Have you visited the NEW Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum lately?
It’s worth a visit to this museum for children!! In May of 2014, The Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum opened the doors to their new museum and location. The new 4-story facility offers space for all the old exhibit’s you love and many new, exciting areas for children to explore and learn in a hands-on, kid-friendly environment.
There is also a roof-top play area and observation deck. The museum also offers a lot of new classes including cooking, science, arts & crafts, yoga, drama and story times. There’s something for every child ages 1 to 12. Some of the new exhibits include a real ambulance with lights and hands on tools to role play a rescue and a full size triceratops bone structure and a paleontology bone digging area.
On the second floor is the very popular apple packing shed expanded for more fun and discovery. There are also at least half a dozen building block tables of all types to build and demolish at your leisure. There is a huge roller coaster alley with extra large roller coaster tracks and balls for all to enjoy. There is a new Potomac river watershed area with a water table that demonstrates erosion.
The third floor is reserved for classes and party space. There is an arts & crafts free work area where you can create rubbings of dinosaurs or other paper crafts you can conger up. The Moccasin area is the kid-favorite Indian Long house to explore and for children to role play & imagination play in.
The roof-top terrace has a life-size checkers game, shade pavilion, gardens and a special dance/video piano set up for kids to play and dance to.
The new Discovery Museum has something for everyone. It’s clean and well kept with hours of exhibits and activities for children to explore.
Helpful Tips
The museum is closed on Mondays. They are open 9am to 5pm Tuesday to Saturday & 1pm to 5pm on Sundays.- Admission is $8 per person, under two are free. If you are a museum member or if you belong to the Association of Children’s Museums, admission is free.
- We recommend the museum for ages 1 to 12.
- There is an elevator, bathrooms & water fountain on each floor of the museum.
- Strollers need to be parked in the stroller parking area. You’re encouraged to bring baby carriers with you to help with younger children.
- Call before you go, as school groups typically visit during the week from 10am to 2pm.
- On the first Friday of each month, visitors are offered free admission from 5 to 7:30pm.
- Be sure to download the coupon on their website which offers $1 off admission for a group of four.
- The museum offers summer camps, birthday parties, sleepovers, scouting program and field trips.
- There is a gift shop, so if you’re looking for a unique gift, be sure to check it out.
- No food or drink is allowed in the museum.
- The Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum is located one block away from the pedestrian mall in downtown Winchester. There are many opportunities for parking at nearby city lots and garages. There are also great restaurants and shops to explore.
The museum is closed on Mondays. They are open 9am to 5pm Tuesday to Saturday & 1pm to 5pm on Sundays.
Photos by Mara Conners
