Calendar of Events

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.

In a world moving away from fossil fuels, Nevada is uniquely positioned to lead the nation in developing a circular economy that fuels our clean energy independence. At this event in the Science Distilled series, you’ll hear from experts in this emerging industry on what’s required to build a lithium loop in Nevada, creating a responsible, reliable and clean domestic energy source. Location: The Discovery, 490 S. Center Street, Downtown Reno Times: Doors open at 6:30pm, presentation begins at 7:00pm

Get under the hood at The Discovery! Motor on down to The Discovery for a day filled with hands-on automotive themed activities for car enthusiasts of every age. Join experts from NAPA AutoCare Centers to explore the inner workings of automobiles and the systems that make them go, turn and stop. Here are some of the exciting things happening on this special day:

Can you outrun a leprechaun? Find out at the 13th Annual Leprechaun Race on Sunday, March 16, 2025. This family-friendly 5K run/walk starts and finishes at The Discovery and will take you on a tour through the streets of the Midtown and Wells Avenue neighborhoods. Don’t despair if the leprechaun beats you to the finish. For every runner, jogger or walker the leprechaun passes, the pot of gold grows in size. Who will benefit from the increased pot of gold?……

The Discovery will be open 10:00am to 5:00pm on Monday, March 17 and Monday, March 24, 2025 during Washoe County School District’s spring break. Be sure to check out the calendar of events to see all of the exciting things happening at the museum.

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. Presented with support from:  

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 to create a dinosaur-themed classic wooden pull toy. Choose from a variety of materials and go to work with your choice of woodworking tools to create a prehistoric toy that will fondly follow you everywhere you go! 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 open 10:00am to 5:00pm on Monday, March 17 and Monday, March 24, 2025 during Washoe County School District’s spring break. Be sure to check out the calendar of events to see all of the exciting things happening at the museum.

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 cause injury if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

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 cause injury if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

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. Presented with support from:  

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 cause injury if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

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.

Work with fellow museum visitors in Spark!Lab Smithsonian 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: 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.

Visit The Shop to combine science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) to create a spring themed decoration that transfers energy to light an LED. Design, test and refine your creation until you’re pleased with how it works. Best of all, what 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.

Visit The Shop to combine science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) to create a spring themed decoration that transfers energy to light an LED. Design, test and refine your creation until you’re pleased with how it works. Best of all, what 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.

Work with fellow museum visitors in Spark!Lab Smithsonian 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: 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.

Mary Louise “Missy” Cummings Ph.D. was one of the United States Navy’s first female fighter pilots. She is also a mechanical engineer and professor specializing in human-autonomous system interaction. She has conducted influential research on artificial intelligence, automation, and human patterns in engineering. Take inspiration from Missy Cummings Ph.D. when you visit The Shop to design and build your version of a jet. Using available materials and real tools, you can create your own version of a fighter jet! Please note: The Shop offers access to real…

Work with fellow museum visitors in Spark!Lab Smithsonian 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: 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.

Mary Louise “Missy” Cummings Ph.D. was one of the United States Navy’s first female fighter pilots. She is also a mechanical engineer and professor specializing in human-autonomous system interaction. She has conducted influential research on artificial intelligence, automation, and human patterns in engineering. Take inspiration from Missy Cummings Ph.D. when you visit The Shop to design and build your version of a jet. Using available materials and real tools, you can create your own version of a fighter jet! Please note: The Shop offers access to real…

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. Presented with support from:  

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 to create an artistic representation of a beautiful flower. Using wood and a variety of other materials, you can create a vibrant spring flower. What you make is yours to take home! 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.