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Water

Become immersed in the importance of water from the personal to the global scale.

Creativity Lab

Come and harness your creativity and problem solving skills!

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Danville Science Center | Explore

Things To Do

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dome show

The Accidental Astronauts

Embark on an unexpected journey into space.

exhibit

Water

Water is everything. Become immersed in the importance of water from the personal to the global scale.

dome show

The Great Solar System Adventure

Explore the wonders and perils of our Solar System in this breathtaking immersive adventure.

Two girls running on the track in the Go exhibition

exhibit

Go!

Discover the mind-blowing principles behind movement and energy!

Child pulls on a yellow cannon in the exhibition Science Unplugged

exhibit

Science Unplugged

Get hands-on and explore the basic principles behind physics and architecture.

On display beginning January 14, 2026

Couple hiking for Dome film Into America's Wild

dome show

Into America’s Wild

Journey through some of the most beautiful but little-known landscapes of North America.

wings over water film image featuring two sandhill cranes near a wetland

dome show

Wings Over Water

The prairie wetlands have a story to tell!

Now Showing

young guest engaging a lever in Crescent Crossing.jpg

exhibit

Crescent Crossing

All Aboard! Bring your little one to experience our interactive exhibit packed full of train-themed fun!

Boy bending down in Butterfly Garden pointing at a flower

experience

Butterfly Station

Meet a wide variety of beautiful lepidoptera and get inspired to create your own garden!

Now Closed for the Season

Sitll taken from the Digital Dome Film A Story of Survival Dinosaurs

dome show

Dinosaurs: A Story of Survival

Discover colossal creatures from the past, explore their transformations and uncover their secrets to survival.

Illustration of a drone on a yellow background dodging solo cups for the Special Delivery Creativity Lab

creativity lab

Special Delivery

Program and pilot a drone through a complex obstacle course.

December 17 – December 21

December 24 – December 28

Illustration of a yellow block wearing sunglasses on a pixel art background of the Science Center

creativity lab

Minecraft Your Own Business

Take on the challenge of designing your very own exhibition within a virtual replica of the Science Center.

December 31 – January 4

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creativity lab

Ozobot Hockey

Lace up your imagination and let the match begin!

January 7 – January 11

dome show

Earth, Moon and Sun

Learn how these cosmic bodies work together as a system.

Group Only

creativity lab

Fantastic Foam Creations

Make a custom 3D puzzle in the Creativity Lab!

January 14 – January 18

creativity lab

Leather Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth

Come create the perfect custom leather gift!

January 21 – January 25

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creativity lab

Lots of Lift

Get ready to take flight!

January 28 – February 1

An illustration of a design for a building on top of a wooden background. Also illustrated is a glue bottle and a note pad.

creativity lab

Reaching New Heights

Using softwood creators will engineer the tallest tower that can withstand the most stress.

February 4 – February 8

Illustration of three astronauts in the sky, falling with parachutes attached. From left, one parachute is blue, the middle is red and the one on the right is yellow.

creativity lab

Falling for Science

Effectively design a parachute to slow down the descend of an action figure.

February 11 – February 15

event

Stream into the V.O.I.D

Virtual interactive live astronomy presentation highlighting the month’s celestial happenings.

Every second Tuesday at noon!

planet with a red hue and cratered surface known as Mars.jpg

dome show

Mars: The Ultimate Voyage

An epic journey to the Moon, Mars and beyond!

Coming Soon!

event

Feb

07

Corks & Forks Auction and Gala

Join us for a delightful evening full of elegance, fun and philanthropy!

February 7
7–10 p.m.

image of million wall a math exhibit.jpg

exhibit

Million Wall

Can you connect the dots?

image of the blue, green, and teal art installation in Science Central called meander.jpg

exhibit

Meander

Admire this one-of-a-kind art piece and its significance to the Dan River.

adult and child looking over at a model train layout

exhibit

Estlow Train Layout

Experience a step back in time and into Danville’s train history with the N-scale masterpiece.

Big Bird, Elmo and Hu Hu Zhu pointing at the moon

dome show

One World, One Sky

Discover a brilliant spectacle of light and color as you watch the stars twinkle over Sesame Street.

experience

Opposites Attract

Explore characteristics of magnets and discover some of their everyday uses!

Bookable Group Program

dome show

Flight of the Butterflies

Experience the beauty of the migration cycle of butterflies.

Image of Mia from the Digital Dome Theater show Magic Globe

dome show

Magic Globe: A Story of the Seasons

An engaging and inspiring story about the importance of seasons and how climate impacts our planet.

dome show

Perfect Little Planet

Discover our solar system through a new set of eyes.

Group Only

decorative image for voyage of the sea film.jpg

dome show

Voyage of the Stars

An enchanting adventure through the sea and space!

Expeditionreef getty.jpg

dome show

Expedition Reef

Embark on an oceanic safari.

extreme weather, lightening, ice, fire and a tornado.jpg

dome show

Extreme Weather

Join teams studying one of the most dynamic and complex forces shaping our planet.

Image of a dog with snow goggles and a jacket on top of a snowcapped mountain from Superpower Dog

dome show

Superpower Dogs

Experience the life-saving superpowers and extraordinary bravery of some of the world’s most amazing dogs.

Now Showing

Illustration of a squirrel flying an airplane for the Digital Dome feature 3-2-1 LIftoff

dome show

3-2-1 Liftoff!

Join Alan, the hamster, on an action-packed journey to help return his fallen robotic friend back to space and onward to mars.

dome show

Zula Patrol: Down to Earth

Learn about the development of the life forms that call Earth home.

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experience

Floating Boats

Make a splash and explore the concept of buoyancy!

Bookable Group Program

experience

Simple Machines

This will force you to learn about basic mechanical devices.

Bookable Group Program

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experience

Riverside Science

Learn all about the Dan River and it's fascinating ecosystem.

Bookable Group Program

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experience

Water, Water Everywhere

Immerse yourself in the majestic properties of water.

Bookable Group Program

group of children playing with foam blocks.jpg

experience

Imagination Playground

Let your future engineer’s creativity run wild!

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experience

The Web of Life

Explore what eats what in an ecological community.

Bookable Group Program

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experience

Sow It – Grow It

Get hands on with plants.

Bookable Group Program

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experience

Simply Soil

Grow your knowledge about this organic mixture.

Bookable Group Program

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experience

Rock ‘n’ Roll

Explore the rock cycle and learn about Earth's fascinating geology.

Bookable Group Program

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experience

Super Senses

Investigate the five senses and their corresponding organs we use every day.

Bookable Group Program

Image showing radar map of extreme weather with different colors of precipitation intensities

experience

Wild Weather

Come learn the science behind extreme weather, from its causes to its impacts.

Bookable Group Program

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experience

Fossil Finds

Uncover some amazing fossils and discover ancient ocean environments.

Bookable Group Program

Image of Pluto and Charon for the Digital Dome Feature Edge of Darkness

dome show

Edge of Darkness

Embark on a thrilling voyage alongside comet 67P and explore the first-ever close-ups of Pluto/Charon and it's moons.

Image showing butterfly lifecycle

experience

Build a Butterfly

Come learn all about butterflies and their amazing metamorphosis!

Bookable Group Program

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experience

3…2…1…Blast Off!

Explore potential and kinetic energy and test Newton’s Laws of Motion.

Bookable Group Program

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experience

Animal Adaptations

Explore the diversity of organisms and how they adapt to their environments.

Bookable Group Program

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experience

Good Vibrations

Make some noise and explore the science behind sound!

Bookable Group Program

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experience

Shocking Truth

This program has the power to brighten your day.

Bookable Group Program

Photograph of a mantis with the moon in the background for the Digital Dome feature Bugs A Rainforest Adventure

dome show

Bugs! A Rainforest Adventure

Peer into the mesmerizing miniature world of magnified insects and discover their incredible lives.

dome show

Forward to the Moon

Take a journey to learn about NASA’s efforts to take our first steps towards a permanent, off-world presence.

Group Only

Image of a dinosaur in Antarctica roaring

dome show

Dinosaurs of Antarctica

Journey into prehistoric Antarctica and discover a world of bizarre dinosaurs and gigantic amphibians.

Curious George™ wearing a yellow hat for the Curious Georige: Let's Get Curious touring exhibition.jpg

exhibit

Curious George™: Let’s Get Curious!

Dive into an incredible exhibition that invites families to play, learn and explore together just like everyone’s favorite little monkey.

On display beginning May 23, 2026.

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experience

The Big Chill: Cool CO2 Science

Watch us perform some amazing science with dry-ice!

Bookable Group Program

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dome show

Cosmic Journey: A Solar System Adventure

Travel faster than the speed of light.

Group Only