As a parent, you know how important it is to keep your kids busy and interested in learning. Finding ways to keep them engaged without a screen can seem like a challenge at times, too. Enter The Museum of Discovery, the Little Rock Children’s museum and the premier science and technology center. Their mission aims to engage kids of all ages interested in science, tech, engineering, arts, and math “through dynamic, interactive experiences.” Please keep reading to discover what makes them a special gem right here in Little Rock!
About A Little Rock Children’s Museum – The Museum of Discovery
The Museum of Discovery has had quite a journey from its original title and location to where it is – and what it is – today! Famed Arkansas author Bernie Babcok originally opened the Museum of Natural History & Antiquities in 1927 at its spot on Main Street, and it featured several, shall we say, eerie curiosities that drew plenty of press and attention. In 1929, Mrs. Babcock gifted the museum to the city of Little Rock as a Christmas present, and then it closed in 1935 when the city had other plans for its location.
Rejecting defeat, Mrs. Babcock gained city approval a few years later, in 1939, to reopen in the Tower Building of the federal arsenal in MacArthur Park, where it lived for the next 55 years. Then, in 1998, it moved to its current location in the River Market and became the Museum of Discovery! Recently (well, in 2011), it closed and underwent a massive $9.2 million renovation. It reopened a year later and has been a beloved space for learning and play ever since!
Services
The Museum of Discovery is the ultimate hub for hands-on learning and experimentation through play! Kids of all ages will enjoy the interactive exhibits that stimulate discovery and exploration, all while having fun and developing important social skills as they play alongside family members and peers.
The museum’s Tornado Alley Theatre recreates the riveting tornado that devastated the Governor’s Mansion district area of Little Rock nearly 25 years ago through the stories of survivors, television footage, and an actual recreation of the rumbles and roars of the tornado. There’s also a variety of traveling exhibits that feature exciting subjects like dinosaurs, diamonds, ancient Mayan history, and the science of origami!
The museum also has a whole team of scaly, feathery, spiky, and furry animal ambassadors that make special appearances throughout the day to teach visitors about these unique critters and the habitats in which they live!
Have an explorer or expert fort-maker at home? They’ll love the “A-MAZE-D” exhibit, a 1,800-square-foot maze made of repurposed cardboard boxes that encourages exploration, critical thinking, and problem-solving!
Specialty
One of the museum’s most popular attractions is their Wiggle Worms events, which introduce kids up through age 6 to science through hands-on activities and a whole lot of fun! They hold it twice a week, and there’s typically a story included, followed by an activity or experiment that ties into the week’s theme!
The museum believes there’s no such thing as getting kids interested in science, math, and technology too early. Moreover, you’ll be amazed by how much your child really learns in a single session!
Little Rock Children’s Museum
We are lucky to have such a special Little Rock children’s museum in The Museum of Discovery, and it’s a fantastic place to get some hands-on entertainment with your kids as you watch them learn and grow. If you haven’t already, check it out soon, and prepare for the potential to leave with a membership so you can keep coming back again and again!
So now that you found the family’s new favorite day trip, it’s time for some family photos! I am a Little Rock photographer who loves to laugh and have fun on sessions. So for more joy I have captured, check out the blog link below! Let’s chat about capturing your family having some fun together!
