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Children's Museums

Discovery Space of Central Pennsylvania

Name: Discovery Space of Central Pennsylvania
Address: 1224 N Atherton St, State College, PA 16803, State College, PA, US
Telephone: (814) 234-0200
Rating: 4.4

★★★★☆ 4.4 (227 reviews)

📍 1224 N Atherton St, State College, PA 16803

📞 (814) 234-0200

🌐 discoveryspace.org

Visit Website 📍 Get Directions

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About Discovery Space of Central Pennsylvania

Children's science museum & learning center with hands-on exhibits & toddler-friendly activities. The Rivet makerspace is a 5,000 square foot community workshop attached to the museum, featuring a pottery studio and technical classes for hands-on learning beyond traditional exhibits. Rated 4.4 out of 5 stars by 227 visitors.

Quick Facts

Type: Science Center
Best For: All ages — infants through teens
Highlights: 45+ interactive exhibits, Marine Life Center, The Rivet makerspace
Membership: Yes — Summer Fun Pass $50 for unlimited summer visits
Location: State College, PA

💡 Did You Know?

⭐The Rivet makerspace is a 5,000 square foot community workshop attached to the museum, featuring a pottery studio and technical classes for hands-on learning beyond traditional exhibits
⭐The museum features 45+ interactive exhibits spanning multiple learning centers including a Marine Life Center with touch pools and live sea creatures like sea stars, hermit crabs, and ocean fish
⭐Offers a Summer Fun Pass for $50 providing unlimited visits June-August, making it an affordable option for extended summer learning and play
⭐Serves an unusually broad age range from infants (age 0) through teenagers (age 15-18), with exhibits intentionally designed for toddlers through teens rather than a narrow age band

💬 What Visitors Say

💡Plan your Marine Life Center visit carefully—it closes at 1pm on Wednesdays and Fridays, and may close unexpectedly for improvements. Visit on other days if the touch pools and sea creatures are a priority.
💬The Summer Fun Pass ($50 for unlimited visits June-August) is excellent value if you plan multiple visits during summer. With 2-2.5 hour visits being typical, 2-3 visits pay for themselves quickly.
💡This venue is optimally designed for children ages 7 and under with hands-on exhibits. Older kids (11+) may find limited engagement, though The Rivet makerspace next door offers advanced STEM and technical classes for older children.
💬Plan 2-3 hours for a full exploration. Visitors consistently report spending this amount of time moving through 45+ interactive stations at their own pace, making it ideal for a morning or afternoon outing rather than a brief visit.
💡Attend special events like DIY with Dad (June), Water Wednesdays (free for members, June-August), or Built for Curiosity pop-ups (July) for enhanced experiences beyond standard admission. Birthday parties here feature engaging demonstrations like dry ice experiments.