Play With Purpose
Why This Renovation Matters
Play powers potential.
Play is how children learn to collaborate, persevere, imagine, and care for others.
Through this renovation, Discovery Place Kids–Huntersville will become a museum designed intentionally to nurture character, literacy, and social-emotional growth—alongside curiosity and creativity. Backed by national research and supported by the Lilly Endowment, this work places our community at the forefront of children’s museum innovation.
This renovation is an investment not just in a building, but in the next generation, ensuring that they play with purpose to grow into their best selves.
What’s New—and What’s Possible
When we opened our doors on October 23, 2010, we anticipated welcoming 30,000 visitors in the first year. We now serve 150,000-200,000 visitors annually—a powerful testament to this community’s belief in the importance of early learning and exploration.
The renovated Discovery Place Kids–Huntersville will feature:
- Immersive, hands-on exhibits that reflect the local community and inspire discovery
- A reimagined central climber that encourages teamwork, grit, and safe risk-taking
- The Story Lab, connecting reading, storytelling, and imagination to early literacy
- A new Wellness and Care Center, focused on empathy, health, and community helpers
- Expanded farm-to-table experiences, connecting children to food systems and compassion
- Bilingual and caregiver-guided learning prompts that help adults see learning in action
- Sensory-friendly and inclusive design, ensuring every family feels welcome
Every space is being designed with purpose—so children don’t just learn facts, but practice the skills and values that shape who they become.
Character at the Heart of Play
At the center of this transformation is a simple belief:
Character is learned by living it.
Through play, storytelling, and social interaction, children will encounter and practice six core character traits woven throughout the museum experience:
Curiosity • Creativity • Compassion • Teamwork • Integrity • Grit
Rooted in Huntersville. Built for the Future.
Discovery Place Kids–Huntersville serves hundreds of thousands of families from Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson, Mooresville, Charlotte, Lake Norman, and beyond. This renovation ensures the museum continues to meet the needs of a growing, diverse community—while remaining a trusted, beloved place for repeat visits and shared memories.
With lead support from the Lilly Endowment and generous community partners, we are inviting families, corporations, and civic leaders to help complete this vision.
