Children's Museums

Discovery Center of Springfield

★★★★☆ 4.5 (1466 reviews)

📍 438 E St Louis St, Springfield, MO 65806

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🕐 Hours

Quick Facts

Type: Science Center
Best For: All ages
Space: 60,000 sq ft across 6 floors with 15 galleries
Top Attractions: Animatronic dinosaurs, aircraft cockpit, LEGO Brickyard, Lu Digital Interactive Playground
Admission: Children $12, Adults $17 (with $2 cash discount)

⭐Jurassic Discovery is the largest gallery of animatronic dinosaurs in the Midwest
⭐The Discovery Center spans 60,000 square feet across 6 floors with 15 unique galleries covering diverse topics from DNA to dinosaurs
⭐Features a Giant Eyeball walkthrough exhibit that visitors can walk through entirely
⭐Children ages 0-2 receive free admission, with discounted cash pricing available ($2 off for children and adults)

💬Take advantage of the library pass option - visitors can get free admission through Springfield library passes, making it a great budget-friendly option for locals and those with library card access
💬Plan to spend 2-3 hours exploring all 6 floors and 15 galleries; the venue is extensive with 60,000 square feet of space, so don't rush through exhibits
💡Start with the Jurassic Discovery gallery featuring the largest collection of animatronic dinosaurs in the Midwest - it's a standout attraction and tends to draw crowds, so visiting early can provide a better experience
🕐Popular interactive experiences like the balloon drop events can get crowded; arrive early or check event schedules (like Cirque Du Discovery in March 2026) to plan your visit around peak times
💡While geared toward younger children, teenagers still enjoy the hands-on interactive exhibits like the aircraft cockpit, HighWire Bike, and Lu Digital Interactive Playground - all ages can find engaging activities