Calendar of Events

Science Distilled, a new lecture series created by DRI and The Discovery, makes cutting-edge science approachable through presentations on current and curious topics held at hip locations in a social atmosphere. Fire: Friend of Foe? From our view at the edge of the Sierra, we face a fine line between fear of fire as a force of destruction and awe of the power of fire as a necessary part of nature’s cycles. This Science Distilled event showcases the curiosity and…

Join visiting artist Katie Packham of Copper Cat Studio for an introduction to the art of mosaic tiling. Learn the basics of design, assembly, materials & grouting. All tools and materials required for this class are provided. Best of all, you’ll create your very own mosaic work of art to take home. Visiting Artist program supported by:

Put your automotive engineering skills to the test when you design, build and test a pumpkin racer in The Shop. Use available tools and materials, along with the pumpkins provided*, to create your Halloween-inspired racer and then test its speed and handling on The Discovery’s test track. Experts from the PumpkinPalooza will be on hand from 5:00 to 7:00pm to assist with your designs. Racers created at The Discovery will be eligible to race in a special “Discovery class” at…

Put your automotive engineering skills to the test when you design, build and test a pumpkin racer in The Shop. Use available tools and materials, along with the pumpkins provided*, to create your Halloween-inspired racer and then test its speed and handling on The Discovery’s test track. Experts from the PumpkinPalooza will be on hand from 10:00 to 11:30am to assist with your designs. Racers created at The Discovery will be eligible to race in a special “Discovery class” at…

Rebekah Stetson is an educator and artisan. Her passion as an artist is in reusing things from nature by transforming them into a new creation. From local, organically grown chicken feathers for earrings to wild harvested materials for dream catchers, all of creation is revered in her work. Join Rebekah to explore a variety of ways to appreciate nature and nurture creativity. Our thanks to the Meyer family for their support of the Visiting Tinkerer program at The Discovery.

Put your automotive engineering skills to the test when you design, build and test a pumpkin racer in The Shop. Use available tools and materials, along with the pumpkins provided*, to create your Halloween-inspired racer and then test its speed and handling on The Discovery’s test track. Racers created at The Discovery will be eligible to race in a special “Discovery class” at the annual Pumpkin Derby in Sparks. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials…

Slice, scoop, sculpt and carve your very own Halloween jack-o-lantern in The Shop. Using a variety of tools and the pumpkins provided*, you can create a spooky, silly or downright scary Halloween icon. 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 in this space safely. Pumpkins provided by: *Pumpkins provided while supplies last. Visitors are welcome to bring…

Slice, scoop, sculpt and carve your very own Halloween jack-o-lantern in The Shop. Using a variety of tools and the pumpkins provided*, you can create a spooky, silly or downright scary Halloween icon. 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 in this space safely. Pumpkins provided by: *Pumpkins provided while supplies last. Visitors are welcome to bring their own pumpkins.

Slice, scoop, sculpt and carve your very own Halloween jack-o-lantern in The Shop. Using a variety of tools and the pumpkins provided*, you can create a spooky, silly or downright scary Halloween icon. 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 in this space safely. Pumpkins provided by: *Pumpkins provided while supplies last. Visitors are welcome to bring…

Inspired by Naval fighter pilot Missy Cummings, test your piloting skills in Spark!Lab Smithsonian when you take The Discovery’s UAV for a test flight through a challenging obstacle course.

Slice, scoop, sculpt and carve your very own Halloween jack-o-lantern in The Shop. Using a variety of tools and the pumpkins provided*, you can create a spooky, silly or downright scary Halloween icon. 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 in this space safely. Pumpkins provided by: *Pumpkins provided while supplies last. Visitors are welcome to bring…

Time keeps on ticking, so why not create a way to keep track of it? Visit The Shop to use available tools and materials and a provided clock kit* to design and build your own timekeeper. 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 in this space safely. *One clock kit per museum visitor while supplies last.

You’re invited to explore the artistry of mixology by taking a hands-on look at the science behind the craft of tiki-themed cocktails. At The Discovery’s premier annual fundraising event, you’ll explore your favorite libations in ways you’ve never experienced before. Add to that delicious fare from local culinary hot spots, silent and live auctions, and museum exploration, and you’ve got the recipe for a fundraising event unlike other! Help raise $100,000 in a single night to support The Discovery’s mission…

Time keeps on ticking, so why not create a way to keep track of it? Visit The Shop to use available tools and materials and a provided clock kit* to design and build your own timekeeper. 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 in this space safely. *One clock kit per museum visitor while supplies last.

Bighorn sheep live throughout our state, including the mountains that border Reno and Sparks to the east. Representatives from the Wild Sheep Foundation will visit The Discovery to help you learn about this majestic animal and it’s adaptations, and explain the conservation efforts have led Nevada to have more sheep than any other in the U.S. with the exception of Alaska.

Time keeps on ticking, so why not create a way to keep track of it? Visit The Shop to use available tools and materials and a provided clock kit* to design and build your own timekeeper. 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 in this space safely. *One clock kit per museum visitor while supplies last.

November 10, 2016 is the first official International Science Center & Science Museum Day (ISCSMN), and The Discovery is a part of the celebration. Building upon UNESCO’s theme of “Science for Peace and Development,” ISCSMN’s goal is to create new ways for science institutions to proactively address global sustainability while reaching increasingly diverse audiences. Visit The Discovery on this special day to explore these sustainability activities: Can you create a sustainable future city? The game introduces the three pillars of…

The Discovery will be open 10:00am to 5:00pm on Veterans Day, Friday, November 11th. To find out what’s happening at the museum, visit the calendar of events. Daily admission for veterans and active duty military is $9.

Make what’s old new again in The Shop! Repurpose a variety of materials into new, interesting and functional objects using available tools and your own creativity. 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 in this space safely.

In The Shop, hands-on gets serious. During “open build” take your pick of real tools and materials to design and build nearly anything you can imagine. Best of all, whatever you create 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.

Inspired by the inventor of Kevlar polymer, Stephanie Kowlek, visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to make your own polymer slime and explore its various properties.