Looking for fun and educational things to do in Hickory and Western NC?

Plan a visit to Catawba Science Center, a 35,000 sq. ft. science and technology museum that offers a wide range of engaging experiences for visitors of all ages. With hands-on exhibits, animal habitats, salt and freshwater aquarium galleries, and a planetarium we provide a fun and interactive learning environment. Our mission is to change lives and inspire learning through science and wonder!

From engaging school field trips, homeschool classes, and preschool programs to summer camps, birthday parties, and adult science we have something for everyone. Come explore the wonders of the natural world in an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere that fosters curiosity and discovery!

 


Current Featured Exhibit:

DINOSAURS! Open NOW - December 6th

 

butterfly

So Much to Discover!

Ways to Support!

TODAY'S PROGRAMS & EVENTS

  • SPARK: A STEM Career Showcase!

    May 9, 2026  1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

    Don't miss this month's event in the Foothills Collaboratory! SPARK is a STEM career showcase featuring local industries in the Carolina Foothills. Participate in guided activities based on their careers. The LAB can be found at the end of the South entrance hallway across from Velo-City. This program is free with the price of admission. Learn more HERE.


TODAY'S PLANETARIUM SHOWS

  • Legend of the Enchanted Reef

    May 9, 2026  11:00 am - 11:30 am

    Dive in with three friends on the ocean adventure of a lifetime. After a fishing trawler devastates their reef, the trio has no choice but to set out on a quest to find a new home. As they search the sea for a legendary reef, the friends encounter a variety of intriguing environments, from kelp forests to sunken wrecks and even outer space!


  • Magic Tree House

    May 9, 2026  2:00 pm - 2:30 pm

    Travel with Jack and Annie, stars of the Magic Tree House® bestselling children’s book series, as they visit an observatory and beyond into space with the help of an astronomer and astronaut.


  • Living Worlds

    May 9, 2026  3:00 pm - 3:30 pm

    Whether earthly or alien, all life leaves a trace. Journey through space and time to discover how life makes Earth livable, where it could be found elsewhere in the cosmos, and what new technologies we might use to find it. Along the way, you'll learn how light and color can help us spot other living worlds even from vast distances-and develop a new appreciation for the one of-a-kind planet right beneath our feet.