
Calendar of Events
Past Events

Cardboard City
Work with fellow museum visitors in The Shop 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 Sunday, January 9, so make plans to visit the museum again to see the completed cityscape! 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…
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Small Wonder Wednesday
An event every week that begins at 9:00 am on Wednesday, repeating until June 29, 2022
Reno, NV 89501 United States
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. Program supported in part by:
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Open Build: Wood
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Hands-on gets serious in The Shop! In this material-specific session of Open Build, you’ll use real tools to build nearly anything you can imagine out of wood. 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.
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$5 Admission After 4:00pm
An event every week that begins at 4:00 pm on Wednesday, repeating until December 28, 2022
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Starting at 4:00pm every Wednesday, admission to The Discovery 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.
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LEGO® BattleBots
Ready to engage in battle? Register for one of our one-day classes and you’ll learn how to build the ultimate BattleBot using using LEGO® Mindstorm robotics. Then, test your bot’s capabilities when you pit it against your fellow participants in a head-to-head, sumo-style battle. Your objective? Push your competitors’ bot out of the ring to declare victory! Register today for one of two age groups. Age Group Time Member Nonmember Registration Ages 5-8* 10:00 – 11:30am $25 $30 Ages 9-12…
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Cardboard City
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Work with fellow museum visitors in The Shop 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 throughout the day. 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.
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Robot Mazes
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Experiment with coding a robot in Spark!Lab Smithsonian to attempt to navigate your ’bot through an obstacle course.
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Cardboard City
One event on December 28, 2022 at 10:30 am
One event on December 30, 2022 at 10:30 am
One event on December 31, 2022 at 10:30 am
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Work with fellow museum visitors in The Shop 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 throughout the day. 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 »
Open Build: Textiles
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Hands-on gets serious in The Shop! In this material-specific session of Open Build, you’ll use real tools to create nearly anything you can imagine out of textiles materials like fabric, yarn, and more. 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.
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LEGO® BattleBots
An event every week that begins at 10:00 am on Saturday, repeating until January 29, 2022
One event on February 4, 2023 at 10:00 am
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Ready to engage in battle? Register for one of our one-day classes and you’ll learn how to build the ultimate BattleBot using using LEGO® Mindstorm robotics. Then, test your bot’s capabilities when you pit it against your fellow participants in a head-to-head, sumo-style battle. Your objective? Push your competitors’ bot out of the ring to declare victory! Register today for one of two age groups. Age Group Time Member Nonmember Registration Ages 5-8* 10:00 – 11:30am $25 $30 Ages 9-12…
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Toy Take Apart in The Shop
One event on February 19, 2022 at 10:30 am
One event on February 20, 2022 at 12:30 pm
Ever wonder what’s inside that favorite toy? How does it work? What makes it move? Find out once and for all in this hands-on activity in The Shop that will have you dismantling a variety of toys to see what’s inside. 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.
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Open Build: Plastic
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Hands-on gets serious in The Shop! In this material-specific session of Open Build, you’ll use real tools to build nearly anything you can imagine out of a variety of plastics. 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.
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Paint on Clear Canvas
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Back by popular demand, paint or draw on the Clear Canvas in Da Vinci’s Corner and then watch as the canvas is washed clean to prepare for the next amazing works of art.
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Chinese Lanterns
One event on February 5, 2022 at 10:30 am
One event on February 6, 2022 at 12:30 pm
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Celebrate Chinese New Year by creating and decorating your own paper lantern. Using paper, adhesives, measuring tools, cutting tools and battery-operated candles and LEDs, you can create your own version of this festive decoration. 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.
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Chinese Lanterns
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Celebrate Chinese New Year by creating and decorating your own paper lantern. Using paper, adhesives, measuring tools, cutting tools and battery-operated candles and LEDs, you can create your own version of this festive decoration. 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.
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Chinese Lanterns
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Celebrate Chinese New Year by creating and decorating your own paper lantern. Using paper, adhesives, measuring tools, cutting tools and battery-operated candles and LEDs, you can create your own version of this festive decoration. 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.
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Special Hours: Open Monday
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Good news! The Discovery will be open to the public on Monday, February 7, 2022 from 10:00am to 5:00pm. Be sure to check out the museum’s calendar of events to find out everything that’s happening at the museum.
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Open Build: Yarn
One event on April 6, 2022 at 2:30 pm
One event on January 29, 2025 at 4:00 pm
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Hands-on gets serious in The Shop! In this material-specific session of Open Build, you’ll use real tools to create nearly anything you can imagine out of yarn, ribbon, twine, mason line, and more! Learn to make t-shirt yarn and try other techniques like weaving, crochet, knitting, and macramé. 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…
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Social Science: The ’90s
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Social Science attendees are required to adhere to The Discovery’s face covering policy. Calling all noobs, dudes and dweebs for the phattest exploration of the science and culture of the ’90s. Visit the ’90s mini museum, dine at the cereal bar, make friendship bracelets, create popsicle people, go to battle in the Nerf® war room, and much more. It’s gonna be all that and a bag of chips! Labs, lectures and experiences at this Social Science will include: Know the…
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Open Build: Fabric
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Hands-on gets serious in The Shop! In this material-specific session of Open Build, you’ll use real tools like a sewing machine, hot glue and fabric glue to create nearly anything you can imagine out of fabric. 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.
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Toy Take Apart in The Shop
One event on February 27, 2022 at 12:30 pm
One event on June 1, 2024 at 10:30 am
One event on June 2, 2024 at 12:30 pm
Ever wonder what’s inside that favorite toy? How does it work? What makes it move? Find out once and for all in this hands-on activity in The Shop that will have you dismantling a variety of toys to see what’s inside. 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.
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Science Distilled: Voices of Future Scientists
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Per Patagonia Outlet COVID-19 mitigation policy, face coverings MUST BE WORN by all event attendees, regardless of vaccination status. Whether about the pandemic, wildfires, extreme weather, or other crises, we are now accustomed to seeing headlines with terms like “unprecedented”, “record-breaking”, or “increasing magnitude and intensity”. While these apocalyptic words might make some want to run for the hills, an entire generation of students are choosing career paths that will bring them directly into the eye of the storm. What…
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Day of Code 2022
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Coding and computer science are changing the face of nearly every industry on the planet. The Discovery’s Day of Code is your chance to explore the wonders of coding through a variety of hands-on activities. See live coding demonstrations with professionals in the industry, explore binary code, play coding games from Microsoft, use code to program a robotic insect, and much more! Attendees will receive a goodie bag from Microsoft, while supplies last! It all happens in one giant, code-filled…
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Open Build: Plastic
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Hands-on gets serious in The Shop! In this material-specific session of Open Build, you’ll use real tools to build nearly anything you can imagine out of a variety of plastics. 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 »