Discovery Place expanding to Matthews with new museum for kids. What to expect
Discovery Place plans to open a new museum for children in Matthews, the town announced on Tuesday.
The science education-based Charlotte nonprofit made an agreement with Matthews to open a Discovery Place Kids center in about five years, according to a news release. Matthews will provide building space and Discovery Place will handle the operations. Town commissioners unanimously approved the plan during a Monday meeting.
This will be the third Discovery Place-Kids site in North Carolina.
Discovery Place Kids locations in other communities involves the municipality providing a facility. Approximately 18,000 to 24,000 square feet is required to operate a museum, along with parking and access.
The Matthews center will have interactive exhibits, hands-on learning experiences for children and STEM programs. Discovery Place is hosting a series of community sessions to get input from residents in Matthews, according to Nikole Hill, chief learning officer at Discovery Place.
The initial estimated cost for the building is between $3.6 million to $4.8 million (or $4.4 million to $5.8 million in 2029 at 5% annual inflation), according to town documents. The maintenance costs for the center will vary, with a comparable town facility costing $40,000 annually. Utility cost will be $62,000 annually.
Matthews Mayor John Higdon said the kids center is a tremendous opportunity for the town that will provide fun and educational opportunities for children and families.
“While the museum opening is still a few years away, we are excited to welcome them to Matthews and look forward to the many ways they will enrich our community,” he said.
Discovery Place Kids is also looking forward to partnering with the the town, said Discovery Place CEO Catherine Wilson Horne.
“This museum will be a hub of imagination, creativity and hands-on learning, designed to inspire young minds and bring families together,” Horne stated. “It (also) will be a valuable community resource where children can explore science in a fun and engaging way.”
The space for Discovery Place Kids was paid for through Matthews’ tourism fund. A location has not been selected.
Matthews impressed Discovery Place, Horne said, while mentioning events, celebrations and the farmers market during the spring fall.
“Finding a place that’s really got that community spirit is an exciting thing for us when we think about children and families,” she told The Charlotte Observer.
Discovery Place has not determined a cost estimate to add exhibits and attractions to the building. Horne said they would like to listen to the community before any budget plans are finalized.
About Discovery Place
Discovery Place serves as a hub for science learning in the Carolinas focused on the exchange of ideas, scientific exploration, creative expression, problem-solving and learning. Its other locations are Discovery Place Science in uptown, which has an IMAX movie theater, Discovery Place Kids-Huntersville and Discovery Place Kids-Rockingham.
In January, Discovery Place announced plans to upgrade its nature museum and picked a new name for the facility — Charlotte Museum of Nature. The center formerly known as Discovery Place Nature is scheduled to open in 2026 at Freedom Park.
Construction is underway at the original park site. It will have features such as nature trails, interactive exhibits and animals from the Piedmont region.
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This story was originally published February 26, 2025 at 12:46 PM.
