Discovery World is a science and technology museum with an aquarium on Milwaukee’s Lake Michigan waterfront, at 500 N Harbor Dr. Hands-on displays cover the Great Lakes, machines, sound and weather, while the Reiman Aquarium brings freshwater and other aquatic life into the visit. Try the controllable Great Lakes model, explore the aquarium’s touch areas and look out across the lake from the building. There is enough to see for a half-day outing, and the interactive exhibits suit children and adults alike.
Science you can operate
Discovery World brings science and technology into hands-on exhibits, with subjects ranging from water and weather to sound, energy and machines. The displays are built for interaction: you can experiment with simple machines, work with gears in cutaway engines and launch pneumatic-powered rockets and cars.
The Great Lakes display puts water systems and weather at the center of the visit. A large model lets you control weather conditions and see how wind and water affect the lakes. It gives children and adults a way to explore regional science by changing the conditions themselves, rather than only reading about them.
Other activities include a flight simulator, virtual reality booths and a Tesla coil exhibit. The mix makes room for different interests, from engineering and motion to digital experiences. Some activities are free to use, including science machines and coloring pages.
Aquatic life at the Reiman Aquarium
The Reiman Aquarium takes you from the Great Lakes to aquatic environments farther afield. Its displays include fish and other marine animals, with freshwater life central to the museum’s focus. The touch areas give visitors the chance to feel stingrays; sturgeon and lobster are also named among the animals visitors can touch.
The aquarium is a substantial part of a visit, so leave time to explore it instead of treating it as a quick stop between exhibits. A tunnel aquarium is among the features visitors have highlighted, and the displays include turtles and a reef tank. The museum’s broader aquatic exhibits connect local waters with marine life from other regions.
Sound, making and the lakefront
Les Paul’s House of Sound connects Milwaukee’s music history with interactive exhibits about sound. Elsewhere, hands-on displays let visitors investigate how machines work, while maker and lab spaces add opportunities to create and experiment. The material describes some lab activities as available to school groups or on selected public days, so check the museum’s current information if a particular lab is important to your plans.
The building sits on the lakefront beside the Milwaukee Art Museum, with views of Lake Michigan from inside. Discovery World is also next to Lakeshore State Park, making it easy to pair the museum with time outdoors. A replica of a three-masted Great Lakes schooner, the S/V Denis Sullivan, is associated with the museum; its availability for visits or sailing is not specified here, so check ahead if you want to see it.
Preguntas frecuentes
How long do you need at Discovery World?
Plan for about three to five hours. The museum is large, and the hands-on exhibits and aquarium can take much of a day to explore.
Is Discovery World suitable for children?
Yes. Its interactive science exhibits and aquarium are aimed at visitors of all ages, with plenty of activities for children and adults.
Can you touch animals at the aquarium?
Touch experiences include stingrays. Sturgeon and lobster are also mentioned among the animals visitors can touch.
Is parking available at Discovery World?
Paid parking is available in a lot and garage, and paid street parking is listed nearby. Free street parking is also listed.
