Membership

Be a part of our community

Ever wonder why now is the best time to become a Member?

Discovery Place Members are a part of something bigger. They provide vital support that creates exceptional educational experiences for local students, subsidizes free educational programs for our community and cares for the over 300 animal species which live at Discovery Place Science and Discovery Place Nature. Join us as we work to provide STEM learning for our whole community and chart a new course forward for our region.

Membership has its benefits

Discovery Place Members enjoy exclusive Members-only access, innovative programs and scientifically-proven fun, all at the highest health and safety standards. Enjoy scientifically-proven fun all year long while supporting one of Charlotte's most beloved non-profit educational institutions.

  • Free Admission

    Unlimited admission to the Museum(s) you choose for two adults and all of your children age 18 and younger (Individual Memberships provide admission for just one adult only, no children. Educator Memberships include up to four children only.

  • Member Hour at all Museum locations

    Discovery Place Members have early access to the Museum(s) included in their Membership. Members may arrive and enjoy the Museum(s) up to one hour prior to opening to the general public, 9:30-10:30 a.m.

  • Discounts & Exclusive Events

    • Discounted *IMAX documentary film tickets
    • Invitations to Member-only events
    • Exclusive pre-sale access to Summer Camps and special programs
    • Discounted Birthday Parties and Summer Camps (Family Memberships only)
    • Discounts in Museum stores and café (where applicable)
    • Discounted admission for guests (25% off general admission tickets)
    • Discounted parking at Discovery Place Science (parking is free at Discovery Place Nature and Discovery Place Kids)
    *Member IMAX ticket discount excludes feature-length films
    Discounts and benefits apply only at the Museums listed on your Membership
  • Access to Science Museums around the Country

    Join all four Museums and receive free or discounted admission to more than 360 institutions participating in the ASTC Passport Program nationwide. Visit astc.org/passport for a full list of participating centers.

    • Admission is based on the admittance policies of the participating museums.
    • Only general admission to participating museums is included. This may not include special exhibits, planetarium shows, large-screen theater presentations, simulator rides, store discounts, or other discounts associated with museum membership.
    • Science centers and museums located within 90 miles of your home museum or home residence (“as the crow flies”) are excluded from the ASTC Passport program benefits
    • Proof of active Membership and photo ID or proof of residence required.

    Discovery Place Members do not receive complimentary admission to the following museums due to the distance exclusion:

    North Carolina

    • Catawba Science Center
    • Greensboro Science Center
    • Kaleideum North
    • North Carolina Transportation Museum Foundation
    • Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium

    South Carolina

    • Roper Mountain Science Center

    Visitors to Discovery Place Science and Discovery Place Nature using their ASTC Passport benefits can enjoy complimentary General Admission for two adults and up to four children 18 or younger. Distance exclusions may apply. Proof of active membership at a participating museum and proof of residence required. Discovery Place Kids locations are not included in ASTC Passport Program. Contact Members@discoveryplace.org for more information.

  • Add a Guest Pass

    Bring an additional visitor with you on each visit. Up to two Guest Passes may be purchased with each Family Membership. *Guest Passes are not available for Individual or Educator Memberships.

  • Helix Society

    The Helix Society provides access to everything Discovery Place has to offer: two guest passes, admission to all of our Museums, invitations to private events, all for $300. At the same time, a Helix Society membership is a tax-deductible donation that supports Discovery Place's efforts to make high-quality STEM education available to all members of our community. Helix members are at the core of making everything Discovery Place does possible!

    Become a Helix member and make an investment in our mission to bring science, nature and design together to create transformative experiences that enable our community to understand, enjoy and apply science to their lives. Click here to join today.

  • Are you an Educator?

    All certified PreK-12 teachers and homeschool educators to children 7 years and older in North or South Carolina qualify for specially-discounted Educator Memberships. Valid for two named adults and up to four children age 18 and younger living in your household. A copy of a valid North Carolina or South Carolina teaching license or homeschool certificate is required.

    Memberships are non-refundable
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Membership Pricing

  One Museum Two Museums All Museums
Individual* $80 $95 N/A
Family** $150 $180 $200
Educator $120 $150 $180
Helix Society N/A N/A $300
Add a Guest Pass*** $25 each $25 each $50 each

Membership FAQs

  • What is the Member Hour?

    Discovery Place Members have early access to the Museum(s) included in their Membership. Members may arrive and enjoy the Museum(s) up to one hour prior to opening to the general public, 9:30-10:30 a.m.

  • What if I need to cancel or reschedule my reservation to visit the Museum?

    If you need assistance with your reservation, including rescheduling or cancelling, please call the Membership department at 704.372.6261 x354 between 9:30am – 4:30pm for assistance.

  • How do I register or log into my Membership profile?

    To create a Member profile, Click here. As you register, please use the same email address that was given on your Membership application to properly register the Member profile.

    If you are having trouble logging in or your Member benefits are incorrect after logging in, there a few reasons why this could be happening. First, make sure your username is the email that you used on your membership application. Also, make sure your membership is valid at the location you are trying to make a reservation for, in other words, if you had a Discovery Place Kids in Huntersville membership and were trying to attend Discovery Place Science, you will get the message that you don’t have a valid membership. Lastly, you could have a duplicate membership. Please contact the Membership department at members@discoveryplace.org or 704.372.6261 x354 for further assistance.

  • What benefits come with my Membership?

    Benefits vary based on Membership level. Please contact the Membership department at members@discoveryplace.org or 704.372.6261 x354 for more information.

  • Is my Membership tax-deductible?

    Yes, a portion of each Membership is tax-deductible. Please save your receipt as proof of donation.

  • What Member events occur throughout the year?

    Members will receive invitations to Member-only events at the Museums to which they belong such as Mess Fest, Star Party, and exhibition openings. Members of All Museums, Helix Society or Prism Society are invited to all of our private Member events throughout the year at each Museum, in addition to special programs for their group.

  • If I visit the Museum and then decide to become a Member, can the cost of my single ticket purchase be applied to the Membership?

    Yes! Ask us about applying your admission tickets to a membership when you visit or contact the Membership Department for more information.

  • Where do I find a list of reciprocal ASTC museums?

    Click here to view a list of participating museums and available discounts. All Museum, Helix Society and Prism Society Memberships only are eligible for the ASTC passport program.

    Please note: Discovery Place Kids is not part of the ACM reciprocal network program.

    Participating science centers and museums and/or a Member's primary residence located within 90 miles (as the crow flies) of Discovery Place are excluded from the Passport Program. Catawba Science Center, Natural Science Center of Greensboro, North Carolina Transportation Museum Foundation, Roper Mountain Science Center, Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, SciWorks and Spartanburg Science Center are among the participating science centers and museums within a 90-mile radius that are excluded from the Passport Program. Passport Program Members must show a valid ID at Admissions.

  • Can I use my ASTC Passport benefits at Discovery Place Kids-Rockingham and/or Discovery Place Kids-Rockingham?

    No, Discovery Place Kids locations are not included in the ASTC Passport Program. Discovery Place Science and Discovery Place Nature are included, with the admittance policy of; complimentary general admission for two adults and up to four children 18 or younger. Distance exclusions may apply. Proof of active membership at a participating museum and proof of residency required. Contact Members@discoveryplace.org for more information.

  • Can I use my ASTC Passport benefits at Discovery Place Science and/or Discovery Place Nature?

    Yes, general admission to Discovery Place Science and Discovery Place Nature are included in the ASTC Passport Program with the admittance policy of: general admission for two adults and up to four children 18 or younger. Distance exclusions may apply. Discovery Place Kids locations are not included in the ASTC Passport Program. Proof of active membership at a participating museum and proof of residence residency required. Contact Members@discoveryplace.org for more information.

  • I just bought my membership, do I need my Membership card to attend the Museum?

    Our membership cards have gone digital, you can download your cards today! Click here for instructions on how to access your digital Membership card. Physical membership cards can be printed upon request by contacting our Membership Team at members@discoveryplace.org

  • What Museums are in the Discovery Place network?

    Discovery Place Science in uptown Charlotte

    Discovery Place Nature in Charlotte near Freedom Park

    Discovery Place Kids-Huntersville in Huntersville, NC

    Discovery Place Kids-Rockingham in Rockingham, NC

  • Can I make changes to my Membership? Is it transferable?

    You may upgrade your Membership at any time to add guests or sites. Simply contact the Membership department at members@discoveryplace.org or 704.372.6261 x354, or visit Admissions during your next visit. Memberships are not transferable.

  • When does my Membership expire?

    Please contact the Membership department at members@discoveryplace.org or 704.372.6261 x354 for more information.