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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.

Two girls running on the track in the Go exhibition

exhibit

Go!

Discover the mind-blowing principles behind movement and energy!

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.

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

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!

Timed Experience Open April–Mid-September

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exhibit

Crescent Crossing

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

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.

dome show

Earth, Moon and Sun

Learn how these cosmic bodies work together as a system.

Group Only

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event

Sep

27 - 28

Rail Days

Get Your Caboose to Rail Days!

September 27, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
September 28, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Group picks up trash along the river on a fall day

event

Oct

11

Fall River Cleanup

We need your help to keep the River District clean and green!

October 11, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

event

Stream into the V.O.I.D

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

Every second Tuesday at noon!

creativity lab

Puzzling Puzzles

Make a custom STEM puzzle in the Creativity Lab!

September 3 – September 7

decorative image of a heart with a brain inside of it.

event

Oct

23

Sensory-Friendly Night

Join us for a sensory-friendly evening, complete with a petting zoo!

October 23
5–7 p.m.

Illustration of a robot stacking dominos for the DoBot Domino Run Creativity Lab

creativity lab

DoBot Domino Run

Learn how to code a robotic arm to initiate a domino chain reaction!

September 10 – September 14

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.

September 17 – September 21

Graphic of a waving Santa in front of a blue background with snowflakes.

event

Dec

04

Sensory-Friendly Night

Join us for a sensory-friendly evening … and say hello to Santa!

Save the date!
December 5
5–7 p.m.

Illustration of a robot pulling a train

creativity lab

This is What We Trained For

Utilize the power of an Ozobot to tow as much freight possible!

September 24– September 28

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.

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.

Thebigchill getty.jpg

experience

The Big Chill: Cool CO2 Science

Watch us perform some amazing science with dry-ice!

Bookable Group Program

dome show

Zula Patrol: Down to Earth

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

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.

image of million wall a math exhibit.jpg

exhibit

Million Wall

Can you connect the dots?

Cosmicjourney getty.jpg

dome show

Cosmic Journey: A Solar System Adventure

Travel faster than the speed of light.

Group Only

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!

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.

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dome show

Expedition Reef

Embark on an oceanic safari.

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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

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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