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    Catawba Science Center

    4.1 (23 reviews)
    Closed 1:00 pm - 4:00 PM

    Catawba Science Center Photos

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    Ashley G.

    Such a fun place for our 2 year old. She would spend all day if she could! Great for a rainy day! She is a sensory seeker and loves hands on activities. It's such a perfect place for her. We have an annual membership and it is 100% worth it!

    I was looking for a halfway point for my and my bestie to meet while she was visiting and we found this place it was three hours away from both but it was definitely worth it we had a great time and kids loved one price for all three buildings

    Ashlea C.

    I am so torn between giving the Catawba Science Center a 3 and 4 star review, but I'm going to settle with a 3 for now. I have been coming here my entire life, and have very vivid memories of ALL of the different attractions and rooms that they've added/taken away over the years. My most recent visit really disappointed me, and it was very upsetting because there is very little to do now. But I will say this... They have added a new aquarium that is actually pretty neat, you can pet the stingrays and interact with the hermit crabs. However, I really miss the way the building used to be set up. They are doing construction at the moment, but they have taken away SO many good attractions and rooms, like the old aquarium they used to have inside the main building. They also took away the playroom for toddlers as well. I was sad to see this because I was really looking forward to letting my 1 year old play in there. To my understanding, they are just renovating that specific room though. They also got rid of the fish tanks that you could "stick your head in." I'm sure a lot of people will remember what I'm talking about. Downstairs they have added a new "poop" lab, (at least that's what we call it.) and removed the water/sand table and the storm TV (where you could stand up and see yourself on screen inside of an actual hurricane or tornado.) That will be missed a lot by so many of us 90's babies! They started charging for the extra traveling exhibits, and the gift shop doesn't have as much as it used to. All together though, we still had fun, we just wish everything was back to the way that it used to be. There used to be so much more hands on things, and things to do and see.

    The Catawba Science Center brings back so many memories! My cousin and I would always go with our grandparents and have so much fun. They have many exhibits and activities. They have an amazing gift shop with lots of fun items. There is so much to explore, such as animal exhibits, butterfly homes, rockets, (my personal favorite) a huge nose that sprays you with water, stingrays, a poop examination, slime, fish, tornado simulator, and so much more! If you are in the Hickory area, stop by the science center for a fun time and lots of memories!

    2012 Ted x Hickory event in the Art Center's auditorium

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    6 days ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Well it is nice for a close place to go to but having been to bigger city science centers it does leave more to be desired.

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    6 years ago

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    8 years ago

    Great place for kids... hands on museum. Staff is really nice... they have a small aquarium that is very good for kids.

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    8 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    15 years ago

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    13 years ago

    Great deal for families! Great aquarium, planetarium and exhibits.

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    10 years ago

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    Ask the Community - Catawba Science Center

    Review Highlights - Catawba Science Center

    And, every three years or so, they hold a butterfly exhibit where you can watch the butterflies flutter about.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Discovery Place Science - Ultimate Dinosaurs are here!

    Discovery Place Science

    4.1(255 reviews)
    44.7 miFourth Ward, Uptown
    Not-for-profit
    Wheelchair accessible

    Fabulous kid friendly museum! We like visiting and checking…read moreout the new exhibits and the permanent ones are wonderful. Hot tip is to park on the roof and walk in upstairs where you can pay and get your parking validated.

    To the Discovery Place Management Team,…read more I am writing to formally express our deep disappointment regarding the experience our second-grade team had during our field trip on April 28. While we chose Discovery Place for its reputation as an educational leader, the lack of professional communication and logistical support we received was unacceptable. Our primary concerns include: Total Lack of Communication: Leading up to our visit, we reached out multiple times via phone and email seeking guidance and logistics. We received no response until after our trip was already completed. For an educator planning a trip for over 80 children, this silence is incredibly stressful and unprofessional. Inadequate Logistics and Materials: For the price paid per student, we expected a baseline level of organization. We were not provided with maps, a detailed itinerary, room numbers, or specific class times. We spent a significant portion of our day navigating blindly rather than focusing on the educational exhibits. Safety and Departure Issues: Most concerning was the lack of staff assistance during our departure. Because no direction was provided regarding exits, we were forced to lead 83 second graders out onto a busy city block to walk to our waiting buses. This created an entirely avoidable safety risk that could have been mitigated had a staff member simply directed us to a proper exit or bus loading zone. As a result of this experience, we will not be recommending Discovery Place to our coworkers or other schools in our district. We expected a partnership in education, but instead, we felt ignored and unsupported. We hope you take this feedback seriously to ensure that future student groups do not face the same disorganized and potentially unsafe conditions. Sincerely, Nicole Roberts

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    Catawba Science Center - museums - Updated May 2026

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