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Discovery Center

4.0 (30 reviews)
Open 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

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Jess J.

A great family-friendly place we found while on a weekend road trip that took us to Springfield! Having two small children under the age of a required admission price, and the fact that the Discovery Center does military discounts made it an extremely affordable outing for us, which is even better. This museum is very easy to find, has lots of adjacent parking, and has a great array of activities across an impressive span of age ranges. You can truly find things of interest, here, whatever your age. There is a small interior play area that is separate from the rest of the museum that is designed specifically for ages 0-5, which I thought was really nice. Lots of things for kids who aren't yet school age to explore in a very hands-on way, and contained enough that it wasn't nervewracking for parents. Older kids are only allowed in this area with supervision, so you don't have to worry about enthusiastic bigger kids stampeding around crawlers and toddlers. There were activities with giant Lego blocks and shape sorters, physics experiments where you loaded chiffon scarves into a fan-powered clear tube "cannon" and could blast them into the air...my seven month old baby loved watching them waft down. Vacuum hoses that sucked sponge balls through an elaborate tube maze and shot them out again...toddler loved that. Other, "older kid and grown-up" parts of the center had a pit where you could "dig" for "dinosaur bones" in chopped up tire rubber, displays and hands-on experiments on different types of energy, the physics of thermal imaging, etc. Lots of water and gravity exhibits, a genetics lab and cellular biology section, and a section on world cultures. Loads of interesting things...we spent several hours there, without anybody losing their cool, which is pretty amazing, with a seven-month old and a two-year old. I would say that while it's a great interactive museum, there are portions that are definitely showing wear and tear, unsurprising given how hands-on everything is. The world cultures floor was very cool in concept, but in notable need of some TLC...looking a little threadbare. But overall, just a lot of fun and a great value. IF I were in town again, I'd take the kids back there in a heartbeat. There is a lot there they could grow into. It's a great resource for the community.

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4 years ago

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16 years ago

Good exhibits, up to date, clean. Lots of room to move. Participates in Passport Program. Free parking. Family of four admission $30 range.

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11 years ago

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11 years ago

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10 years ago

Went with my daughter & granddaughter to nature center today. It was awesome watching my girls play & learning a few things.

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8 years ago

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Review Highlights - Discovery Center

One staff member in particular, a young man named Hunter, noticed my group's interest in the exhibits, and took the time to show us particularly cool uses.

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NRA National Sporting Arms Museum

NRA National Sporting Arms Museum

(4 reviews)

Tucked inside Bass Pro Shops in Springfield, the NRA National Sporting Arms Museum feels less like…read morea retail add-on and more like a time machine disguised as a detour. You walk in expecting camouflage and fishing reels and suddenly you're staring at centuries of American history told through craftsmanship, innovation, and survival. This museum quietly traces the evolution of firearms from early colonial America through the frontier, the Civil War, world conflicts, and into modern sporting culture. The collection includes exquisitely engraved pieces, early hunting arms, military firearms, and guns tied to presidents, explorers, and cultural icons. It's not flashy -- it's deliberate, curated, and respectful of the historical weight these objects carry. What stands out most is how the museum frames firearms as tools that shaped exploration, self-reliance, and national identity, rather than as props or politics. You leave with a deeper appreciation for the engineering, artistry, and context behind each era. The interpretive plaques actually explain why these pieces mattered, not just what they are. Best part? Admission is free. The space is clean, well-organized, and quiet considering it sits inside one of the busiest Bass Pro locations in the country. Staff and volunteers are knowledgeable and genuinely enthusiastic, especially if you ask questions. If you're a history buff, a museum lover, or someone who enjoys understanding how America got from point A to point chaos, this place is worth your time. Come for the store, stay for the story.

Had a fun time looking at all the firearms in the museum! The archery displays were amazing so…read moredon't miss that to. Lot of great history in the museum. My son and I had a great time talking about all the firearms.

Discovery Center - museums - Updated May 2026

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