Explore over 300 Interactive Exhibits!

Would you like to soar through the sky in a jet, then explore the universe? Would you like to forecast the weather in a television studio? Or show off your coordination and dance moves on a fitness floor? How about using your own body to generate electricity? You can even go outside to our Rock River Discovery Park and navigate the two-story maze, search for dinosaur fossils and make a splash in the water play area.

When you visit Discovery Center Museum, you and your family can explore the world, and even the universe, without ever leaving our inspiring environment. The thrill of exploration and discovery is built into every one of our 300-plus hands-on science and arts exhibits located inside Discovery Center Museum and outside in our Rock River Discovery Park.

Simple Machines

simple machines exhibit Push and pull your way around pulleys, levers, and gears!

Explore Simple Machines with your whole body. Lift yourself using mechanical advantage. Which chair is the easiest?

Test your skills in getting gears to turn. Can you make the fan spin? Will all of the gears move together?

Have fun with screws, wedges, wheel & axles and inclined planes as you help balls navigate the ball maze.

Discovery Center gratefully acknowledges the following contributors to Simple Machines:

"Public Museum Capital Grants Program" – Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Illinois State Museum; Grainger; In Memory of Vern Cassens; J.L. Clark-A CLARCOR Company; Danfoss; Janet Kjellstrom Fund of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois; Marvin W. Dundore Jr. Memorial Fund; Forest City Gear; Rj Link International Inc.; Specialty Screw Corp.; UTC Aerospace Systems; Viking Chemical.