The promotional video for Discovery Place showcases the organization’s four museums in Charlotte as leading science, technology, and nature education hubs for the Carolinas. Narrated by a primary speaker, the video highlights the scale of impact—over three‑quarters of a million visitors annually from all 50 states and 30 countries—positioning Discovery Place as the top cultural attraction in Charlotte. It emphasizes a suite of inclusive and community‑focused programs: the $1 Welcome Program for families on public assistance, dedicated support for neurodiverse guests, and affordable access. Signature experiences such as traveling exhibitions, IMAX dome films, the Science on the Rocks evening series, and the nationally‑branded Nat Geo Live series illustrate how the museums bring global wonders locally. The Education Studio, a professional‑development center, has trained more than 14,000 teachers across North America, while partnerships with Atrium Health and the Girls in STEM initiative provide career exposure and aim to close gender gaps in STEM fields. Visitor and parent testimonials underscore the blend of fun and learning, the encouragement of curiosity, and the empowerment of youth to envision futures in science and engineering. The narrative concludes with a call to nurture a homegrown STEM workforce, positioning Discovery Place as a nonprofit leader bridging the STEM learning gap for all ages.
Chapters
At Discovery Place, we bring wonder to life for learners of all ages, from toddlers taking their first peek at the world to adults who have seen it all. Our 4 museums are leaders in providing science, technology, and nature education to the Carolinas.
3, 2, 1!
Inspiring more than 3/4 of a million people each year from all 50 states and nearly 30 countries, making Discovery Place the number one cultural attraction in Charlotte and a top destination in the state.
It's a great family trip. It's a great learning experience.
Through world-class traveling exhibitions and larger-than-life IMAX dome films, we bring the wonders of the world to Charlotte and the region.
I think it's very cool here. You're learning, but like having fun while doing it.
Our educators work to inspire people to use science to solve the small problems of today and the big problems of the future. Our educational programs are for everyone, regardless of their abilities or their ability to pay. The Welcome Program provides $1 admission to families who receive public assistance. The first program of its kind in Charlotte, Welcome has opened the doors to more than 200,000 visitors in 4 years.
They get to explore.
They see how it works. If it doesn't work out, they can do it over again.
Our museums offer a supportive home for neurodiverse guests.
My boys are both different learners, and this becomes difficult for a lot of people that we interact with, and we're not always welcome at a lot of places, but we always are here.
Science on the Rocks, the museum's popular evening series, welcomes more than 10,000 young adults each year. And through a partnership with the Blumenthal Center, we're hosting the national Nat Geo Live series in Charlotte, pairing real-life science experiences with nationally recognized adventurers.
I think you can always be learning and always be exploring. There's not a lot of opportunities for adults to engage in learning, and this is fun and new for all of us.
At Discovery Place, we are nurturing a homegrown STEM workforce. Through partnerships, we train teachers, create social capital for students, and improve education in our schools. Recognized nationally, Discovery Place Education Studio, a one-of-a-kind dedicated professional development center, has trained more than 14,000 teachers from Georgia to Canada in just 4 years.
My experience has been wonderful with Education Studio in that we embarked upon a dream of how to make science practical and livable for our students so that it can permeate the walls of education and connect them to their lifestyles.
Partnerships with leaders in the scientific fields are helping Discovery Place bring careers to life for students. Professionals from Atrium Health lead workshops every month about healthcare jobs and personal well-being. The Girls in STEM program empowers girls to break through and pursue STEM careers, closing the gender gap.
Girls in STEM exposes our kids to opportunities that they have not even dreamed of. They meet other women in engineering. They create things— collaboration, problem-solving.
At Discovery Place, learning, testing, and innovating are in our DNA, and we share those values with our community.
Every year our kids come to Discovery Place Nature. They all work together, they all problem-solve, and they all kind of are really surprised at how strong they are. Discovery Place is the nonprofit leader in the Carolinas bridging the STEM learning gap for people of all ages.
Whenever I grow up, I want to be an astrophysicist.
An engineer.
Be a pilot. Either a scientist or a YouTuber.
We are working to put the puzzle pieces together that help connect our youth with their futures today and tomorrow.
