Discovery Gateway Children's Museum

What Discovery Gateway Children's Museum does

Discovery Gateway Children's Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit children's museum operating a 60,000 square-foot facility at The Gateway in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. Founded in 1978 as The Children's Museum of Utah and rebranded in 2006 upon relocation to its current site, the museum provides interactive hands-on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) learning experiences for children primarily aged 0-12, anchored by signature exhibits including the 3,000 square-foot Stillson River Railroad model train exhibit, the I Dig Dinos paleontology experience, a 38-foot Water Play exhibit, and role-play environments such as Kids Eye View, Mark Miller Subaru Express Service, and a Maceys Grocery Store. Supporting programs include STEAM Lab, daily Art Lab, summer camps for grades K-6, and field trips aligned with Utah State Core Curriculum and SEEd standards.

The organization generates revenue through a diversified set of streams: per-visit admissions ($12.50 child/senior, $14.50 adult), annual memberships ($175 Trio / $250 Family tiers, plus a $55 EBT/SNAP/WIC discounted tier), facility rentals for corporate events (300-600 person capacity), four birthday party packages ($270-$550 members), summer camps ($130-$250), school field trips ($6/student private; free for iSEE-funded Utah public/charter schools), gift shop sales via a Red Ballon Toy Store partnership, and a substantial donations and grants book from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Notable corporate sponsors and partners include Intermountain Healthcare, Rocky Mountain Power, Marathon Petroleum, Utah Jazz, Collins Aerospace, Mark Miller Subaru, Williams Foundation, the Marriner S. Eccles Foundation, and more than 40 additional supporters, alongside recurring public funding from Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts & Parks (ZAP), Utah Division of Arts & Museums, and the state iSEE program.

Distribution is primarily on-site at the Salt Lake City facility, supplemented by statewide outreach programs (8-educator team) delivering science content to Utah classrooms, and a multi-channel marketing approach spanning the website (Blackbaud ticketing), Constant Contact email, social media (Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn), earned regional media coverage, and referral partnerships through the Medallion Program (50+ nonprofit partners serving underserved children) and KultureCity (sensory inclusion). The museum is led by Executive Director/CEO Kathleen Bodenlos (2024 Utah Business CEO of the Year) and governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Viola Miller, with a parallel Young Professionals Board supporting fundraising.

Name

Discovery Gateway Children's Museum

Legal name

Discovery Gateway Children's Museum

Website

https://discoverygateway.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Discovery Gateway Children's Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit operating a 60,000 sq ft interactive STEAM learning facility in downtown Salt Lake City, serving Utah families, K-6 schools, corporate event clients, and underserved children via exhibits, summer camps, field trips, memberships, and rentals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Museum & Educational Entertainment

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Museums (712110)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Children’s Museums (THAJADAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA)

Keywords

• Children's museum
• Hands-on science exhibits
• STEAM education programs
• Interactive learning experiences
• School field trips

Headquarters

HQ city

Salt Lake City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Museum Admission: Daily admission fees charged to visitors. Children (ages 1-17) and seniors (65+) pay $12.50, adults (18-64) pay $14.50. Children under 1 and members enter free. This is the primary revenue driver for walk-in visitors.
2. Memberships: Annual membership tiers: Trio ($175/year for up to 3 people) and Family ($250/year for up to 6 people). Provides unlimited free admission, free parking, discounts on events and camps, and reciprocal admission at participating ACM museums.
3. Birthday Parties: Four party packages ranging from $270-$550 for members. Includes wristbands, party room reservations, themed decorations, setup and cleanup. Add-ons available for extra guests, party favors, and extended time.
4. Facility Rentals: Rental of museum spaces including entire museum (capacity 300-600, after-hours), 2nd/3rd floor (capacity 200), theater (capacity 90), birthday rooms, art studio, STEAM lab, learning center, and boardroom.
5. Summer Camps: Summer camp programs for grades K-6. Half-day camps (K-2) at $130-150 for members or $150-170 for general public. Full-day camps (grades 3-5) at $230-250. Film Crew camp (grades 5-6) at similar full-day rates.
6. Field Trips: STEAM-guided field trips for school groups. iSEE-funded schools receive free admission. Private groups pay $6/student. Includes optional 10-25 minute workshops.
7. Gift Shop: Red Ballon Toy Store partnership operating gift shop within museum. Online and in-person sales, with affiliate revenue supporting museum operations.
8. Donations and Grants: Non-profit funding from individuals, corporations, and foundations including annual donations, Museum Inclusion Fund, Arts Enrichment Fund, and capital campaigns for specific exhibits.
9. Museum Inclusion Fund: Donations providing discounted admission ($4 for EBT/SNAP/WIC holders) and $55 family memberships for low-income families, plus summer camp scholarships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Discovery Gateway Children's Museum operates a 60,000 square-foot hands-on children's museum in downtown Salt Lake City offering interactive STEAM exhibits, daily educational programs, summer camps, school field trips, birthday party packages, and event facility rentals. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, it also delivers sensory-inclusive sessions, statewide classroom outreach, and subsidized admission through the Museum for All program for EBT/SNAP/WIC holders and Medallion Program nonprofit partnerships.

Product overview

Discovery Gateway Children's Museum is a 60,000 square-foot hands-on learning center in downtown Salt Lake City offering interactive exhibits, educational programs, and facility rentals. The museum's core portfolio includes immersive play exhibits such as Kids Eye View (child-sized city), I Dig Dinos (paleontology), Stillson River Railroad (model trains), Water Play, and role-play spaces like the Mark Miller Subaru Express Service and Maceys Grocery Store. Educational programs include STEAM Lab, Daily Art, Summer Camps (K-6), Field Trips aligned with Utah curriculum standards, and outreach programs for schools. Additional services include Birthday Party packages, Facility Rentals for events, and Membership programs. The museum prioritizes accessibility through Sensory Inclusive Sessions, ADA certification, and Museum For All programs providing discounted admission for low-income families. The museum was founded in 1978 and moved to its current location in 2006.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Museum Admission Daily walk-in admission to the museum's interactive STEAM exhibits including Kids Eye View, I Dig Dinos, Stillson River Railroad, Water Play, Saving Lives, Bee Garden, Mark Miller Subaru Express Service, and Utah Jazz Court. Children (ages 1-17) and seniors (65+) pay $12.50, adults (18-64) pay $14.50, and children under 1 and members enter free.
• Annual Memberships Annual memberships in two tiers: Trio ($175/year for up to 3 people) and Family ($250/year for up to 6 people). Includes unlimited free admission, free parking up to 3 hours, discounts on birthday parties, facility rentals, and summer camps, and reciprocal admission at participating ACM museums. A discounted $55 family membership is available for EBT/SNAP/WIC cardholders.
• Birthday Party Packages Four themed birthday party packages (Time To Party, Party People, All Out Party, Theater Party) ranging from $270-$550 for members ($300-$550 for visitors). Includes all-day wristbands, themed party room reservation, decorations, setup and cleanup, with add-ons for extra guests ($9.50/person), party favors ($4/child), and extended time.
• Facility Rentals Rental of museum spaces including the entire museum (capacity 300-600, after-hours), 2nd/3rd floor (capacity 200), Kem and Carolyn Gardner Theater (capacity 90), birthday rooms, art studio, STEAM lab, learning center, and boardroom for corporate events, team building, and private functions.
• Summer Camps STEAM-focused summer camps for grades K-6. Half-day camps (K-2) include Future Scientists (with Clark Planetarium), Little Naturalists, Mini Mages, and Scribbles & Smiles at $130-150 for members and $150-170 for general public. Full-day camps (grades 3-5) include Nature Navigators and Enchanted Explorers at $230-250. Film Crew camp (grades 5-6) offered at full-day rates.
• School Field Trips STEAM-guided educational field trips for school groups aligned with Utah State Core Curriculum and SEEd standards. iSEE-funded schools receive free admission funded by the Utah State Legislature's Informal Science Education Enhancement fund. Private groups pay $6/student with a 15-100 student range. Optional 10-25 minute workshops are available.
• Outreach Programs Science outreach programs delivered to Utah classrooms statewide, including Potential Energy Program for kindergarten, Reaction Time chemistry program for 5th grade, and Chain Reaction teacher professional development. Programs are led by a team of eight educators and reach schools across Utah.
• Red Ballon Toy Store Gift Shop On-site and online gift shop operated in partnership with Red Ballon Toy Store, selling educational toys, games, and books. Affiliate revenue supports museum operations.
• Sensory Inclusive Sessions Free sensory-friendly museum hours with dimmed lighting and reduced volumes designed for children on the autism spectrum and those with sensory processing differences. Offered Mondays 3-6pm and Sundays 10am-12pm with registration. KultureCity sensory bags (headphones, weighted lap pads, fidget toys) available at the front desk.
• Museum for All / Museum Inclusion Fund Discounted admission program for SNAP, EBT, and WIC benefit holders at $4 for up to 4 people and $55 family membership per year. The Museum Inclusion Fund also provides summer camp scholarships and donates over 2,500 tickets annually to 50+ partner nonprofits serving underserved children including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah, Head Start, International Rescue Committee, Primary Children's Hospital, Ronald McDonald House, and others.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,500 tickets donated annually to children in need
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 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

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KultureCitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSensory inclusion partnership ensuring all programs and events are accessible to guests with sensory issues. KultureCity provides sensory bags with headphones, weighted lap pads, and fidget toys available at the front desk.
• Clark PlanetariumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for summer camp programming. Future Scientists Camp (grades K-1) splits time between Discovery Gateway and Clark Planetarium for double the hands-on learning experience.
• HawkWatch InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram partner contributing to summer camp curriculum, including bird of prey presentations for Little Naturalists and Nature Navigators camps.
• Mundi ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram partner providing instrument-making activities and music education experiences at the museum.
• Scales and Tails UtahminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram partner providing animal handling experiences and wildlife education programs.
• Dog Training Elite UtahminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram partner contributing to literacy and therapy dog programs.
• Bureau of Land ManagementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTEAM Lab community partner providing educational content and resources.
• University of Utah Science DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTEAM Lab academic partner collaborating on science education programming.
• Utah Museum of Fine ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTEAM Lab cultural partner providing art education integration.
• Red Ballon Toy StorecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership to operate gift shop within museum offering educational toys, games, books, and unique items. Online and physical store with affiliate revenue supporting museum.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• The Children's Museum of Indianapolis: The world's largest children's museum, operating on a much larger scale (400,000+ sq ft) than Discovery Gateway. Directly comparable as a children's museum nonprofit with hands-on exhibits, school field trips, and membership-driven revenue model.

Direct peers

• Please Touch Museum: Philadelphia-based children's museum operating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with hands-on interactive exhibits, role-play environments, and family memberships. Directly comparable in scale, mission, and educational programming approach to Discovery Gateway.
• Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus: Regional children's museum nonprofit operating a single flagship facility with hands-on STEAM exhibits, preschool/early-childhood programming, and membership-based access. Comparable in mission, scale, and operating model to Discovery Gateway.
• The Strong National Museum of Play: Rochester, NY-based interactive museum with hands-on exhibits and play-based learning experiences for children. Comparable as a single-location museum with role-play and interactive exhibit components, though focused on play history more broadly.
• Boston Children's Museum: One of the oldest and largest children's museums in the U.S., operating as a nonprofit with hands-on STEAM exhibits, school programs, and sensory-inclusive offerings. Directly comparable in mission and operating structure.
• Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose: Silicon Valley-area children's museum with hands-on exhibits, school field trip programs, and membership tiers. Comparable as a regional single-location children's museum nonprofit with similar exhibit philosophy and audience.
• Port Discovery Children's Museum: Baltimore-based children's museum operating as a nonprofit with three floors of interactive exhibits, school field trip programming, and a membership model. Directly comparable in scale and mission to Discovery Gateway.
• Impression 5 Science Center: Lansing, Michigan-based hands-on science museum with interactive exhibits, school programs, summer camps, and facility rentals. Comparable as a regional single-location nonprofit museum focused on STEAM learning through play.

Regional players

• Clark Planetarium: Salt Lake City-based science center and Discovery Gateway's named programming partner for summer camps. Comparable as a regional STEAM-focused attraction serving overlapping family and school audiences in the same metro.
• Natural History Museum of Utah: Salt Lake City-area museum offering family programming, school field trips, and STEAM exhibits at the Rio Tinto Center. Comparable as a regional nonprofit museum serving similar family and school audiences in the same metro, though focused on natural history rather than children's play.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DGchildmuseum
• Facebookfacebook.com/discoverygateway

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Discovery Gateway Children's Museum