Science Center of Iowa to Temporarily Close “Small Discoveries” Exhibit for Exciting Renovation

The Science Center of Iowa (SCI) today announced the upcoming temporary closure and exciting full-scale renovation of its cherished Small Discoveries exhibit, designed specifically for the Center’s youngest visitors. The exhibit will officially close following Labor Day and will reopen with fresh, dynamic enhancements in the first week of December.

This renovation aims to deepen SCI’s commitment to early childhood learning through hands-on discovery and play. Planned updates include a dedicated space tailored for the littlest learners, an interactive “make your own mural” area to inspire creativity, an all-new water table for sensory exploration, and a sensory space where children can tap into three of their five senses — playing with light, sound, and textures.

“Our goal has always been to ignite curiosity at every age,” said Curt Simmons, President and CEO of the Science Center of Iowa. “This renovation of Small Discoveries gives us the opportunity to reimagine how we engage our earliest learners with science in a way that’s joyful, safe, and deeply enriching.”

Small Discoveries has long been a foundational experience at SCI, nurturing the sense of wonder that begins in the early years. The newly envisioned exhibit will expand opportunities for hands-on learning, foster social development, and encourage parent-child interaction in a warm and welcoming environment.

As Fred Rogers once said, “Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.” SCI embraces this philosophy wholeheartedly, designing spaces where discovery and play go hand in hand.

The Science Center of Iowa invites members and guests to visit Small Discoveries before it temporarily closes after Labor Day and looks forward to welcoming families back this December to experience a vibrant, reimagined space built to inspire Iowa’s youngest scientists.