North Dakota's Gateway to Science

What North Dakota's Gateway to Science does

North Dakota's Gateway to Science is a 501(c)(3) non-profit hands-on science center headquartered in Bismarck, North Dakota, operating a gallery of 14+ themed interactive exhibit areas spanning weather, energy, space, agriculture, health, motion, and water. Founded in 1994 by Frank Koch as North Dakota's first hands-on science center, the organization serves families with children, K-12 schools and educators statewide, adults aged 21+ through evening programming, and corporate clients seeking event venues.

The center's exhibit portfolio includes distinctive technical components such as a Digitalis Dome Planetarium, an Anatomage Table for 3D anatomy visualization, a flight simulator, an outdoor Explorium with pollinator garden and excavator exhibit, and a TV meteorologist Weather Desk simulation. Educational products span summer camps, STEM clubs, Preschool Discovery Hour, professional development workshops (including the $650 StreamEd 3-day program with UND continuing education credits), and the GTS on the Go mobile outreach program that brings STEM experiences to schools and communities statewide.

Revenue is diversified across general admission, individual and corporate memberships (with reciprocal access to ASTC and ACM museums nationwide), private event rentals for corporate events and weddings anchored by a 7,800 sq ft Innovation Space and 3,500 sq ft deck, STEM camps and workshops, gift shop sales (STEM Shoppe), and donations including a Forever Fund endowment and capital campaigns (Building for the Future, Einstein on Wine, Giving Hearts, Giving Tuesday). The center opened a new $26 million state-of-the-art facility at 1600 Canary Avenue in March 2023, replacing a smaller prior location and featuring exhibits sponsored by corporate partners including Hess Corporation, Chord Energy, Bobcat Company, KFYR-TV, and Bill Barth Ford.

Name

North Dakota's Gateway to Science

Legal name

North Dakota's Gateway to Science

Website

https://gatewaytoscience.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

North Dakota's Gateway to Science is a Bismarck-based 501(c)(3) hands-on science center serving families, K-12 schools, and educators statewide through interactive STEM exhibits, educational programs, mobile outreach, and venue rentals since 1994.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Informal Science Education / Hands-On Science Museum

NAICS

Museums (71211), Museums (712110)

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), Educational & Edutainment Parks (Science/Discovery/Children’s Parks) (THAJAEAG), Conference Centers & Dedicated Meeting Venues (THAHAAAB)

Keywords

• Hands-on science exhibits
• STEM education programs
• Interactive science center
• Informal science learning
• Science museum experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Bismarck

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. General Admission: Daily admission fees for visitors to access gallery exhibits, with admission included with membership.
2. Memberships: Annual memberships providing free admission, exclusive member events, discounts on STEM programs, workshops, camps, birthday parties, and reciprocal admission to ASTC and ACM museums nationwide.
3. Private Event Rentals: Rental revenue from conferences, corporate events, weddings, receptions, prom photo sessions, team building workshops, and private gatherings in spaces including Innovation Space, classrooms, conference room, and deck.
4. STEM Programs and Workshops: Revenue from educational programming including camps, clubs, workshops, preschool discovery hour, and professional development for educators.
5. Corporate Memberships: Corporate membership program providing business benefits and community engagement opportunities.
6. Donations and Fundraising: Donations from individuals and organizations, including Building for the Future donors, Forever Fund endowment, and special events like Einstein on Wine, Giving Hearts, and Giving Tuesday.
7. Gift Shop Sales: STEM Shoppe gift shop offering 3D prints, science kits, apparel, and other unique STEM gifts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

North Dakota's Gateway to Science operates a hands-on science center in Bismarck offering interactive exhibit galleries, STEM educational programming (camps, clubs, workshops, preschool discovery hour), educator professional development, statewide mobile outreach, and paid venue rentals. The 2023-opened $26 million facility houses 15+ themed galleries exploring weather, energy, water, space, health, motion, agriculture, and transportation. Supporting offerings include memberships, birthday parties, adult-only Gateway After Dark events, the Digitalis Dome Planetarium, Prairie Walks Series, and venue rentals of the Innovation Space.

Product overview

North Dakota's Gateway to Science is a hands-on science center offering a unified portfolio of interactive exhibits, educational programs, and venue rentals. The core offering centers on the interactive exhibit gallery featuring 14+ themed exhibit areas (Science First, Forces in Motion, Growing Science, Keep It Moving, Examining You, Transforming Energy, Water Play, Weather All Around Us, Sun Earth Universe, Outdoor Explorium, and others) spanning topics from medical technology to space science. Educational programming includes camps/clubs, Preschool Discovery Hour, professional development for educators, and mobile outreach (GTS on the Go). The organization also operates venue rental services including the Innovation Space, classrooms, conference room, and deck for private events. Membership and birthday party programs provide recurring engagement, while specialty programming like the Digitalis Dome planetarium, Prairie Walks Series, Gateway After Dark adult events, and Visiting Scientists Series expand reach beyond traditional museum visits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Interactive Exhibit Gallery Walk-in hands-on science exhibits exploring weather, energy, water, space, health, motion, agriculture, and transportation, served across 15+ themed galleries for visitors of all ages.
• Camps and Clubs STEM-focused programs including summer camps for elementary and middle school, the STEM Adventure Club, and Coding Clubs offering ongoing hands-on learning experiences for youth.
• Preschool Discovery Hour Weekly hands-on STEM program for young learners ages 3-5 designed for preschoolers with parent or caregiver participation.
• Professional Development for Educators Teacher training including student-led research initiatives, place-based learning workshops (StreamEd), and Society for Science partnerships providing resources, educator guides, project planning tools, and UND continuing education credits for K-12 educators.
• GTS on the Go Mobile Outreach Mobile STEM programming that brings hands-on science experiences, including STEMzone stations and traveling workshops, to schools and communities statewide across North Dakota.
• Private Events and Venue Rentals Event hosting services in the Innovation Space, classrooms, conference room, deck, and outdoor spaces for corporate events, weddings, team building, and celebrations.
• Membership Program Annual membership providing free admission, exclusive member events, discounts on programs, workshops, camps, and birthday parties, plus reciprocal admission to ASTC and ACM museums nationwide.
• Birthday Parties Science-themed birthday party experiences with hands-on exhibits and activities for children and families held on-site at the science center.
• Gateway After Dark Adult Series Adult-only evening events (ages 21+) combining science programming with social activities such as 'Wine, Painting, and AI' and 'Bricks and Brews'.
• Digitalis Dome Planetarium Immersive planetarium experience set up in the Innovation Space and offered approximately every 15 minutes on the third Thursday of each month, included with gallery admission.
• Prairie Walks Series Outdoor guided walks held monthly from May through August at various North Dakota landscapes, paired with hands-on STEMzone stations covering native grasslands and prairie ecosystems.
• Visiting Scientists Series Public educational programming featuring visiting scientists and STEM experts engaging visitors and community audiences.
• Outdoor Explorium Exhibit Outdoor science exploration space featuring native plantings, climbable rocks, water table, pollinator garden, mix & mess play center, Bobcat-sponsored excavator, and Whisper Dishes for sound experiments.
• Examining You Exhibit Medical technology exhibit featuring the Anatomage Table for 3D visualization of human and animal anatomy, vein viewer, laparoscopy simulator, and other health-related interactives.
• Transforming Energy Exhibit Energy-focused exhibit exploring oil refinery processes, pump jack operations, ethanol production, wind generators, solar cars, and augmented reality earth layers.
• Sun, Earth, Universe Exhibit Space science exhibit with spacecraft design activities, Mars landscape play area, a flight simulator with 50+ aircraft, and Earth observation tools.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving entire state of North Dakota with hands-on STEM education

Named customers7 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

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Oat & ToastcoreOthersIn-building cafe operated by Kate and Matt Ekren, offering fresh coffee, handcrafted drinks, oat bowls, and made-to-order food. Located inside the science center with hours extending before exhibit hours. Fargo-born food cart brand bringing honest food and community connection to Bismarck-Mandan.
• Society for SciencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided funding and resources for professional development program serving middle and high school STEM educators across North Dakota. Connected educators with Science News and Science News Explores resources, educator guides, and project planning tools.
• ND Corn Council, ND Soybean Council, ND Farmers UnionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsors of Virtual Farm exhibit in Growing Science gallery, allowing visitors to play the role of a farmer using data to inform decisions about planting, irrigation, fertilization, and harvesting.
• Touchstone Energy CooperativescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Innovation Space, a 7,800-square-foot multi-use venue on the second floor of the science center featuring two-level open space with scenic views of the Missouri River.
• North Dakota Space Grant ConsortiumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Flight Simulator exhibit in Sun, Earth, Universe gallery, enabling visitors to experience virtual aircraft flight with over 50 aircraft options.
• CHI St. Alexius and ND Department of Health & Human ServicesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsored Mamava Lactation Pod in Science First area, providing a private, clean, comfortable space for breastfeeding mothers.
• KFYR-TVminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Weather Desk exhibit allowing visitors to experience being a TV meteorologist with various weather scenarios.
• Society for Range Management and Pheasants ForeverminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating partners for Prairie Walks Series featuring guided walks and hands-on STEMzone stations at local landscapes, in partnership with International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists.
• NDSU Extension Master Gardeners and Burleigh County Soil ConservationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupported development of Pollinator Garden in Outdoor Explorium, showcasing native North Dakota plants that support bees, butterflies, birds, and other pollinators.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Exploratorium: San Francisco-based world-renowned hands-on science museum with exhibits, professional development, and educational research. Comparable in hands-on exhibit philosophy and educator PD, though larger scale and scope.
• Children's Museum of Indianapolis: Large non-profit children's museum with hands-on exhibits, family programming, and reciprocal network (ACM) membership. Comparable in family-focused mission, ACM reciprocal network, and birthday party/event offerings.
• Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago): One of the largest science museums in the world, featuring interactive exhibits and STEM programming. Comparable in exhibit-based STEM mission but operates at significantly larger scale and budget.

Direct peers

• Discovery Museum (Bridgeport, CT): Non-profit hands-on science center with themed exhibit galleries and educational programming for families and schools. Comparable as a mid-sized, community-focused science center with similar GTM.
• The Bakken Museum: Minneapolis-based non-profit science museum focused on innovation and electricity with hands-on exhibits and educational programs. Comparable in scope, regional non-profit structure, and STEM education mission.
• Science Museum of Minnesota: St. Paul-based non-profit science museum with interactive exhibits, a dome theater, and statewide educational outreach. Comparable in mission, exhibit-based revenue model, and K-12 programming emphasis.
• Science Center of Iowa: Des Moines-based non-profit science center offering interactive exhibits, dome theater, and STEM programs. Closely comparable as a Midwestern state-based science center with similar audience and programming mix.
• Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI): Portland-based non-profit science museum featuring hands-on exhibits, a planetarium, and educational programs. Comparable in offering a mixed exhibit/program/event model serving families and schools.
• Pacific Science Center: Seattle-based non-profit hands-on science center with permanent exhibits, IMAX/dome theater, and educational programming. Highly comparable as a regional science center with diverse revenue streams from admissions, events, and memberships.

Others

• Astrophysical Research Consortium (Apache Point Observatory): Operates Apache Point Observatory with public outreach including tours and educational programs. Comparable as a science-education outreach operator in the same broader informal STEM education ecosystem, though observatory-based rather than exhibit-based.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@gatewaytoscience
• Xx.com/gateway2science

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 North Dakota's Gateway to Science