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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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exhibit

Water

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

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!

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.

dome show

The Great Solar System Adventure

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

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!

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 Open

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.

Laser Glider.jpg

creativity lab

Summer Gliders

Using basic materials and high-tech equipment, come design and test your own flying glider.

July 21 – July 26

Illustration of multicolored balloons next to a 1,000,000 pound weight

creativity lab

1 Million Pound Cloud

Can you build the tallest balloon structure without the use of tape?

July 28 – August 2

dome show

Earth, Moon and Sun

Learn how these cosmic bodies work together as a system.

Group Only

creativity lab

Rube Goldberg's Alarm Clock

Build an impractical yet incredible balloon popping creation.

August 4 – August 9

Illustration of a custom ruller with the words Ben on it for the Creativity Lab One to Rule Them All

creativity lab

One to Rule Them All

Learn how to design and build your own custom ruler using our laser engraver.

August 11 – August 16

creativity lab

Air We There Yet?

Learn how to make an air-powered vehicle out of simple materials.

August 18 – August 23

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

event

Jul

23

Sensory-Friendly Night

Join us for a sensory-friendly evening, including time in the Butterfly Station!

July 23
5–7 p.m.

decorative image of hammer and a work bench .jpg

creativity lab

Aerial Obstacle Course

Learn the basics of drone flight, then put your piloting skills to the test!

August 25 – August 30

event

Stream into the V.O.I.D

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

Every second Tuesday at noon!

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.

September 1 – September 6

decorative image of hammer and a work bench .jpg

creativity lab

Ozobot Hockey

Lace up your imagination and let the match begin!

September 8 – September 13

Battery, metal wire and paper clip on a lime green background. Parts used to make a simple motor.

creativity lab

Moving Motors

Discover the science behind electric motors by assembling your own working electric motor from basic household items.

September 16 – September 20

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!

image of million wall a math exhibit.jpg

exhibit

Million Wall

Can you connect the dots?

Illustration of a robot pulling a train

creativity lab

I Think I Can: Train Challenge

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

September 23 – September 27

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.

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

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.

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 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.

Expeditionreef getty.jpg

dome show

Expedition Reef

Embark on an oceanic safari.

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

Flight of the Butterflies

Experience the beauty of the migration cycle of butterflies.

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.

Red panda sits on a tree branch behind the yellow and green leaves

dome show

Wild Asia: Life at Extremes

Be swept away on an epic journey across the extreme landscapes of the world’s largest continent!

Now Showing

creativity lab

Test The Best Wind Catcher

Come test, engineer and build the optimal wind catcher!

September 30 – October 4

floatingboats getty.jpg

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

Weboflife getty.jpg

experience

The Web of Life

Explore what eats what in an ecological community.

Bookable Group Program

Sowitgrowit getty.jpg

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

Rocknroll getty.jpg

experience

Rock ‘n’ Roll

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

Bookable Group Program

supersenses getty.jpg

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

Fossilfinds getty.jpg

experience

Fossil Finds

Uncover some amazing fossils and discover ancient ocean environments.

Bookable Group Program

Image showing butterfly lifecycle

experience

Build a Butterfly

Come learn all about butterflies and their amazing metamorphosis!

Bookable Group Program

123blastoff getty.jpg

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

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.

Now Open!

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experience

The Big Chill: Cool CO2 Science

Watch us perform some amazing science with dry-ice!

Bookable Group Program

Cosmicjourney getty.jpg

dome show

Cosmic Journey: A Solar System Adventure

Travel faster than the speed of light.

Group Only

experience

Opposites Attract

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

Bookable Group Program

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.

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.