about
us
open for
exploration
Tuesday - Sunday
9:30 am - 4:30 pm
$10 per person
($6 during second-floor pause)
Museum members and little ones aged one and under are free!
become
a member
open for exploration
Tuesday - Sunday
9:30 am - 4:30 pm
$10 per person
($6 during second-floor pause)
Museum members and little ones aged one and under are free!
Discover Discovery Center Museum
Northern Illinois’ premier family destination!
300
interactive exhibits
Discovery Center Museum is a hands-on children’s science museum in Rockford, Illinois. The museum features more than 300 interactive exhibits focused on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), covering electricity, the human body, space exploration, simple machines, agriculture, color and light, and more.
Next to the museum is the Rock River Discovery Park, a 15,000-square-foot outdoor science park with attractions like a dinosaur dig pit, outdoor maze, water play area, and Secret Garden. The museum is celebrated for its innovative approach to family learning and has received recognition at local, state, and national levels. It also hosts traveling exhibits, special events, and year-round programs to make every visit an adventure for all ages.
our mission
To inspire all children to dream, explore, and create without limits.
more than 40 years of discovery
Founded in 1981 by the Rockford Area Arts Council and the Junior League of Rockford, Discovery Center Museum began as a dynamic learning space for families. Initially hosting 6,000 children and 20 interactive exhibits, it quickly grew, adding public hours and family programs, drawing 11,750 visitors by its third year. Incorporated as a non-profit in 1984, the museum expanded rapidly, moving to its permanent home in the Riverfront Museum Park in 1991. Following a major expansion in 2010, Discovery Center welcomes nearly 275,000 visitors annually, continuing its mission of nurturing curiosity, learning, and community engagement.
meet the staff
Our Discovery Center Museum team is passionately committed to creating an enriching, dynamic, and enjoyable environment that sparks curiosity and fosters a love for the arts and sciences.
Sylvia Coogan
Marketing and Digital Media Coordinator
(815) 972-2832
