Discovery Museum in Acton

Activity Overview

The Children's Discovery Museum now has has twice the exhibit space of the original museum and includes significant new galleries for STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) experiences including water; air; tinkering, design, and engineering; early brain development; math; light and color; and sound.

Things to Do

• The expanded and completely renovated museum has twice the exhibit space of the original museum and includes significant new galleries for STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) experiences including water; air; tinkering, design, and engineering; early brain development; math; light and color; and sound.

• It also brought over visitor favorites from the original buildings including the Diner, Train Room, and Ship Room.

• Use recycled materials in the da Vinci Workshop, along with off-the-shelf supplies, and tools and technology ranging from saws and hammers to circuits and robotics, visitors can use tools, tinker, design, build, and invent.

• A vertical airstream allows experimentation with aerodynamics principles and engineering flying and hovering prototypes.

• Explore balls, ramps, gears and cogs, inclined planes, screws, and pulleys in the Simple Machines Gallery. See and feel how these simple machines use mechanical advantage to accomplish a task. Kids can create and set off a chain reaction and use gears to flap the wings of the giant ornithopter—an aircraft that flies by flapping its wings—overhead.

• The amazing properties of sound become visible and hands-on for all in the Sound Gallery. Visitors will explore and experience sound by seeing, hearing and feeling waves and physical vibrations.

• Light & Color Gallery – This visitor-favorite exhibit on the properties of and relationship between light and color has been recreated using LED technology to be more vividly engaging for all.

• Bessie’s House is a nostalgic reproduction façade of the original Children’s Discovery Museum building is inside the new museum, including the Train Room, Ship Room, Bessie’s Diner, and Backyard at Night.

• The Community Gallery is a 1,500 square foot open space will allow the museum to host traveling exhibits that complement its regular collection; it will also accommodate large-scale, long-term visitor projects.

• Last but not least - Discovery Woods! Come on a nature adventure, starting with the coolest, biggest treehouse you’ve ever seen. Bounce the wiggly bridge, sway in the nest swing, and climb the cargo net. Then you can look forward to exploring our woodland nook, rain garden, beaver lodges, and acres of adjoining conservation land.

• Discovery Woods is inclusive and fully accessible. And, it is open year-round!

Discovery Museums in Acton Insider Tips

• The museum has free parking.
• Members can visit for free.
• Visit the official website to learn of programs and events at the museums.