Kansas Children's Discovery Center

What Kansas Children's Discovery Center does

The Kansas Children's Discovery Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit children's museum founded in 2011 and headquartered at 4400 SW 10th Avenue in Topeka, Kansas. It operates 30,000 square feet of indoor exhibits spanning science, careers, art, and building, complemented by a 4.5-acre certified Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom featuring a pirate ship, treehouse, climbing structures, pond and stream, and a Native Prairie habitat. Signature attractions include the World's Tallest Climbable Sunflower and the Top City Build exhibit; the organization crossed a cumulative one million visitors milestone in April 2024.

The museum generates revenue through a mix of admissions ($11 standard / $10 seniors / free under 1), annual memberships, facility rentals (birthday parties and event space), corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and individual donations. Beyond the core site, the Mobile Museum delivers exhibits to schools, correctional facilities, and community events, while Discovery at Home provides online STEM, engineering, art, and math activity content. Specialized programs include Discovery Kindergarten, Discovery Baby, Sensory-Friendly Sunday, Medical Warriors Family Day (with HopeKids KC), and the Play Free program serving children with incarcerated parents at Topeka Correctional Facility. More than 50,000 free or reduced admissions are provided annually through Museums for All, foster family memberships, and Play Free.

In September 2024 the organization broke ground on a $10 million Building Discovery expansion that more than doubled museum footprint, with ribbon cutting in October 2025 — the largest expansion in its history. The center is led by President and CEO Dené Mosier, who marked ten years at the helm in August 2025, and operates with a staff of approximately 19 employees. It is governed as an independent nonprofit with no parent company, funded by a network of 30+ corporate and foundation partners including Evergy, Stormont Vail Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas, Kansas Gas Service, FHL Bank Topeka, and the Redbud and Kemper Foundations.

Name

Kansas Children's Discovery Center

Legal name

Kansas Children's Discovery Center

Website

https://kansasdiscovery.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Topeka-based 501(c)(3) children's museum operating 30,000 sq ft of indoor exhibits and a 4.5-acre Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom, serving families, schools, and underserved children through admissions, memberships, the Mobile Museum, and access programs like Play Free.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Museum / Educational Experiences

NAICS

Museums (712110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Children’s Museums (THAJADAE)

Keywords

• Children's museum education
• Hands-on STEAM learning
• Early childhood exhibits
• Outdoor nature classroom
• Museum membership programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Topeka

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Museum Admission: Entry fees for children, adults, and seniors visiting the museum
2. Memberships: Annual and recurring family memberships providing unlimited access to the museum
3. Facility Rentals: Birthday party packages, event space rental, and private event bookings
4. Donations and Grants: Charitable contributions from individuals and corporate sponsors, foundation grants

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Kansas Children's Discovery Center is a nonprofit children's museum that operates 30,000 sq. ft. of indoor hands-on STEAM exhibits and a 4.5-acre certified Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom in Topeka, Kansas. It sells admissions, annual memberships, birthday party packages, and event-space rentals, while delivering outreach through a Mobile Museum, field trip programming, the online Discovery at Home activity platform, and access programs such as Play Free, Discovery Kindergarten, and Discovery Baby.

Product overview

The Kansas Children's Discovery Center is a nonprofit children's museum offering a diverse portfolio of educational experiences through multiple channels. The core offering consists of 30,000 sq. ft of indoor exhibits (featuring science, careers, art, and building experiences) and a 4.5-acre certified Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom. These physical exhibits are complemented by the Mobile Museum, which extends programming to schools and community sites, and Discovery at Home, an online platform providing at-home STEAM activities. Specialized programs include Discovery Kindergarten, Discovery Baby, and the Play Free access program. The museum also offers venue rentals for birthdays and events, along with annual membership programs. The Building Discovery expansion (2025) doubled the museum's size with new classrooms, exhibits, and programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Play Free: Program bringing children with incarcerated parents to the museum for supervised play sessions when the museum is closed to the public.
• Mobile Museum
• Discovery at Home
• Discovery Kindergarten
• Discovery Baby

Products and services

• Museum Admission Single-visit entry to the museum's indoor and outdoor exhibits, available to walk-in families and individual visitors.
• Annual Membership Recurring annual family membership granting unlimited free museum admission, members-only events, and discounts on programs and birthday parties.
• Birthday Party Packages Private birthday party rentals at the museum with access to exhibits and party facilities for families.
• Event Space Rental Rental of museum facilities for private events, corporate meetings, and other gatherings.
• Field Trips Curriculum-aligned educational group visits for pre-K and elementary schools with hands-on STEAM learning activities.
• Mobile Museum Traveling version of the museum that brings hands-on learning exhibits to schools, correctional facilities, and community events off-site.
• Discovery at Home Free online program delivering 100+ at-home STEAM activities with video tutorials and activity guides for families.
• Discovery Kindergarten Free kindergarten-readiness program that gives incoming kindergarteners a structured preview experience of a school day.
• Discovery Baby Early childhood program for infants and caregivers focused on learning through guided play.
• Play Free Program Free and reduced admission access program including the specialized prison program serving children with incarcerated parents at Topeka Correctional Facility.
• Sensory-Friendly Sunday Accommodated museum programming for children with sensory processing differences and their families.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 50,000 free or reduced admissions provided annually to ensure all children can play
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

31 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Kansas Gas ServicecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor providing marketing recognition and support for museum programs
• EvergycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting educational programs including Discovery at Home activities
• Central National BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBanking sponsor with marketing presence at the museum
• US BankmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor providing financial literacy programming through Mobile Museum
• Silver Lake BankmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional bank sponsor supporting museum access programs
• Stormont Vail HealthmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare partner supporting health-related programs and accessibility initiatives
• Advisors ExcelmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor with employees volunteering regularly at the museum
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of KansasmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealth insurance sponsor supporting access programs
• CoreFirst Bank & TrustmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional bank sponsor with employee volunteer program
• Security BenefitmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerRetirement services sponsor supporting museum access
• Greater Topeka Partnership (GTP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic development partner supporting tourism and regional growth initiatives
• Visit TopekacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTourism partner driving visitor attendance to Topeka attractions
• Bartlett and WestminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEngineering firm sponsor
• Schwerdt Design GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerArchitecture firm sponsor
• Pediatric AssociatesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare sponsor with community health focus
• Vaughn Pediatric DentistryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPediatric dental practice sponsor
• Polo Custom ProductsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCustom products company sponsor
• Briggs AutominorGTM or Marketing PartnerAutomotive company supporting military family discounts
• CrosslandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConstruction company sponsor for expansion project
• ArcareminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity action agency sponsor
• Green Pest SolutionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPest control sponsor
• Intrust BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBanking sponsor
• Mize CPAsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAccounting firm sponsor with employee volunteers
• Edward JonesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial services sponsor
• Southwest Publishing & Mailing CorporationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPublishing sponsor
• KokariminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal business sponsor
• KRNminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal media sponsor
• Reser'sminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFood company sponsor
• Topeka ZoomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on teen camp programs and community events like Day of Play
• Washburn UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership providing student volunteers, interns, and educational collaboration
• Topeka Center for Advanced Learning & Careers (TCALC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareer education program providing student volunteers

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• The Strong National Museum of Play: National museum of play in Rochester, NY with interactive exhibits and educational programming for children and families. Comparable as a mission-driven play-focused museum combining exhibits, education, and accessibility programs.
• Please Touch Museum: Nonprofit children's museum in Philadelphia offering hands-on exhibits and educational programs for young children. Comparable in size, mission, and programming model — including field trips, memberships, and access programs.
• Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose: Nonprofit children's museum in San Jose with interactive exhibits and a strong STEM/STEAM focus. Comparable as a children's museum emphasizing hands-on science and arts learning for early childhood audiences.
• Boston Children's Museum: One of the oldest continuously operating children's museums in the U.S., with hands-on exhibits and early childhood programs. Comparable as a broad nonprofit children's museum with memberships, field trips, and accessibility programs.
• Children's Museum of Houston: Nonprofit children's museum in Houston with extensive hands-on exhibits and educational programming. Comparable as a major regional children's museum serving families and school field trips in a single metro market.
• Madison Children's Museum: Nonprofit children's museum in Madison, WI featuring indoor and outdoor exhibits including a rooftop nature play area. Comparable as a Midwest children's museum with a play-based learning mission and similar educational scope.
• Port Discovery Children's Museum: Nonprofit children's museum in Baltimore featuring hands-on exhibits and interactive learning experiences. Comparable as a children's museum with a similar educational mission, exhibit portfolio, and school-group programming.
• Minnesota Children's Museum: Nonprofit children's museum in St. Paul, MN with hands-on exhibits and early childhood programs including field trips. Comparable as a Midwest-based regional children's museum with similar mission, programming, and access initiatives.
• Children's Museum of Indianapolis: The largest children's museum in the world, operating hands-on exhibits and broad educational programming in Indianapolis. Directly comparable as a nonprofit children's museum serving regional families, schools, and field-trip groups.

Regional players

• Topeka Zoo: Regional zoological park and conservation organization also based in Topeka, KS, partnering with the Discovery Center on teen camps and Day of Play. Comparable as a regional, mission-driven, family-outdoor attraction in the same local tourism ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCEKFjh4Uz1CMaz8HxY9g69w
• Facebookfacebook.com/kansaschildrensdiscoverycenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kansas-children's-discovery-center
• Instagraminstagram.com/kansasdiscovery
• TikToktiktok.com/@kansasdiscovery

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Kansas Children's Discovery Center