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Explore All Things To Do

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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Get hands on to discover your world!

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Make a charitable gift to the support the Science Center.

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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.

dome show

The Accidental Astronauts

Embark on an unexpected journey into space.

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

Two girls running on the track in the Go exhibition

exhibit

Go!

Discover the mind-blowing principles behind movement and energy!

dome show

Group Only

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.

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!

Timed Experience Open April–Mid-September

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.

Now Showing

Floating Butterflies.jpg

creativity lab

Floating Butterflies

Unleash your creativity and explore the wonders of magnetism!

April 16 – April 20

Boy bending down in Butterfly Garden pointing at a flower

event

Apr

19

Butterfly Hello

It's time to reopen the Butterfly Station!

April 19, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

decorative image of a catapult

creativity lab

Ball Launcher Challenge

Discover the principles of physics and engineering in this competitive challenge.

April 23 – April 27

Illustration of a robot trying to navigate a green maze

creativity lab

Color Coding a Magic Maze

Use creativity and coding to navigate your robot through a custom maze

April 30 – May 4

Illustration of blue music notes and a lightening bolt on a dot and cardboard background.

creativity lab

Sounds of Springtime

Learn the technology behind sound systems by making your own working speaker out of paper.

May 14 – May 18

creativity lab

Test The Best Wind Catcher

Come test, engineer and build the optimal wind catcher!

May 7 – May 11

Butterflies sitting on a DIY feeder

creativity lab

Beautiful Butterfly Feeders

Learn how to build a beautiful and simple butterfly watering station!

May 21 – May 25

Western Rollercoaster Image

creativity lab

The Slowest Coaster in the West

Can you design a slow marble roller coaster that utilizes track time to the fullest?

May 27 – June 1

dome show

Earth, Moon and Sun

Learn how these cosmic bodies work together as a system.

Group Only

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

creativity lab

Drones to the Rescue

Test your precision, coordination and coding skills in this interactive activity!

June 3 – June 8

creativity lab

The Power of the Sun

Build a Solar Updraft Tower and learn how heat can be turned into electrical energy.

June 10 – June 15

Water balloon drop.jpg

creativity lab

50 Foot Water Balloon Drop

Design and construct a protective device for a one-of-a-kind water balloon drop from the dizzying heights of the Science Center.

June 17 – June 22

creativity lab

Crazy Circuits

Learn how to troubleshoot and fix broken circuits.

June 24 – June 29

photograph of arctic

exhibit

Under the Arctic

Experience the sights and smells of the world’s only permafrost research tunnel!

Closing May 4, 2025

Image of Mia from the Digital Dome Theater show Magic Globe

dome show

Magic Globe

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

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

experience

Simple Machines

This will force you to learn about basic mechanical devices.

Bookable Group Program

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.

dome show

Perfect Little Planet

Discover our solar system through a new set of eyes.

Group Only

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experience

Sow It – Grow It

Get hands on with plants.

Bookable Group Program

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experience

Riverside Science

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

Bookable Group Program

event

Stream Into The V.O.I.D

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

Every second Tuesday at noon!

dome show

Zula Patrol: Down to Earth

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

Thebigchill getty.jpg

experience

The Big Chill: Cool CO2 Science

Watch us perform some amazing science with dry-ice!

Bookable Group Program

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.

Group Only

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experience

Water, Water Everywhere

Immerse yourself in the majestic properties of water.

Bookable Group Program

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.

Now Showing

dome show

Flight of the Butterflies

Experience the beauty of the migration cycle of butterflies.

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dome show

Expedition Reef

Embark on an oceanic safari.

Now Showing

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experience

Floating Boats

Make a splash and explore the concept of buoyancy!

Bookable Group Program

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

dome show

3-2-1 Liftoff!

Join Elon, 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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experience

Simply Soil

Grow your knowledge about this organic mixture.

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.

Now Showing

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experience

Super Senses

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

Bookable Group Program

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dome show

Cosmic Journey: A Solar System Adventure

Travel faster than the speed of light.

Group Only

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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

experience

Opposites Attract

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

Bookable Group Program

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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

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

Rock ‘n’ Roll

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

Bookable Group Program

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experience

Shocking Truth

This program has the power to brighten your day.

Bookable Group Program

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

experience

Extreme Weather

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

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.

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dome show

Extreme Weather

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