What Kiewit Luminarium does

Kiewit Luminarium, operated by the Omaha Discovery Trust as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is a newly opened interactive science center located at 345 Riverfront Drive in the Lewis and Clark Landing section of Omaha, Nebraska. The 82,000-square-foot purpose-built facility, launched in 2023 with founding support from Kiewit Corporation (and Bruce Grewcock, the firm's Executive Chairman, listed as Founder), features 125+ interactive exhibits across four themed galleries: Catch Waves (physics), Dig Deeper (environment and structures), Find Yourself (human biology), and Make It Count (mathematics and patterns). Programming extends beyond the exhibits to include Camp Luminarium (week-long STEM summer camps for grades 2–7), Night Light adults-only (21+) evening events, the Holland Talks lecture series, BioDiscovery Lab biotechnology workshops developed with Metropolitan Community College, Maker Space prototyping challenges, and rotating traveling exhibitions such as "Finding Titanic: The Secret Mission." On-site amenities include Fig. Café and the Luminarium Store.

The center targets families with children, school groups (grades 2–12), adults seeking educational entertainment, summer-camp attendees, and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations served through a $500/year institutional membership. Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of earned income and philanthropy: general admission ($13 youth / $18 adults, with discounts and a $1 Museums-for-All tier), annual memberships ($75–$225), premium patron memberships ($500–$25,000 across five tiers), school field trips ($10/student, with Title I subsidies), summer camps ($265–$295/session), event rentals (full-facility capacity up to 1,000 guests with a 20% nonprofit discount), café and retail sales, and donations. Named-gallery and program sponsorships from Union Pacific Foundation, Nebraska Medicine/UNMC, FNBO, Holland Foundation, Mammel Family Foundation, BuilderTrend, and Oriental Trading Company provide additional non-earned revenue.

Distribution is primarily regional, with three primary access points: walk-up and online ticketing through Veevart, school group bookings via [email protected], and a multi-library pass program that now extends to five regional library systems (Omaha Public, Bellevue Public, Council Bluffs Public, Baright Public/Ralston, and Valley Public). Marketing combines website, newsletter, social media partnerships (e.g., influencer JordanTheNinja), and community outreach through partners such as Keep Omaha Beautiful, UNO, UNL, the RiverFront parks system, and various arts organizations. The organization employs 51–100 staff, and its board includes senior executives from Kiewit, Streck (retired), Gallup (retired), Koley Jessen, the University of Nebraska College of Engineering, the Acklie Charitable Foundation, and the Women's Center for Advancement.

Name

Kiewit Luminarium

Legal name

Omaha Discovery Trust

Website

https://kiewitluminarium.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Kiewit Luminarium is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating an 82,000-square-foot interactive science center in Omaha, Nebraska, with 125+ hands-on STEM exhibits serving families, school groups, and adults via admissions, memberships, camps, and events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Interactive Science Center / STEM Museum

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), 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), Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA), Science Camps & Field Programs (Nature, Space, Marine, Geology) (EDAMABAB)

Keywords

• Interactive science center
• STEM education programs
• Hands-on museum exhibits
• Family science museum
• Nonprofit science center

Headquarters

HQ city

Omaha

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. General Admission Tickets: Daytime admission tickets for adults, youth, children with various discount categories for teachers, seniors, military, and Indigenous peoples
2. Membership Program: Annual memberships (Individual $75, Dual $100, Family $175, Grandparent $175) with benefits including unlimited free daytime admission, discounts at cafe and store, Night Light discounts
3. Patron Membership: Premium sustaining partnerships at Prism ($500), Iris ($1,000), Halo ($5,000), Nova ($10,000), and Zenith ($25,000) levels with increasing benefits
4. Donations and Philanthropy: Donations supporting mission to make science exciting and accessible. Patron members recognized at Founding, Zenith, Nova, Halo, and Iris levels
5. Event Rentals: Venue rental for meetings (2,650 sq ft), full-facility events up to 1,000 guests, Night Light VIP packages. 20% nonprofit discount available
6. Camp Luminarium: Week-long summer camps for grades 2-7 at $265 (members) or $295 (non-members) per session with before/after care options
7. Luminarium Store: Retail gift shop selling science-themed gifts and merchandise supporting nonprofit mission
8. Fig. Café: On-site restaurant partner offering fresh food, coffee, and beverages with 10% member discount
9. Night Light Events: Adults-only (21+) evening events at $20 general / $15 members with cash bar and special programming
10. Field Trip Program: School field trips for grades 2-12 at $10/student with financial assistance available for Title I schools
11. Nonprofit Membership: 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership at $500/year for organizations serving up to 15 individuals per visit

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kiewit Luminarium operates an 82,000 square foot interactive science center featuring 125+ hands-on exhibits across four themed galleries, supplemented by summer STEM camps, adults-only evening events, a lecture series, field trip programming, and venue rentals. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, it generates revenue from admissions, multi-tier memberships, donations, sponsorships, and grants while providing financial-access programs to make STEM experiences affordable for low-income and Indigenous visitors.

Product overview

Kiewit Luminarium is a next-generation science center with 125+ interactive exhibits across four galleries: Catch Waves (physics and phenomena), Dig Deeper (environment and structures), Find Yourself (human biology), and Make It Count (mathematics and patterns). The facility spans 82,000 square feet and offers diverse programming including Night Light adults-only events, Camp Luminarium summer camps, BioDiscovery Lab biotechnology workshops, Holland Talks lecture series, and field trip experiences. On-site amenities include Fig. café and the Luminarium Store. The museum operates on a membership model with Individual, Dual, Family, Grandparent, and Patron tiers, plus nonprofit organization memberships. Event rental services accommodate groups up to 1,000 guests.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• General Admission (Kiewit Luminarium Science Center Visit) Daytime museum entry to all permanent exhibits and galleries for general visitors, with tiered pricing for adults, youth, children, teachers, seniors, military, and Indigenous visitors; free for members and children 3 and under.
• Membership Programs Annual memberships including Individual ($75), Dual ($100), Family ($175), Grandparent ($175), and Family/Grandparent + One Adult ($225). Benefits include unlimited free daytime admission, 10% discount at Fig. café and Luminarium Store, 25% off Night Light events, and ASTC Passport reciprocal admission.
• Patron Membership Sustaining partnership tiers at Prism ($500), Iris ($1,000), Halo ($5,000), Nova ($10,000), and Zenith ($25,000), with escalating benefits including complimentary guest passes, Night Light tickets, behind-the-scenes prototyping experiences, and rental package discounts.
• Camp Luminarium Week-long summer STEM camps for students entering grades 2-7 with themed sessions including Busy Builders, Monsters and Superheroes, Bio Engineers, Patterns of Nature, Tinker Lab, Make a Splash, Bugs and Bones, Elemental Science, and Mad Science Lab.
• Night Light (21+) Adults-only evening events featuring after-hours access to 125+ interactive exhibits, cash bar, live demonstrations, DJ sets, and special programming; $20 general and $15 for members.
• Holland Talks Visionary speaker lecture series featuring nationally and internationally recognized experts discussing science, technology, arts, ethics, and philosophy. Tickets include free museum admission and dinner at Fig. café.
• Field Trips Educational field trips for grades 2-12 featuring exploration of 125+ exhibits aligned with state and national science and mathematics standards. $10/student with one free chaperone per 10 students; financial assistance of $5/student available for Title I schools.
• Event Rentals Private event hosting including full-facility rentals (up to 1,000 guests across four galleries and 125+ exhibits) and daytime meeting spaces (2,650 sq ft). Nonprofit organizations receive 20% discount.
• BioDiscovery Lab Biotechnology workshop series created in partnership with Metropolitan Community College exploring bioplastics, microbes, bioluminescence, and natural pigments. Topics include Making with Microbes, Cabbage Ink (pH indicators), and Bioluminescence. Free with general admission or membership.
• Nonprofit Membership 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership at $500/year providing free daytime admission for up to 15 individuals per visit for community-serving organizations.
• Finding Titanic: The Secret Mission (Traveling Exhibition) Traveling exhibition produced by Flying Fish in collaboration with Ocean Exploration Trust, revealing the classified U.S. Navy mission that led to the 1985 discovery of the RMS Titanic. Included free with daily admission or membership.
• Library Pass Program Free daytime admission passes distributed through regional library systems including Omaha Public Library, Bellevue Public Library, Council Bluffs Public Library, Baright Public Library (Ralston), and Valley Public Library.
• Luminarium Store Retail gift shop selling science-themed gifts, merchandise, and educational items that inspire creativity, discovery, and wonder; open during museum hours without requiring a museum ticket.
• Fig. Café On-site restaurant partner offering freshly baked sourdough pastries, sandwiches, salads, all-day breakfast, full coffee bar, and riverside dining patio. Provides 10% discount to members; open during museum hours.

Quantifiable outcome

• 125+ interactive exhibits across four galleries
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

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

• ExploratoriumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSan Francisco-based science museum that conducted Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusion Assessment of Kiewit Luminarium exhibits in 2023. Provided exhibit design expertise and consultation.
• HDRcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture and engineering firm listed as project partner for the science center development
• Heritage OmahaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as project partner in the development of Kiewit Luminarium
• Rainwood Development PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as project partner in the development of Kiewit Luminarium
• Metropolitan Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for BioDiscovery Lab biotechnology workshop series. MCC's Biotechnology program inspires lifelong interest and careers in STEM through hands-on biotechnology workshops at the Luminarium.
• Union Pacific FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnion Pacific Foundation Gallery - named gallery space within the Dig Deeper exhibition focused on land, water, structures, and tools exploration with Greater Omaha focus
• Nebraska Medicine | UNMCmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNebraska Medicine | UNMC Gallery - named gallery space within the Find Yourself exhibition exploring cells, self, and community
• FNBOmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFNBO Gallery - named gallery space within the Make It Count exhibition exploring shapes, patterns, numbers, and financial futures
• Keep Omaha BeautifulcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for environmental education events including Mammal Match, From Streets to Streams, Compost-ition, and The Plastics Puzzle educational programming
• Nebraska Public MediaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Night Light: Groove After Dark event, leading hands-on activity to create musical instruments
• North Omaha Music & Arts (NOMA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative academy partner for Night Light: Groove After Dark event, providing faculty instruction and community conversation programming
• UNO Sports Medicine and Biomechanics LabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for How do you measure up to an MLB player? event bringing sports medicine education to Luminarium visitors
• UNO and UNL RoboticsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRobotics Expo bringing together VEXU, BattleBots, PROTO, UNO VEX, and UNL FIRST Robotics for all-ages robotics education event
• NoCoast Drone RacingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlight Lab STEM-focused drone racing exhibition with hands-on STEM learning experiences and live drone racing demonstration
• Omaha Public LibraryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLibrary pass program providing free daytime admission tickets to library patrons through the library system
• Bellevue Public LibraryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLibrary pass program providing free daytime admission tickets to library patrons
• Council Bluffs Public LibraryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLibrary pass program providing free daytime admission tickets to library patrons
• Baright Public Library (Ralston)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLibrary pass program providing free daytime admission tickets to library patrons
• Valley Public LibraryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLibrary pass program providing free daytime admission tickets to library patrons
• Fig. CafécoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOn-site restaurant partner offering freshly made food, coffee, and beverages. Provides 10% discount to members. Open during museum hours with riverside dining patio.
• The RiverFrontcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint location partnership at Lewis and Clark Landing. Shared parking, pedestrian paths, bike infrastructure, and destination playground. RiverFront parks system adjacent to the museum.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Omaha Children's Museum: Local Omaha hands-on museum competing for family visits, school field trips, and birthday-party revenue within the same metropolitan market as Kiewit Luminarium.
• Exploratorium: San Francisco-based interactive science museum that partnered with Kiewit Luminarium on exhibit design and DEAI assessment. Operates a similar hands-on STEM exhibit model and serves as a direct strategic and operational peer.
• Discovery Museum (Bridgeport, CT): Mid-sized interactive science museum with permanent exhibits, field trips, and family programming. Closely comparable in scale and operating model to a newly-opened facility like Kiewit Luminarium.
• Durham Museum: Omaha-based regional museum offering exhibits, field trips, and event rentals. Shares the same Omaha geography, visitor base, and corporate-event rental market as Kiewit Luminarium.

Broad incumbents

• Pacific Science Center: Seattle-based science center combining permanent exhibits, IMAX/dome theater, camps, and event rentals. Comparable multi-revenue-stream model targeting families, schools, and adults in a single metropolitan area.
• Liberty Science Center: New Jersey-based interactive science center with permanent exhibits, IMAX, camps, and premium event rentals. Comparable mix of family, school, and adult programming with similar revenue diversification.
• Carnegie Science Center: Pittsburgh-based science center offering hands-on exhibits, a planetarium, camps, and event venues. Similar diversified revenue model combining admissions, memberships, education programs, and facility rentals.
• The Franklin Institute: Philadelphia-based science museum with hands-on exhibits, planetarium, field trips, and event rentals. Demonstrates a mature version of the multi-revenue, multi-audience model Luminarium is scaling into.
• OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry): Portland-based science museum and planetarium combining hands-on exhibits, school programs, camps, and event rentals. Comparable operating model with similar audience segmentation.
• Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago): Large-scale interactive science museum with hands-on exhibits, field-trip programs, and event rentals. Operates at significantly greater scale but exemplifies the established science-center operating model Luminarium is building toward.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/luminarium
• Facebookfacebook.com/kiewitluminarium
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kiewit-luminarium

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles25 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 Kiewit Luminarium