35,000 Square Feet of Wonder at the Catawba Science Center
Hickory has a world-class science museum. Most people outside of Western NC have no idea.
The Catawba Science Center in Hickory is not a dusty hall of plaques and dioramas. It is 35,000 square feet of hands-on exhibits, live animals, saltwater and freshwater aquarium galleries, and a state-of-the-art digital planetarium. The kind of place where you meant to stay an hour and look up to find three have passed.
- Full-year Dinosaurs! in Carpenter Hall: 16 animatronics, a show-stopping T-Rex, David Digs fossil pit, and IMMOTION VR.
- Hands-on exhibits, live animals, saltwater and freshwater aquarium galleries, and a state-of-the-art digital planetarium spark curiosity for all ages.
- Plan your visit to Catawba Science Center: check catawbascience.org for hours; VR add-ons are member $5, nonmember $7.
Right now the headliner is Dinosaurs!, a full-year exhibit that has taken over Carpenter Hall with 16 animatronic dinosaurs, lights, and sound. The T-Rex alone is worth the trip. Kids can dig for fossils in the David Digs pit, and a new VR experience from IMMOTION lets you step back 66 million years to watch feathered raptors hunt and armored giants defend their turf. There is also a Shark Dive VR option that drops you into the crystal-clear waters of the Bahamas with tiger and hammerhead sharks. Both are add-on experiences well worth the extra few dollars.
Should You Go?
Location: Hickory, NC
Address: 243 3rd Ave NE, Hickory, NC 28603
Ages: All ages
Best For: Families, curious travelers, rainy day plans
Vibe: Interactive · Prehistoric · Genuinely Surprising
Thrill-o-Meter: 5 / 10
Plan It
Catawba Science Center
Address: 243 3rd Ave NE, Hickory, NC 28603
Site: catawbascience.org
Phone: (828) 322-8169
Hours: Wed to Thu 10am to 4pm, Fri 10am to 5:30pm, Sat 10am to 4pm, Sun 1pm to 4pm. Closed Mon and Tue.
VR Experience: Members $5 · Non-Members $7 (not included with admission)