Exhibits

Discover Through Time

Featuring over thirty species of animals, full-sensory environments, hands-on exploration activities, and a life-science observation lab, this new addition to the Discover Center will educate generations of community members. It’s immersive and fun for all ages – everyone in the family is bound to learn something new!

Funded in part by the Paul F. and Virgina J. Engler Foundation and dedicated in Memorium of Billy Diggs.

Treehouse Reading Nook and Educational Spaces

The second story that resides above Discover Through Time overlooks the West Wing and Aviary with breakout rooms and reading nooks. Funded in part by Education Credit Union Foundation

Outdoor Science Park

Our Outdoor Science Park, nestled on the southeast side, invites you to unearth fossils, meet our dino friends Trixie and Rex, and encourage play.  Perfect for both school groups and families, the park boasts plenty of seating—ideal for picnics or a snack break. Open during regular DHDC hours (weather permitting); your DHDC admission grants you full access to this space.

A special thank you to ASCO, Xcel Energy, and the Future’s Bright Donors for making this park a reality.

Literacy Corner

Step into the Literacy Corner at DHDC and get lost in a world of stories! In this cozy haven, families can unwind and enjoy books on a variety of topics. Dive into a tale on our comfy seats, bask in the soft, inviting light, or let the young ones sneak off to a reading loft just for them.

Space Gallery

Adjacent to the Space Theater, the Space Gallery offers insights into weather on Earth and in space. View real-time Earth weather data and learn about common weather events. The gallery also introduces space phenomena like auroras, solar flares, and cosmic rays, highlighting their effects on our planet.

Kinderstudio

KinderStudio is a dedicated space for children ages 0-6. It offers interactive play areas with a climbing structure, tumbling mats, a lighted stage, hands-on toys, and materials for imaginative play.

Giant Ant Crawler

Discover fascinating facts about these insects as you navigate the Giant Ant Crawler. Experience the maze and get a feel for life as one of Earth’s tiniest creatures.

Bounce

Beyond: Unity In Community

According to the US Department of State, Amarillo has the largest population of refugees per capita of any Texas city. Our “Beyond” exhibit is a culturally relevant and responsive community program designed to develop cultural competencies about different communities in Amarillo and enrich the lives, well-being, and education of all adults and children in the region.

COMING SOON: An immersive exhibit experience highlighting the music, food, traditions, and art and science contributions of the people of Afghanistan.

Imagination Playground

Imagination Playground is designed to inspire children-directed learning. Giant blue foam blocks of all shapes and sizes, oversized cogs, wheels, spools, and tubes stimulate creativity in children of all ages and inspire them to invent their own ways to play. Kids work together to create original structures and make up their own stories, rules, and games. Younger learners practice skills such as hand-eye coordination; fine motor development; spatial awareness, and foundational math and science thinking, while older kids experiment with concepts of force, inertia, gravity, simple machines, measurement, and geometry.

Planetary Landscapes

Planetary Landscapes examines landforms and the changes they undergo over time. Hands-on exhibits and colorful graphics allow visitors to explore common landforms and the forces that create change to the Earth’s surface such as volcanic eruptions, continental rifts, wind, water, and ice. Visitors can also investigate the similarities and differences between landforms on Earth and those found on the surfaces of our celestial neighbors.

Sun, Earth, Universe

This engaging, hands-on interactive exhibit is filled with dazzling imagery and will connect you with current NASA science research and launch you on a journey to explore the universe! The Sun, Earth, Universe Exhibition was developed in collaboration with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Sun, Earth, Universe exhibitions are developed and distributed nationwide by the National Informal STEM Education Network (NISE Network).

How is Earth changing? What is it like on other planets? Does life exist beyond Earth? What’s happening on the Sun, and how does it affect us? Sun, Earth, Universe is a new exhibition about our planet, the solar system, and the universe, and the big questions NASA is trying to answer about each.