CHARLOTTE, N.C. (October 1, 2026) – Forty-five years ago this October, Discovery Place Science opened its doors on North Tryon Street, helping establish Uptown Charlotte as a destination for learning, innovation and culture. Since welcoming its first visitors on October 31, 1981, the museum has evolved into one of the Carolinas’ leading destinations for hands-on science exploration, welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors each year and inspiring generations to explore the world through science. 

As Discovery Place Science celebrates its 45th anniversary, the museum is looking ahead with a dynamic new season of exhibitions exploring everything from food and creativity to winter science, children’s literature, deep-sea exploration and prehistoric predators. 

“Science is at its best when it invites us to be curious, ask questions and see the world in new ways,” said Dr. Lisa Hoopes, Chief Science Officer at Discovery Place Science. “As we celebrate 45 years, this season’s exhibitions offer an exciting range of opportunities to do just that. They show that science is alive outside the lab and woven into our planet, our food, our stories and our understanding of the past, giving everyone an opportunity to discover something they may not have expected.” 
 
Featured museum exhibitions coming October 2026–September 2027 
All exhibitions are included with Discovery Place Science admission and membership. 
 
Julia Child: A Recipe for Life | Oct. 24, 2026–Jan. 17, 2027 
Julia Child: A Recipe for Life invites visitors into the life and creative process of the curious, determined trailblazer who changed how America cooks and inspired generations to embrace the pleasures of cooking. Through immersive media, personal objects and interactive experiences, visitors can explore how Julia Child developed “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” and pioneered educational television. 
Step into a recreation of Child’s television kitchen, see handwritten recipes and personal photographs and leave a note in the “Dear Julia” display. Vintage cookbooks, iconic clips and tributes from chefs celebrate Child’s enduring belief that cooking is for everyone. 
 
Snow Days | Nov. 21–Dec. 2026 
Back by popular demand, Snow Days returns for another season of winter-inspired exploration. Produced in-house by the Discovery Place team, this interactive experience combines science and storytelling to inspire awe, nostalgia and winter wonder. 
Visitors can learn about snowflake research and folklore, explore non-living museum specimens and discover how organisms adapt to cold climates, build a life-sized igloo and even go sock skating on a frictionless surface—no ice or skates required. 
 
Very Eric Carle: A Very Hungry, Quiet, Lonely, Clumsy, Busy Exhibit | Jan. 30–May 9, 2027 
Beloved Eric Carle stories come to life through hands-on play and learning in Very Eric Carle: A Very Hungry, Quiet, Lonely, Clumsy, Busy Exhibit. Inspired by five of Carle’s classic books, the exhibit invites visitors to follow the path of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, weave a web with The Very Busy Spider, discover their inner light with The Very Lonely Firefly, jump and flip with The Very Clumsy Click Beetle and compose a night symphony with The Very Quiet Cricket. 
 
Finding Titanic: The Secret Mission | Feb. 13–April 25, 2027 
Finding Titanic: The Secret Mission takes visitors behind one of the most significant maritime discoveries of the 20th century. In 1985, oceanographer and naval officer Dr. Robert Ballard was enlisted by the U.S. Navy to locate two sunken Cold War nuclear submarines. To mask the mission, Ballard claimed to be searching for the RMS Titanic, and unexpectedly found it. 

Through rare objects from the Titanic and original expedition, declassified footage and firsthand accounts, visitors can discover how espionage, innovation and deep-sea science converged to uncover a lost legend. Highlights include equipment used during the expedition as well as never-before-seen footage from the discovery. 
 
T. rex: The Ultimate Predator | June 5–Sept. 12, 2027 
T. rex: The Ultimate Predator reveals the story of the world’s most iconic dinosaur and how T. rex grew from a vulnerable hatchling into a fearsome carnivore. The exhibition examines its sensory abilities, social behaviors and evolution, while revealing how new findings are changing our understanding of this legendary theropod. 
Visitors can explore fossil casts and models, including a life-sized T. rex and juvenile reconstructions, and experience interactive exhibits that bring these creatures to life. Test a “roar mixer,” see a full-scale skeleton in an immersive shadow theater and interact with a life-sized T. rex animation that responds to movement. 
 
Coming soon to Charlotte IMAX Dome Theatre 

New! LASER NIGHTS: A Laser Concert Series, celebrating the museum’s 45th anniversary with immersive laser shows set to music. Kicking off with “Fright Lights” on Halloween, then “Laser Queen” in tribute to the Queen City on November 20, 2026. 
 
Winter Dome Docs IMAX Series, beginning Nov. 4, 2026 with immersive documentary films—each 30 minutes or less—to the Charlotte IMAX Dome Theatre. Films include “Ocean Dreams,” “Asteroid Hunters” and “Penguins: A Love Story.” 
 
More ways to celebrate and explore at the museum 

In addition to a new slate of exhibitions and IMAX experiences, Discovery Place Science will offer a variety of programs and special events throughout the 2026–2027 season, giving visitors even more ways to connect with science, creativity and one another. 

Celebrate 45 years with 45% off admission on Oct. 31, 2026. To mark Discovery Place Science’s 45th anniversary, visitors can save 45% on full-price adult and child general admission to the museum when purchased online for visits on Oct. 31, 2026. The offer is valid for museum general admission tickets only that are purchased online and cannot be combined with other discounts or offers. 
 
Mending the Wild, on exhibit through Jan. 3, 2027. Featuring works by award-winning Charlotte artist Tina Alberni that explore themes of conservation, biodiversity, endangered species and humanity’s relationship with the natural world. 
 
Science on the Rocks, monthly throughout the season. Upcoming themed events include Boneyard Bash, an adult Halloween celebration on Oct. 30, 2026, and (Un)Valentines, a science-themed adults-only event in February 2027. 
 
Once Upon a Science week, coming Spring 2027. Travel through a world of books, stories and science to experience the art of storytelling and illustration, test the physics found in fairy tales, engage with community members and discover the science found in our favorite books. 
For more information about Discovery Place Science and its upcoming exhibitions, events and programs, visit discoveryplace.org. 

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About Discovery Place Science 
Located in the heart of Uptown Charlotte, Discovery Place Science is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and a leading hub for science learning in the Carolinas. Through exploration, experimentation and discovery, the museum’s educational programs, interactive experiences and large-scale exhibitions invite visitors of all ages to engage with science—cultivating curiosity, inspiring lifelong learning and empowering future generations of thinkers, innovators and problem-solvers. For more information about Discovery Place Science, visit discoveryplace.org.