Museum Of Discovery In Little Rock Arkansas
This past summer, we spend a fun weekend exploring Little Rock Arkansas. I was happy to find tons of family friendly places to visit and things to see and do. You can check out our full adventures here and see other family friendly spots, places to eat, and places to stay. We spent a lot of time in two spots: The William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Library for lots of presidential trivia and the Museum of Discovery for lots of STEAM fun.
The Museum of Discovery is located downtown in Little Rock on Presidential Clinton Avenue, close to many other attractions, restaurants, and the popular River Walk complex. The museum participates in the Association of Childrens Museums reciprocity program, which means if youre visiting from out of town and have a membership at your local childrens museum you can visit for a discounted admission fee. The museum also offers $1 admission on the last Sunday of the month. The Museum is closed on Mondays when schools are in session and has limited hours on Sundays.
Traveling with Kids:
There are over 90 interactive exhibits to explore, divided into six sections. Here are some of our favorite activities:
Discovery Hall has tons of exhibits that challenges like shooting ping pong balls, bowling, and laying on a bed of nails. Each challenge has an explanation of how and why the challenge uses various science principles.
Other Exhibits to Check Out:
Working Hard To Build A Quality Children’s Museum For Rock County
The Childrens Museum of Rock County is a volunteer-powered emerging museum with a starter space in Uptown Janesville, formerly the Janesville Mall.
While we are not currently holding programming in our starter space due to the pandemic, we are hosting programming out in the community, most frequently through our PLAY Kit stops. Our PLAY Kits were created in response to the pandemic and are a museum-to-go experience. They are organized around a theme and include 1-3 activities that touch on the content areas we plan to have in the future museum. They usually contain a little art, a little science, and a lot of fun and creativity. Additionally, they help kids build skills and interact with their caregivers and environments.
CMRC has been in the works in one form or another since 2006 when members of the Leadership Development Academy identified a childrens museum as a pressing community need. The Museum was set to launch in 2008/09 until the Great Recession hit in autumn 2008 and General Motors-Janesville announced its plant closure in December of the same year. Those external conditions put the plans on hold. Since then, the idea has been kindled by dedicated volunteers.
A World Of Discovery Awaits You
All of our exhibits are kid-powered, allowing children to explore, discover, and learn by doing. The museum is a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment featuring 13,000 square feet of learning experiences.
What do children learn at the museum?
Social & Emotional Development
Skills
Our interactive exhibits challenge young learners to solve problems and make sense of their world through interactive play.
Fine and Gross
Motor Skills
Our unique hands-on programs and exhibits provide numerous opportunities for children to practice their fine and gross motor skills.
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About The Museum Of Discovery
The Museum of Discovery is Little Rock’s premier science and technology center, and our mission to ignite and fuel a passion for science, technology, engineering, arts and math through dynamic, interactive experiences. Our museum is the oldest in the state of Arkansas, founded in 1927. We became the Museum of Discovery in 1998 when we moved to our River Market location. Thanks to a $9.2 million grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, we debuted 90 new, interactive, hands-on exhibits in 2012.
An Evans & Sutherland Production
The Oaklawn Foundation Digital Dome Theater makes a perfect time machine because it can recreate moments in time at any pace and at any scale. Although you can’t easily define time, here you can watch its passage and feel it within you.
Mid-America Science Museum has attained the coveted Charity Navigator 4-Star rating for demonstrating strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency.
This is the highest possible rating and indicates that Mid-America adheres to sector best practices and executes its mission in a financially efficient way.
Video Series
Return to the Mid-America Science Museum in Hot Springs, Arkansas, to learn about thunderstorms by visiting their Plasma Ball and Tesla Coil.
What youll discover might just shock you!
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Complete Guide To Museums In Little Rock And Central Arkansas
10/20/2020 6:52am
1700 Port Road, Pine Bluff
Admission: Free
Housed in an old machine shop for the Cotton Belt Railroad, this museum impresses with a restored Steam Locomotive 819 the last steam engine built in the Cotton Belt Shops. The museum features multiple diesel engines, three cabooses, a snow plow, passenger car, model train sets and more.
847 Whittington Ave., Hot SpringsAdmission: Adults $9, children $7
See more than 200 alligators and many other animals, including lions and monkeys and learn about them in the museum. Watch alligator feedings from May to October on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at noon.
501 E. 9th St., Little Rock
Admission: Free
The Arkansas Arts Center is an art museum and active center for the visual and performing arts. The museum features a world-class international collection of art, live children’s theatre productions, art classes, lectures, films, family programs, shopping and dining.
120 Riverfront Park Drive, North Little Rock
Admission: Adults $7.50, children $5
Visitors experience the sights, sounds, and smells of submarine service when they step aboard the historic submarine USS Razorback . The museum also features exhibits on four other Naval vessels and a collection on the history of the Arkansas River.
201 Donaghey Avenue, Conway
Admission: Free
1510 Main St., Little Rock
Admission: Adults $10, children $8
805 Locust St., Conway
Admission: Free
626 Central Ave., Hot Springs
Admission: $8
510 Central Ave., Hot Springs
Musuem Of Black Arkansans
1208 Louisiana St., Little Rock
The Museum of Black Arkansans and Performing Arts has exhibits on prominent Black Arkansans and the African-American experience. Tours are available by reservation.
500 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock
Admission: Adults $10, children $8
The Museum of Discovery is Arkansass premier science and technology center, whose mission is to ignite a passion for science, technology, engineering, arts and math in a dynamic, interactive environment.
300 W. Markham St., Little Rock
Admission: Free
The Old State House Museum is the original state capitol of Arkansas. Since 1833, when construction began, the building and its grounds have witnessed many of the most important events in Arkansas history.
4815 US-165, Scott
Admission: Free guided tours: Adults $4, children $3
This museum was originally constructed in 1912 and was renovated in 1989. The exhibits and programs cover Arkansas history from 1836 through World War II, when agricultural practices rapidly became mechanized and tractors, mechanized cotton pickers, and modern chemicals forever replaced the old system of plantation agriculture and small farms.
602 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock
Admission: Free
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Creating A Plan Of Action
Once we have had an opportunity to tally survey results, meet with services, agencies, organizations, and educators, we will compile this valuable information and begin a written course of action that will be penned in our feasibility study. We will then begin work to kick off fund raising efforts & Capitol Campaign.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Notably one of the best public parks in the whole country, Little Rocks Julius Breckling Riverfront Park offers a wide expanse of space of 33 acres thats perfect for outdoor activities.
With dozens of places to visit within the park, you wont run out of options.
Visit the gardens that boast some of the most beautiful flowers or even the Riverfront Park History Pavilion for some detailed records of the founding of this park.
Our most recommended destinations are the Peabody Splash Park, a unique play environment designed for imagination, exploration and discovery, and the First Security Amphitheater, which houses the best events, concerts and festivals in the city.
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What Will The Museum Be Like
Our vision is to provide a safe place to play where children of all ages are encouraged to grow emotionally, socially, intellectually and physically.
We also strive to be a support to families and the community in the form of education and providing a quality indoor play environment.
We believe that children learn best through play, which should be engaging and fun.
We are dedicated to making a space where parents, grandparents or other caregivers can bring children to increase their love of learning. It will also be a place to create positive family experiences.
