Calendar of Events

Help create the new Nevada exhibition at The Discovery! Rugged, dramatic, diverse — this is how our great state will be portrayed in The Discovery’s planned exhibition, Nevada. A reimagining of the museum’s current Nevada Stories exhibition, Nevada will reside in a new location within the museum’s walls and will help create an understanding of our state’s beautiful landscapes, contrasting regions, diverse flora and fauna, and the varied industries and careers they foster. This 3,000 square-foot exhibition, boasting more than…

Give your spring plants an early start with a self-watering planter you create in The Shop. Using available tools and materials, you can create a planter that will reliably water a plant so it can blossom and flourish. 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.

Join Visiting Artist Ashley Westwood to experiment with different watercolor techniques in this paper-relief project. Mask different areas of the paper to make shapes and patterns that will be revealed when the paint dries. Try out tools, other than ordinary paint brushes, to create your very own masterpiece! About Ashley Westwood Ashley Westwood is a Reno-based visual artist, working primarily in the watercolor medium. Ashley has exhibited in solo and group exhibitions in Reno and is a former member of the…

Visit The Shop to harness the power of two types of energy. Using a provided template and a variety of other materials, you can create a wind-up carousel that spins when you let it go. Experiment with different materials and construction methods to see if you can make it spin faster or slower. 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…

Join our friends from Animal Ark for an amazing encounter with birds of prey. From beaks to talons and habitat to history, you’ll learn about the incredible features these birds have that allow them to hunt so effectively, even in the harshest environments. Animal Ark is a non-profit organization, wildlife sanctuary and education center. Its mission is to inspire environmental stewardship through wildlife education.

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,…

Prepare to take to the road when you visit The Shop to design and build your very own automotive creation. Using available tools and materials, and a variety of wheels, you’ll have the chance to design and build the next great automotive innovation. 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.

Visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian and use the process of invention to build a car that’ll protect its precious cargo. Using available materials and the invention process, you can create a vehicle that will protect a raw egg in the event of a crash. Even if your egg breaks, you can tweak your design and test it again, and again, and again! Please note: Activity available while egg supply lasts. Spark!Lab Smithsonian offers access to tools and materials that can be dangerous if…

The Discovery would not be Northern Nevada’s most exciting educational resource if it weren’t for the tremendous support of the museum’s amazing group of volunteers. To thank you for your support of the museum’s mission, we invite you, your friends, and your family to The Discovery’s annual Volunteer Appreciation Celebration. Please join us for a Candy Land-themed event that includes snacks, refreshments and an awards presentation for the museum’s most dedicated volunteers! Let us know you’re planning to attend!

The Discovery is excited to unveil the “Super Service Center,” an exciting new exhibit located in the museum’s Little Discoveries exhibition. Little mechanics can step into a pretend auto repair shop equipped with all the tools and equipment they’ll need to perform maintenance on a kid-sized car. The exhibit will provide young museum visitors with the opportunity to explore the field of car care while also encouraging cooperative, hands-on play. Important note: The Super Service Center is located inside the…

Drivers, start your engines! Celebrate the grand opening of the new Super Service Center with a visit to The Shop. Using available materials and a little ingenuity, you can design and build a catapult that will propel your favorite toy car to record speed! 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.

Drivers, start your engines! Celebrate the grand opening of the new Super Service Center with a visit to The Shop. Using available materials and a little ingenuity, you can design and build a catapult that will propel your favorite toy car to record speed! 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 Earth Day by making beautiful flowers from recycled material. Using repurposed and recycled materials such as plastic bottle caps, food containers, newspaper and cereal boxes, we will create a artistic interpretation of the flowers of spring time. About Katie Steenberg Kat Shepard has a diverse artistic background but always centers her work on the celebration of nature and our relationships with the natural world. Found objects and sustainability have been a consistent source of inspiration. She has worked in performing…

Get ready to race toward the checked flag when you design and construct your very own race track in The Shop. Using cardboard and other available materials, you can create a twisting, turning, undulating race track for your favorite toy cars. Connect your track to a friend’s for even more fun! 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…

Get ready to race toward the checked flag when you design and construct your very own race track in The Shop. Using cardboard and other available materials, you can create a twisting, turning, undulating race track for your favorite toy cars. Connect your track to a friend’s for even more fun! 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…