Calendar of Events

Invention is a process! You’re invited to visit The Discovery’s Spark!Lab Smithsonian to explore the steps in the invention process including think it, sketch it, create it, tweak it, and sell it. Visit a station for each step in the process and who knows, you might just invent something new! Please note: Spark!Lab offers access to tools and materials that can cause injury if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young inventors use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Visit The Shop to put your creativity and your sewing skills to the test when you design your very own stuffed shark. You’ll use available materials to design and fill your own stuffed shark 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 26 though Labor Day, September 1, 2025, 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!

Join us here at The Discovery every Wednesday for a special morning just for young learners 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! Please note: Admission during Small Wonder Wednesday is limited to families with children ages 5 and under only. Visitors with children age 6 and older can visit the museum beginning at 10:00am.

In this introductory robotics activity, Small Wonder visitors will “code” a VEX robot! Children will work in small groups or one-on-one with facilitators to give the robot basic instructions to navigate a map or to avoid obstacles. Please note: Admission during Small Wonder Wednesday is limited to families with children ages 5 and under only. Visitors with children age 6 and older can visit the museum beginning at 10:00am.

Every Wednesday, beginning at 4:00pm, museum admission is just $5 per person! And best of all, the museum stays open until 8:00pm so there’s plenty of time to explore! Members and children under age 1 are always free.

Humans have long endeavored to travel among the stars. To do so, we need innovative spaceships that go farther and faster than ever before. Visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent a spacecraft using recycled materials, considering things like how it will be powered, where it will travel, who will be at the controls, and other important aspects of the mission. Please note: This activity includes access to tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to…

Visit The Shop to create a robot friend using a variety of materials including cardboard. Use real tools and combine a variety of materials to create your version of a robot that can help you accomplish daily tasks. Best of all, what you make is your to keep! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Humans have long endeavored to travel among the stars. To do so, we need innovative spaceships that go farther and faster than ever before. Visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent a spacecraft using recycled materials, considering things like how it will be powered, where it will travel, who will be at the controls, and other important aspects of the mission. Please note: This activity includes access to tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to…

Visit The Shop to create a robot friend using a variety of materials including cardboard. Use real tools and combine a variety of materials to create your version of a robot that can help you accomplish daily tasks. Best of all, what you make is your to keep! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Humans have long endeavored to travel among the stars. To do so, we need innovative spaceships that go farther and faster than ever before. Visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent a spacecraft using recycled materials, considering things like how it will be powered, where it will travel, who will be at the controls, and other important aspects of the mission. Please note: This activity includes access to tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to…

From Memorial Day, May 26 though Labor Day, September 1, 2025, 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!

Visit The Shop to put your automotive design skills to the test. Using available materials and a variety of tools, you can design and build your very own race car. Best of all, what you make is yours to keep! Visitors will use available supplies and consider items that would ordinarily be discarded and use them to engineer their own racers. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can cause injury if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to…

Visit The Shop to put your automotive design skills to the test. Using available materials and a variety of tools, you can design and build your very own race car. Best of all, what you make is yours to keep! Visitors will use available supplies and consider items that would ordinarily be discarded and use them to engineer their own racers. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can cause injury if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to…

Join us here at The Discovery every Wednesday for a special morning just for young learners 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! Please note: Admission during Small Wonder Wednesday is limited to families with children ages 5 and under only. Visitors with children age 6 and older can visit the museum beginning at 10:00am.

Young visitors will use oversized blue foam blocks to design, stack, balance, and construct anything they can imagine, from towers and tunnels to forts and furniture! Join us this Wednesday and build your dream creation! Please note: Admission during Small Wonder Wednesday is limited to families with children ages 5 and under only. Visitors with children age 6 and older can visit the museum beginning at 10:00am.  

Visit The Shop to put your automotive design skills to the test. Using available materials and a variety of tools, you can design and build your very own race car. Best of all, what you make is yours to keep! Visitors will use available supplies and consider items that would ordinarily be discarded and use them to engineer their own racers. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can cause injury if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to…

Every Wednesday, beginning at 4:00pm, museum admission is just $5 per person! And best of all, the museum stays open until 8:00pm so there’s plenty of time to explore! Members and children under age 1 are always free.

Visit The Shop  and celebrate Christmas in July with a wizard inspired twist!  Using a variety of tools and materials, create your own wizardly ornament to prepare for the new school year or a future holiday season! 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.

A Violin Serenade is an enchanting, family-friendly musical experience. Leading the show are internationally renowned Juliette Leong and profoundly talented Ethan Mao—both award-winning violinists and members of the Reno Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. In this captivating event, audiences of all ages will enjoy an interactive and dynamic program that blends classical favorites with modern pop tunes, creating the perfect introduction to the violin’s versatility. Between pieces, the musicians will invite children to participate in a show-and-tell session and give them a…

Few things captivate the human imagination more than space exploration. The vast, largely unexplored expanse above our heads leaves us wondering many things, not the least of which is, if there’s life elsewhere in the Universe. You’re invited to join hosts of the new podcast Giant Leap, Joey Lovato and Taylor Wilson to screen a brand new episode that includes a conversation with former commander of the International Space Station (ISS), Chris Hadfield. Following the episode, attendees will have the…

Visit The Shop  and celebrate Christmas in July with a wizard inspired twist!  Using a variety of tools and materials, create your own wizardly ornament to prepare for the new school year or a future holiday season! 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.

A Violin Serenade is an enchanting, family-friendly musical experience. Leading the show are internationally renowned Juliette Leong and profoundly talented Ethan Mao—both award-winning violinists and members of the Reno Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. In this captivating event, audiences of all ages will enjoy an interactive and dynamic program that blends classical favorites with modern pop tunes, creating the perfect introduction to the violin’s versatility. Between pieces, the musicians will invite children to participate in a show-and-tell session and give them a…

In honor of Harry Potter’s birthday, you’re invited to Wizardly Weekend here at The Discovery! Through a variety of hands-on activities, you can explore aspects of the book and film series… create your own wand, design your house badge, craft a wizard’s hat, and much more! Both Wizards and Muggles are encouraged to attend!