DISCOVERY Children's Museum

What DISCOVERY Children's Museum does

DISCOVERY Children's Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit children's museum located at the Donald W. Reynolds Discovery Center in Symphony Park, downtown Las Vegas. The museum operates a three-story, 58,000-square-foot facility featuring nine themed galleries totaling 26,000 square feet of interactive, hands-on exhibits, designed for children from birth through age 12. Core programming includes admission-based visitation, annual memberships, field trips aligned with Nevada State Content Standards, DISCOVERY On Wheels in-classroom health science programs (K-8), and STEAM-focused summer camps for ages 6-11. The organization also runs an on-site retail store (tax-free under nonprofit status), venue rentals for birthdays, corporate events, and weddings, and three annual signature fundraising events (Golf Classic, Magic of DISCOVERY Gala, and Royal Tea).

The business model combines consumer-facing ticket and membership revenue (local resident $15/non-resident $20 admission, plus educator and military discounts), B2B venue rental revenue, subsidized outreach revenue (DISCOVERY On Wheels), and donations as a 501(c)(3). Distribution channels span direct on-site visitation, online ticketing, in-classroom programs, the Bloomberg Connects digital guide app, and a free virtual tour (Taurion Media). Customer segments include Southern Nevada families with children 0-12 (primary), K-8 schools and educators (Clark County School District and others), underserved communities served through the Museums for All $5 EBT/SNAP/WIC program, and corporate/event hosts. The museum is currently executing a $25M capital campaign ('Our Next DISCOVERY') targeting facility upgrades, programming expansion, and endowment growth from $6M to $14M. Operating with 51-100 employees under a leadership team featuring newly appointed Interim CEO Laura Christian and Board Chair Troy Moser, the museum relies on admission, membership, donation, fundraising, and program fee revenue streams to sustain operations.

Name

DISCOVERY Children's Museum

Legal name

DISCOVERY Children's Museum

Website

https://discoverykidslv.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

DISCOVERY Children's Museum is a Las Vegas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a 58,000-square-foot, nine-gallery interactive children's museum serving children ages 0-12 and their families in Southern Nevada through admissions, memberships, K-8 educational programs, summer camps, and fundraising.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Museum / Educational Museum Services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Children’s Museums (THAJADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA), Family, Kids & Education Fairs (MPAGAFAH)

Keywords

• Children's museum
• Interactive exhibits
• STEAM education
• Field trip programs
• Museum memberships

Headquarters

HQ city

Las Vegas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Admission Tickets: General admission tickets for museum entry. All patrons ages 1 and up require a ticket. Prices vary by residency status and membership.
2. Museum Memberships: Annual memberships offering 12 months of free admission plus perks. Members enjoy 10% discount at the DISCOVERY Store (which is tax-free as a nonprofit). Memberships include levels such as Inspire, You & Me, and others, with educator discounts of $25 off available.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, corporate giving, planned giving, and stock donations support the museum. Three annual signature fundraising events include the Golf Classic, Magic of DISCOVERY Gala, and Royal Tea event. The museum conducts a $25 million capital campaign (Our Next DISCOVERY) for facility upgrades, educational programming, and endowment expansion.
4. Summer Camps: Fee-based summer camp programs for ages 6-11 covering STEAM topics (Tinker with Tech, Grossology, Minecraft Madness, Robot Revolution, Astronomy All-Stars, DISCOVERY & Dragons, Once Upon a Stage). General admission $325/camp; members $305/camp.
5. Venue Rentals: The 58,000-square-foot facility is rented for birthdays, meetings, social gatherings, and weddings. Event spaces include the Riseman Family Theatre, the pirate ship area, and medieval castle exhibit. Three annual fundraising events are also hosted at the venue.
6. DISCOVERY Store Retail: On-site retail store selling STEAM-based educational toys and games. The store is tax-free (nonprofit) and members receive 10% daily discount.
7. DISCOVERY On Wheels Programs: In-classroom health science programs delivered directly to schools (Kindergarten through 8th grade) in Clark County. Programs are partially subsidized; fully and partially subsidized slots are available. Fees support delivery of programs aligned with Nevada Academic Content Standards.
8. Museums for All / EBT Discount Program: Individuals with valid EBT, SNAP, WIC card or foster family license qualify for $5 admission up to four tickets. This is a subsidized access program that supports community outreach but generates modest revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

DISCOVERY Children's Museum operates a three-story, 58,000-square-foot interactive children's museum in downtown Las Vegas featuring nine themed galleries with hands-on exhibits spanning 26,000 square feet. The museum delivers STEAM-focused educational experiences through general admission, summer camps, school field trips, in-classroom outreach programs (DISCOVERY On Wheels), birthday party rentals, corporate venue rentals, and an on-site retail store, primarily serving children ages 0-12 and their families in Southern Nevada. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the museum is funded through admissions, memberships, donations, fundraising events, and a $25 million capital campaign.

Product overview

DISCOVERY Children's Museum is a non-profit children's museum offering a unified visitor experience across three floors with nine themed galleries totaling 26,000 square feet of interactive exhibits. The museum provides core admission-based experiences including Toddler Town (early childhood exhibit) and Fantasy Festival (theatrical play area), supplemented by educational programs such as DISCOVERY On Wheels outreach (classroom-based health science programs), Summer Camps (STEAM-themed week-long camps), and Field Trips. Additional offerings include event services (Birthday Experiences, Venue Rentals), digital experiences (Virtual Tour, Bloomberg Connects Digital Guide), the DISCOVERY Store retail shop, and annual Fundraising Events. The museum serves children ages 0-12 and their families in Southern Nevada.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• General Museum Admission Walk-in and online admission to the museum's three floors and nine themed galleries, including hands-on exhibits such as Toddler Town and Fantasy Festival. Priced at $15 for Nevada residents and $20 for non-residents, with children under age 1 admitted free.
• Annual Museum Membership

Quantifiable outcome

• The museum welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors each year with record-breaking attendance since its 2013 opening at Symphony Park.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Bloomberg PhilanthropiescoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025DISCOVERY Children's Museum partnered with Bloomberg Philanthropies to launch a free digital guide available on the Bloomberg Connects app. The app provides behind-the-scenes access to all floors and galleries, upcoming events, visiting artist workshops, and DISCOVERY Lab activities. Bloomberg Connects is a free platform showcasing cultural organizations worldwide, available on mobile devices.
• The Smith CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012DISCOVERY Children's Museum is located adjacent to The Smith Center for the Performing Arts at Symphony Park in downtown Las Vegas. Both venues opened in 2012-2013 as part of the Symphony Park cultural corridor. The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation was already a primary donor to The Smith Center before committing $43M to the children's museum. Shared parking and the cultural district location benefit both venues.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Children's Museum of Houston: Major U.S. children's museum with a large interactive exhibit footprint, school outreach, summer camps, and memberships. Operates with a similar revenue mix to DISCOVERY and serves a comparable family demographic.
• Children's Museum of Indianapolis: The largest children's museum in the world, also a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a multi-floor interactive facility with themed galleries, educational programming, summer camps, and a major gift shop. Directly comparable in mission, business model, and product mix (admissions, memberships, school programs, fundraising events).
• Boston Children's Museum: Historic urban children's museum and 501(c)(3) nonprofit offering hands-on exhibits, school programs, and venue rentals. Closely comparable in operating model, audience (families with children 0-10), and STEAM curriculum focus.
• Discovery Cube (Discovery Science Foundation): California-based nonprofit science and children's museum with hands-on STEM exhibits, school programs, and summer camps. Directly comparable as a 501(c)(3) interactive museum targeting families and K-8 students.
• Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus: Denver children's museum with a purpose-built campus, hands-on exhibits, summer camps, and school partnerships. Directly comparable as a mission-driven children's museum targeting young children and families.
• Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose: Silicon Valley children's museum with hands-on exhibits, school programs, memberships, and a capital-campaign-driven growth strategy. Closely comparable mission, audience, and nonprofit operating model.
• Please Touch Museum: Philadelphia-based children's museum housed in a historic landmark, with hands-on exhibits, memberships, summer camps, and venue rentals. Directly comparable as a single-site, mission-driven children's museum.
• Marbles Kids Museum: Raleigh, NC children's museum combining a kids' museum and IMAX theater, with hands-on exhibits, school field trips, and memberships. Comparable in size, programming mix, and single-site nonprofit model.
• Kohl Children's Museum: Chicago-area children's museum focused on early childhood (0-8) with hands-on exhibits, school programs, and memberships. Closely comparable in target age range and educational programming approach.

Others

• Association of Children's Museums (ACM): Industry trade association that supports and benchmarks children's museums across the U.S. and globally. Useful ecosystem peer for benchmarking attendance, fundraising, and operational practices across the children's-museum sector.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/discoverykidslv
• Instagraminstagram.com/discoverykidslv
• Xx.com/discoverylv

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Children's Museum