Da Vinci Science Center

What Da Vinci Science Center does

Da Vinci Science Center (legal entity: The Da Vinci Discovery Center of Science & Technology, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit science museum founded in 1992 and headquartered at 815 W. Hamilton Street in Allentown, Pennsylvania. It operates the Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion, a regional STEAM learning destination featuring interactive exhibits (Curiosity Hall, LVHN My Body, Science in the Making with the ATAS Innovation Studio, Lehigh River Watershed, City Center Gallery) and a Science Theater with a 54-foot screen. The facility, newly opened in 2024, maintains live animal collections including four North American river otters, aquatic turtles, and brook trout, and extends a Mobile Fab Lab into schools and communities.

The center serves families, PreK-12 schools and educators, scout groups, corporate/private event clients, individual donors, and corporate partners including PPL Corporation (naming sponsor), Lehigh Valley Health Network, and B. Braun Medical. Educational programs span summer camp, school field trips, traveling science programs, scout badge programs, the WISE initiative for girls/women in STEAM, the STEAM Career Pathways Program, and the Isaacman Next Generation Science Institute for educator professional development. Equity is addressed through the Access for All discount program for SNAP/TANF/WIC/EBT cardholders and the Linny Fowler STEAM Scholarship Fund.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid mix of one-time admissions ($22 online / $24 at-door, with $6 add-ons for traveling exhibits like the Impressionists Immersive Exhibition), subscription memberships (monthly and annual, including corporate, community connect, and district connect tiers), private venue rentals, individual donations and monthly giving (Curiosity Circle, Leonardo Society, Lovett Legacy Society planned giving), corporate sponsorships, federal and state grants (HUD $5.6M, NSF, IMLS, Pennsylvania DCED, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, EITC program), and ticketed special events such as Nerd Nite, Well-Being Concerts, and Big Movie Mondays. Leadership is headed by Executive Director and CEO Lin Erickson with CFO Maureen Michael and Chief Learning Officer Dr. Hoda Ehsan.

Name

Da Vinci Science Center

Legal name

The Da Vinci Discovery Center of Science & Technology, Inc.

Website

https://davincisciencecenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Da Vinci Science Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit science museum in Allentown, Pennsylvania, operating the PPL Pavilion facility with interactive STEAM exhibits, live animal collections, traveling exhibitions, and educational programming for families, PreK-12 schools, and educators across the Lehigh Valley.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Science Museum and STEAM Education Services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Museums (712110), Museums (71211)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Science & Technology Museums (THAJADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA), Science Camps & Field Programs (Nature, Space, Marine, Geology) (EDAMABAB), Science & STEM Lab Equipment & Supplies (Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Makerspaces) (EDAEAIAC)

Keywords

• Interactive science exhibits
• STEAM education programs
• Science museum admissions
• School field trips
• Hands-on maker labs

Headquarters

HQ city

Allentown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. General Admission: Daily admission fees for visitors to the science center and exhibits
2. Membership Program: Annual and monthly subscription memberships offering free admission, discounts, and exclusive benefits
3. Private Events: Venue rental for corporate events, team building, weddings, and summer sleepovers
4. Special Exhibition Tickets: Additional ticketed access to traveling exhibitions such as Impressionists Immersive Exhibition
5. Individual Donations: One-time and monthly giving programs including Curiosity Circle monthly donors
6. Corporate Sponsorships: Sponsorship agreements with corporate partners including PPL, B. Braun, Lehigh Valley Health Network
7. STEAM Scholarship Fund: Need-based scholarships for students and educators to access programs
8. Planned Giving: Bequests, charitable remainder trusts, IRA charitable rollovers, and other legacy gift vehicles
9. EITC Program Support: Pennsylvania Education Improvement Tax Credit program funding for educational programs

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Da Vinci Science Center operates an interactive science museum at PPL Pavilion in Allentown, PA, offering hands-on STEAM exhibits, live animal habitats, and educational programming for families, school groups, and community visitors. It also delivers structured K-12 educational services including field trips, traveling science programs, mobile fabrication labs, educator professional development, summer camps, scout programs, and STEAM career pathway initiatives.

Product overview

Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion is a science museum offering a portfolio of interactive exhibits, educational programs, and visitor experiences. The main facility features permanent exhibits including Curiosity Hall, Lehigh Valley Health Network My Body, Science in the Making (with ATAS Innovation Studio), Lehigh River Watershed, City Center Gallery, and Science Theater. The museum hosts traveling exhibits such as the Impressionists Immersive Exhibition, and offers special programming like Summer Sleepovers, Big Movie Mondays, and Walk This Way Thursdays. Educational programs include Summer Camp, School Field Trips, Traveling Science Programs, Mobile Fab Lab, and Scout Programs for families and schools. The organization operates initiative programs including Women in Science and Engineering (WISE), STEAM Career Pathways, and the Isaacman Next Generation Science Institute for educator development. Financial support programs include the Linny Fowler STEAM Scholarship Fund and Access for All discount program. Additional services include birthday parties, private event venue rentals, and an annual membership program. The facility also maintains living animal collections with a public-facing Live Otter Cam.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Linny Fowler STEAM Scholarship Fund: Scholarship fund providing access to STEAM education for rising scholars with limited financial means and teachers with limited budgets.
• Lovett Legacy Society
• Leonardo Society
• Curiosity Circle

Products and services

• Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion The main science museum facility located at 815 W. Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA, offering interactive exhibits, educational programs, and visitor experiences focused on STEAM learning for families, school groups, and community visitors.
• Impressionists Immersive Exhibition A traveling immersive art and science exhibition featuring floor-to-ceiling projections of Impressionist masterpieces, available as a ticketed add-on to general admission.
• Summer Camp Day camp programs for children during summer months featuring hands-on STEAM activities and experiments.
• School Field Trips Interactive learning opportunities for students of all ages aligned with educational standards, with specialized programming and educator-led activities for visiting school groups.
• Traveling Science Programs Mobile science education programs that bring hands-on STEAM experiences to schools and community locations.
• Mobile Fab Lab A mobile fabrication laboratory bringing digital fabrication tools and maker experiences to various locations including schools and community organizations.
• Scout Programs STEAM-focused programs for Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, and Scouts BSA with badge-earning opportunities.
• Summer Sleepovers Overnight experiences where groups sleep on the rooftop terrace, roast smores, and explore exhibits after dark, for groups up to 35 people.
• Private Events Venue rental for corporate gatherings, team building workshops, and weddings at the PPL Pavilion facility.
• Birthday Parties Private party bookings for children's birthdays with science-themed activities and experiences.
• Membership Program Annual and monthly memberships providing unlimited admission, discounts on special exhibitions and events, and exclusive member benefits including Member Nights.
• Corporate Memberships Corporate-tier membership offering organizations benefits including group admission access and employee engagement opportunities.
• District Connect Membership Program School district-level membership providing unlimited student visits to the science center and educator benefits for partner districts such as the Allentown School District.
• Access for All Discount Program Discounted admission program for SNAP, TANF, WIC, EBT, and Access cardholders to ensure equitable access to science education experiences.
• STEAM Career Pathways Program Programs connecting students to STEAM careers through career exploration activities and professional connections, including Career Connection Days.
• Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Initiative A program designed to encourage and support girls and women in pursuing STEAM careers through mentorship and educational programming.
• Isaacman Next Generation Science Institute Professional development and educational resources for educators to enhance science teaching and classroom practice.
• Linny Fowler STEAM Scholarship Fund Scholarship funding for students from low-income households and teachers with limited budgets to access STEAM education programs and experiences.
• Live Otter Cam A live streaming camera showcasing four North American river otters, presented in partnership with 69 WFMZ-TV.
• Salvaggio Little Learner's Lab A dedicated lab space for preschoolers ages 3-6 and their adults to enjoy hands-on STEAM learning activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,788 students received scholarships totaling $25,674 in 2016-2017

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Lehigh Valley Health NetworkflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLVHN sponsors the 'LVHN My Body' exhibit gallery, providing health-related educational content and community health programming.
• City Center AllentowncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDowntown development partner supporting the science center's location in downtown Allentown's redevelopment zone.
• Pennsylvania Historical and Museum CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency providing operational funding through Cultural and Historical Support Program and regulatory oversight.
• Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional association providing reciprocity program allowing members free admission; ASTC passport program participant.
• United Way of the Greater Lehigh ValleycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization partner supporting local charitable initiatives and volunteer programs.
• Lehigh Valley Audubon SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal birding organization provides expert guidance for Urban Bird Count citizen science programs.
• Elmwood Park ZoominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional zoo brings raptor ambassadors for Birds of Prey educational shows and live animal encounters.
• Zoellner Arts Center at Lehigh UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity arts center partners to present Well-Being Concert series as part of broader arts integration programming.
• Carnegie Hall's Weill Music InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational arts organization partners through Zoellner Arts Center for Well-Being Concert programming.
• Lehigh Valley Amateur Astronomical SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal astronomy club provides solar observation and astronomy education during special events like Mission Launch Party.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Franklin Institute: Philadelphia-based science museum and educational institution offering interactive STEAM exhibits, live demonstrations, and science learning programs. Most direct regional comparable in scale and mission to Da Vinci Science Center.
• Liberty Science Center: Jersey City, NJ science center and planetarium with interactive STEAM exhibits, live animal collections, and STEM educational programming. Closely comparable in mission, programming mix, and audience to Da Vinci Science Center.
• Carnegie Science Center: Pittsburgh-based science center operated by Carnegie Museums, featuring interactive exhibits, a planetarium, and STEM learning programs. Directly comparable as a mid-Atlantic/Pennsylvania-region science museum with hands-on STEAM focus.
• Maryland Science Center: Baltimore science center with interactive exhibits, planetarium, and IMAX theater, serving school groups and families across the Mid-Atlantic. Comparable in scope, audience, and educational mission to Da Vinci Science Center.

Regional players

• Buffalo Museum of Science: Buffalo, NY science museum with hands-on exhibits and educational programming. Comparable mid-tier science museum with similar STEAM and community engagement focus, though operating in a different geographic market.
• Rochester Museum & Science Center: Rochester, NY combined museum and science center with interactive exhibits, planetarium, and STEM programming. Comparable in offering portfolio and educational mission, serving a regional market in Upstate New York.
• Sciencenter: Ithaca, NY hands-on science museum with similar exhibit-based STEAM learning focus and traveling science programs. Comparable as a smaller, education-focused science center with hands-on programming.
• Museum of Science and Technology (MOST): Syracuse, NY science and technology museum offering interactive exhibits, IMAX, and educational programs. Comparable mid-tier science center with similar hands-on learning mission in the Northeast.

Broad incumbents

• The Tech Interactive: San Jose, CA science and technology center with a strong focus on technology, engineering, and innovation. Comparable STEAM exhibit and education mission but operates at larger scale and in a different geography.
• Pacific Science Center: Seattle, WA science center with IMAX theaters, planetarium, and broad interactive exhibit portfolio. Comparable in mission and exhibit-based learning, but operates at significantly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/davinciscience
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/davinciscicenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/davincisciencecenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/da-vinci-science-center
• Instagraminstagram.com/davincisciencecenter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Da Vinci Science Center