car. Using a variety of materials, you can create a vehicle that uses a sail to catch the wind and race to its destination. What you make is yours to keep! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this…
Find out more »
Open Build in The Shop
In The Shop, hands-on gets serious. During Open Build, take your pick from a variety of materials and use real tools to design and build nearly anything you can imagine. Best of all, what you create is yours to keep! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.
Find out more »
Small Wonder Wednesday
Visit us every week for stories and more! Make your way to The Discovery every Wednesday for a special morning just for families with children ages 5 and under. Hear stories, climb the clouds, create art, and enjoy the entire museum for a full hour before it opens to everyone! Supported in part by:
Find out more »
Cardboard City
Work with fellow museum visitors in to create an expansive cardboard city. Build homes, skyscrapers, churches, parks, stores, whatever you can imagine. This is an ongoing collaborative project that will grow and change through Saturday, November 30, so make plans to visit the museum again to see how it turns out! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in…
Find out more »
Invent a Board Game
Visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent your very own board game. Using available materials, you can invent a board game, write the rules of play, and create the pieces for your game as well. Challenge your friends and family to play your game and then refine your idea based on their feedback!
Find out more »
$5 Admission After 4pm
Visit The Discovery after 4:00pm every Wednesday when admission is just $5.00 per visitor! Members and children under age 1 are always free. And best of all, the museum stays open until 8:00pm!
Find out more »
Thanksgiving Day: Museum Closed
The Discovery will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 28, 2019. The museum will reopen and resume normal hours on Friday, November 29 at 10:00am.
Find out more »
Museum Store Holiday Sale
Skip the Black Friday madness and make plans to shop the Museum Store holiday sale at The Discovery where you’ll find Reno’s best selection of the smartest toys, games, gadgets, apparel, puzzles, science kits, and more! 30% off everything in the Museum Store from 7:00am to Noon 20% off everything in the Museum Store from Noon to 5:00pm Holiday sale discounts available to museum members and nonmembers. Valid on Museum Store merchandise only. Excludes clearance items. May not be combined…
Find out more »
Cardboard City
Work with fellow museum visitors in to create an expansive cardboard city. Build homes, skyscrapers, churches, parks, stores, whatever you can imagine. This is an ongoing collaborative project that will grow and change through Saturday, November 30, so make plans to visit the museum again to see how it turns out! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in…
Find out more »
Invent a Board Game
Visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent your very own board game. Using available materials, you can invent a board game, write the rules of play, and create the pieces for your game as well. Challenge your friends and family to play your game and then refine your idea based on their feedback!
Find out more »
Cardboard City
Work with fellow museum visitors in to create an expansive cardboard city. Build homes, skyscrapers, churches, parks, stores, whatever you can imagine. This is an ongoing collaborative project that will grow and change through Saturday, November 30, so make plans to visit the museum again to see how it turns out! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in…
Find out more »
Invent a Board Game
Visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent your very own board game. Using available materials, you can invent a board game, write the rules of play, and create the pieces for your game as well. Challenge your friends and family to play your game and then refine your idea based on their feedback!
Find out more »
Discover Your Way
Sensory-friendly exploration at The Discovery Join us for Discover Your Way, a program that offers exclusive admission for families with children with Autism or those who can benefit from sensory-friendly time at the museum, on the first Sunday of each month from 10:00am to noon. This program creates an opportunity for parents to network while also discovering ways to enjoy the museum outside of Discover Your Way hours. Discover Your Way visitors are welcome to stay and play when the…
Find out more »
Magnetic Ice Dancer
Visit The Shop and combine a pair of magnets with paper craft to create a magical ice dancer with a rink to skate on. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.
Find out more »
Giving Tuesday 2019
Perhaps you are already passionate about The Discovery’s mission to inspire by being the place to experience science. But you may not know that The Discovery is only eight years old and a local, independent 501c3 nonprofit. We receive less than 0.5% of our annual operating budget from state and federal funding.That’s why your generous philanthropic support for The Discovery is critical! This Tuesday, December 3, we hope you’ll take the opportunity to show your support for The Discovery by…
Find out more »
Small Wonder Wednesday
Visit us every week for stories and more! Make your way to The Discovery every Wednesday for a special morning just for families with children ages 5 and under. Hear stories, climb the clouds, create art, and enjoy the entire museum for a full hour before it opens to everyone! Supported in part by:
Find out more »
Magnetic Ice Dancer
Visit The Shop and combine a pair of magnets with paper craft to create a magical ice dancer with a rink to skate on. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.
Find out more »
$5 Admission After 4pm
Visit The Discovery after 4:00pm every Wednesday when admission is just $5.00 per visitor! Members and children under age 1 are always free. And best of all, the museum stays open until 8:00pm!
Find out more »
Bank of America Museums on Us
Bank of America cardholders enjoy one free general admission to The Discovery on the first full weekend of every month with credit or debit card and photo ID. Find out more here. To qualify, simply present your active Bank of America®, Merrill Lynch® or U.S. Trust® credit or debit card along with a photo ID to gain one free general admission to The Discovery. Cardholders only; guests are not eligible for free admission. Excludes special exhibitions, ticketed shows or events,…
Find out more »
Magnetic Ice Dancer
Visit The Shop and combine a pair of magnets with paper craft to create a magical ice dancer with a rink to skate on. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.
Find out more »
Visiting Artist: Nicole Oliver
Join Visiting Artist Nicole Oliver to work together with your child to create a collaborative work of art. Parents are encouraged to provide guidance while responding to their child’s creative decisions, working collaboratively to create a truly unique piece. About Nicole Oliver Nicole has collaborated with her two-year-old daughter Mazie to paint garden scenes using acrylic paint on canvas. The process and the finished pieces reflect the joys and struggles of motherhood, as well as the growth that both parent…
Find out more »
Bank of America Museums on Us
Bank of America cardholders enjoy one free general admission to The Discovery on the first full weekend of every month with credit or debit card and photo ID. Find out more here. To qualify, simply present your active Bank of America®, Merrill Lynch® or U.S. Trust® credit or debit card along with a photo ID to gain one free general admission to The Discovery. Cardholders only; guests are not eligible for free admission. Excludes special exhibitions, ticketed shows or events,…
Find out more »
Nicole Oliver Pop-up Art Show
Visit Artist Nicole Oliver collaborates with her two-year-old daughter Mazie to paint vibrant garden scenes using acrylic paint and canvas. The process and the finished pieces reflect the joys and struggles of motherhood, as well as the growth that both parent and child experience in this relationship. Visit The Discovery to view a pop-up exhibition of their collaborative work on display from 12:00 to 4:00pm on Sunday, December 8.
Find out more »
Simple Animation Machine
Visit The Shop to combine a variety of materials and your imagination to design and build a simple animation machine. Bring a beautiful winter scene to life with a machine that creates a simple looping animation. What you create is yours to keep! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.
Find out more »