Calendar of Events

Join us in celebrating Nevada’s scientific heritage when you visit The Shop to learn about Nevada’s state fossil, the Ichthyosaur. With the help of the museum’s educators, you’ll use available materials to design and fill your own plush Ichthyosaur. Best of all, what you create is yours to keep! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can cause injury if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers practice the safe use of the tools and…

Join us in celebrating Nevada’s scientific heritage when you visit The Shop to learn about Nevada’s state fossil, the Ichthyosaur. With the help of the museum’s educators, you’ll use available materials to design and fill your own plush Ichthyosaur. Best of all, what you create is yours to keep! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can cause injury if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers practice the safe use of the tools and…

From Memorial Day, May 25 though Labor Day, September 7, 2026, The Discovery adds Monday to the days the museum is open to the public. That’s seven days a week you can build, invent, explore and have fun! We hope to see you here. Be sure to check out the calendar of events to find out what’s happening all summer long!

In Reno, there’s usually a-wind-a-blowin’. Using a multitude of materials available in The Shop , you can now harness the wild western winds! Construct, decorate, and release your creation on the Washoe Zephyr. What you make is yours to keep! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can cause injury if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers practice the safe use of the tools and materials in this space.

The Discovery is pleased to welcome you to an exclusive, members-only opportunity to see Above and Beyond — The Ultimate Interactive Flight Exhibition. Through immersive simulations, interactive design challenges, iconic historical touchstones, visionary concepts for the future, and inspiring stories from aviation innovators, past and present, this exciting exhibition celebrates the power of innovation to make dreams take flight. Registration Required Please pre-register to attend the members-only preview. Once admitted, members are welcome to explore Above and Beyond and the…

Get ready to take to the skies in this exciting STEM Lab designed for future female aviators! Through a variety of hands-on activities, this intensive STEM Lab will help young aviators spread their wings and explore the future of aviation and space travel. Cook up some galaxy popcorn, concoct a batch of galaxy slime, launch a balloon rocket, build a space shelter, and much, much more! The sky is the limit in this STEM Lab designed specifically for girls!

The Discovery is pleased to welcome you to Above and Beyond — The Ultimate Interactive Flight Exhibition, our newest featured exhibition. Above & Beyond is designed to ignite a passion for humankind’s greatest adventure: our journey of flight in the air and space. In doing so, it honors past innovations in flight, while looking ahead to what’s next and demonstrating the impact of aerospace breakthroughs in our everyday lives. Through immersive simulations, interactive design challenges, iconic historical touchstones, visionary concepts…

The Discovery is pleased to welcome you to Above and Beyond — The Ultimate Interactive Flight Exhibition, our newest featured exhibition. Above & Beyond is designed to ignite a passion for humankind’s greatest adventure: our journey of flight in the air and space. In doing so, it honors past innovations in flight, while looking ahead to what’s next and demonstrating the impact of aerospace breakthroughs in our everyday lives. Through immersive simulations, interactive design challenges, iconic historical touchstones, visionary concepts…

In Reno, there’s usually a-wind-a-blowin’. Using a multitude of materials available in The Shop , you can now harness the wild western winds! Construct, decorate, and release your creation on the Washoe Zephyr. What you make is yours to keep! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can cause injury if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers practice the safe use of the tools and materials in this space.

From Memorial Day, May 25 though Labor Day, September 7, 2026, The Discovery adds Monday to the days the museum is open to the public. That’s seven days a week you can build, invent, explore and have fun! We hope to see you here. Be sure to check out the calendar of events to find out what’s happening all summer long!

Get ready to explore space with our friends from PBS Reno. At this special event, families will learn about space exploration with PBS KIDS’ “Ready Jet Go!” by participating in several fun, educational activities. Families will work together to build a rocket, learn about constellations, make space slime, and more. Please note: From 9:00 to 10:00am, this activity is offered as part of The Discovery’s Small Wonder Wednesday program and is limited to attendees ages 5 and under.

Follow in Orville and Wilbur’s footsteps when you visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent a flying machine. Using recycled materials, you can invent something you think will fly. Create it, try it, tweak it, until you designed something airworthy, whether that’s a paper airplane or a prototype for a more advanced flying machine like a helicopter, jet, or rocket! Please note: This activity includes access to tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young…

Celebrate the favorite father in your life with a trophy you build in his honor. In honor of Father’s Day, visit The Shop to use a variety of real tools and materials to construct a trophy to commemorate the importance of the dad in your life. 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.

Celebrate the favorite father in your life with a trophy you build in his honor. In honor of Father’s Day, visit The Shop to use a variety of real tools and materials to construct a trophy to commemorate the importance of the dad in your life. 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.

The Discovery will be closed to the public on Monday, June 8, 2026 for exhibit maintenance. The museum will reopen and resume normal operating hours on Tuessday, June 9. As always, please check our calendar of events for updates on the many exciting things happening here at The Discovery.

Science has a communication problem. The Hitchcock Project for Visualizing Science at the University of Nevada, Reno prepares students to combat misinformation and bridge the gap between science and the public through engaging visual storytelling. As part of the project’s second annual travel-based course, students will report in both Spanish and English while working on location at La Selva Research Station in Costa Rica. From the jungle, they will document scientific research through video, photography, audio and writing. Join us…

Play is more than freeze-tag and sidewalk chalk. Play has been proven to drive deep, meaningful learning outcomes, but we’re just not playing enough. The Discovery’s celebration of the International Day of Play invites you to explore how central play is to every human’s development and well-being. Join us, along with a long list of community partners, to celebrate the power of play through hands-on activities, physical challenges, and ample amounts of fun!

Visitors can use a variety of pieces that could be used to create a new sport, or innovate a sport they like. pieces are cones, various sports pieces, some baskets, small pallets, Tinkertoys and Lego. Please note: This activity includes access to tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young inventors use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Calling all Minecraft fans! Head to The Shop to build your own sculptural tribute to your favorite character or NPC. Using simple wooden blocks and a healthy amount of glue, you can build and color your favorite character or artifact from the ever-popular game originally created by Mojang Studios in 2011. 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…

From Memorial Day, May 25 though Labor Day, September 7, 2026, The Discovery adds Monday to the days the museum is open to the public. That’s seven days a week you can build, invent, explore and have fun! We hope to see you here. Be sure to check out the calendar of events to find out what’s happening all summer long!

Cause and effect will be explored in this activity. Using materials (balls, tubes, blocks, baskets, marble run pieces, and more) visitors will try and build a chain reaction to catch a Dinosaur!

Celebrate Gerard’s 3rd birthday with us here at The Discovery! We’re celebrating the third anniversary of the installation of the museum’s Allosaurus cast with a day filled with dinosaur themed activities for all ages.

Cause and effect will be explored in this activity. Using materials (balls, tubes, blocks, baskets, marble run pieces, and more) visitors will try and build a chain reaction to catch a Dinosaur!

Join us for this engaging STEM Lab to design a small, self‑sustaining ecosystem filled with dinosaur friends. Using materials like gravel, activated charcoal, soil, peat moss, and small plants, you’ll create a self-contained terrarium that requires minimal care. The STEM Lab blends creativity with environmental science, helping participants understand concepts like humidity, nutrient cycles, and habitat balance while crafting a personalized living display.