Past Events
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,…
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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.
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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…
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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 »
Special Hours: Open Monday
The Discovery will be open 10:00am to 5:00pm on the Mondays during Washoe County School District’s winter break. That’s even more days to discover! Be sure to check out the calendar of events to find out what’s happening throughout the entire three weeks of winter break—December 21, 2018 through January 13, 2019!
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Create a Zentangle
Stop by Art Alcove to try your hand at a relaxing form of art called “Zentangle.” The Zentangle method is an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. Art Alcove is The Discovery’s space to explore your creative side. Art Alcove offers a unique art project every day for museum visitors to explore a variety of artistic materials and methods.
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Cardboard City “Winter Wonderland”
Can you imagine a winter wonderland made out of cardboard? Can you create one? Collaborate with other museum visitors in The Shop to help create The Discovery’s first-ever Cardboard City “Winter Wonderland.” 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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Cardboard City “Winter Wonderland”
Can you imagine a winter wonderland made out of cardboard? Can you create one? Collaborate with other museum visitors in The Shop to help create The Discovery’s first-ever Cardboard City “Winter Wonderland.” 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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Spread the Word Nevada
Join volunteers from Spread the Word Nevada to learn about their variety of literacy programs. They’ll also have a selection of FREE books to choose from! Spread the Word Nevada℠ is dedicated to advancing childhood literacy within low-income communities by changing lives one book at a time.
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Visiting Artist: Kit Huntington
Join Visiting Kit Huntington for a two-part program that blends art and science into hands-on bubble fun. First, create art in motion by making your own giant bubbles. Learn some fun facts about the science of a soap bubble, and roll up your sleeves to experiment with manipulating soap films and discover all kinds of fun things you can do with bubbles. Then, transfer the momentary beauty of bubbles to paper by learning to make bubble prints. Use dyed solution…
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Flipbook Machine
Simple machines can do amazing things! Visit The Shop and use available tools and materials to create a flipbook machine to display your personal photos. With the turn of a dial, or the twist of a crank, you can display your favorite photos to friends and family. 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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Flipbook Machine
Simple machines can do amazing things! Visit The Shop and use available tools and materials to create a flipbook machine to display your personal photos. With the turn of a dial, or the twist of a crank, you can display your favorite photos to friends and family. 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 »
Flipbook Machine
Simple machines can do amazing things! Visit The Shop and use available tools and materials to create a flipbook machine to display your personal photos. With the turn of a dial, or the twist of a crank, you can display your favorite photos to friends and family. 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 »
Science Distilled: In the line of fire
Stories from wildland firefighters: What firefighters’ journals can teach us about risk, values, and decision-making. Fire behavior is becoming more unusual and unpredictable—we know this all too well after yet another incredibly destructive fire season. On the fire line, firefighters are faced with complex moment-to-moment decisions, negotiating the tensions that can exist between protecting personal safety, private property, and shared resources. What can we learn about how firefighters assess risk and take action on the ground, and what can that teach…
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DIY Marionettes
Prepare to put on a show with the do-it-yourself marionette you create in The Shop. Using available tools and materials, you can create a clever puppet to use in a puppet show for friends and family! 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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Wooden Puzzles
Put your do-it-yourself skills to work in The Shop when you use real tools and materials to create a variety of fun puzzles and games. 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: Closing at 2:00pm
The Discovery will close at 2:00pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 for a staff training event. The museum will reopen at 10:00am on Wednesday, January 30 and resume normal hours.
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Wooden Puzzles
Put your do-it-yourself skills to work in The Shop when you use real tools and materials to create a variety of fun puzzles and games. 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 »
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 »
Members’ Preview: Mindbender Mansion
The Discovery is pleased to welcome you to Mindbender Mansion, our latest featured exhibition. This large-scale, eclectic and quirky exhibition, full of brainteasers and interactive challenges, is guaranteed to test the brain power and problem solving skills of even the most experienced puzzlers. Join us and be one of the first to master each of the 40 individual brainteasers and four group activities that make up this fun, challenging and unconventional mansion! Members-only Admission to this exhibition preview event is…
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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 »
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 »
Social Science: The ’80s
Calling all nerds, preps, jocks and valley girls to an exploration of the science and culture of the ‘80s. Play classic arcade games, make your own ectoplasm, master the Rubik’s Cube, design a sequined glove, and much more, dude! Labs, lectures and programming at this Social Science will include: Go for High Score! Become an ’80s hero when you try your hand at classic arcade games from Press Start Arcade. You got next! Become the King (or Queen) of Pop…
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Tech!Night February
Visit The Discovery on the second Wednesday of every month for Tech!Night, a new program designed to put emerging technology in the hands of museum visitors. Tech!Nights will feature a variety of high-tech tools and techniques, gadgets and games – command a robot, print in 3-D, and even code a new game – happening monthly in Spark!Lab Smithsonian. Generously supported by:
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