plan
your
visit
open for
exploration
Tuesday - Sunday
9:30 am - 4:30 pm
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
Museum members and little ones aged one and under are free!
museum hours
Tuesday – Sunday
9:30 am – 4:30 pm
makerspace hours
Wednesday – Sunday
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Monday and Tuesday
Closed
outdoor rock river discovery park
Open during regular
museum hours, weather
permitting
Closed during the winter
months
Admission
$10 per person
Free for members and children aged one and younger
Location
711 North Main Street
Rockford, IL 61103
(815) 963-6769
We’re just a hop, skip, and a jump away!
90 minutes from Chicago or Milwaukee
75 minutes from Madison
From your front door to ours.
accessibility information
Discovery Center Museum is fully accessible to visitors with special needs. We adhere to the Smithsonian Institute’s accessibility guidelines, providing ramps, accessible restrooms, an elevator, and ample space around exhibits. We have an adult changing table and offer wheelchairs, please call ahead to ensure availability.
fun for everyone
We offer Fun for Everyone events, allowing children with disabilities and their families to explore exhibits free of charge.
To learn more, contact FunForEveryone@discoverycentermuseum.org or call 815-963-6769.
donation days
Come and spend an afternoon or evening with us at a price of your choosing! Discovery Center aims to provide a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible play environment for all children to learn, create, and explore. Donation Days offer select afternoons and evenings when Illinois residents are encouraged to contribute what they feel the experience is worth and can afford. Please provide a valid state ID or driver’s license proving Illinois residency and you can enjoy free general admission!
January 2025 Donation Days
January 7th from 1:00 – 4:30 pm
January 8th from 1:00 – 4:30 pm
January 14th from 1:00 – 7:00 pm
January 15th from 1:00 – 4:30 pm
January 21st from 1:00 – 4:30 pm
January 22nd from 1:00 – 4:30 pm
January 28th from 1:00 – 4:30 pm
January 29th from 1:00 – 4:30 pm
adult visitor information
All children must be accompanied by an adult while exploring the wonders of the museum. If you’re an adult planning to visit the museum without a child, please contact our office at least five days beforehand to schedule your visit.
dining at and near the museum
Whether you packed a lunch or are looking for a place to eat out, you have plenty of choices.
Indoor and outdoor seating
Drink & snack vending machines available
A variety of local restaurants nearby
(You can leave the museum and show your receipt upon return for more adventure!)
cozy stays for your rockford getaway
Extend your museum adventure with an overnight stay! Hotels are just a stone’s throw away from the museum or conveniently located along I-90.
adventures beyond discovery center museum
Rockford has lots of cool stuff to do after you visit the Discovery Center Museum!
Learn about dinosaurs at the Burpee Museum (receive $1 off admission if you visit the same day as Discovery Center)
See what life was like in the olden days at the Midway Village Museum
Enjoy the beauty of nature at Anderson Japanese Gardens
Have a splash-filled blast at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor
