Discovery World | Milwaukee

Discovery World – In Detail

Location: 500 N Harbor Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Setting: Situated directly on the Lake Michigan shoreline within downtown Milwaukee’s museum campus, between the Milwaukee Art Museum and Henry Maier Festival Park.

1. General Overview

Discovery World is a science and technology museum combined with an aquarium, known for its interactive, hands-on exhibits designed for families, students, and general visitors. Its purpose is to connect innovation, freshwater science, and the Great Lakes environment with the public in ways that are educational, immersive, and entertaining.

Total Size: Over 120,000 sq ft

Opened: 2006 (in current location)

Building: Modern structure with floor-to-ceiling lakefront views, featuring outdoor sculptures and piers.

2. Main Galleries & Exhibits

🐠 Reiman Aquarium

Largest aquarium in Wisconsin, with over 150 species and more than 120,000 gallons of water across various tanks.

Split into two major aquatic zones:

Lake Michigan Exhibit: Freshwater tank showing native species like sturgeon, bluegill, perch, and turtles.

Caribbean Tunnel: 65,000-gallon saltwater tunnel with sharks, stingrays, and coral reef fish. You walk through the tank via a tunnel surrounded by glass on all sides.

Touch Tanks: Visitors can touch stingrays, horseshoe crabs, sea stars, and sturgeon.

Features interactive LED screens with real-time environmental data and conservation messaging.

🌊 Great Lakes Future Exhibit

A large-scale model of the Great Lakes watershed featuring dynamic water flows, weather stations, and environmental sensors.

Includes pre-historic fossils, meteorological simulations, erosion experiments, and invasive species demonstrations.

Shows climate impacts, pollution, urban runoff, and stormwater effects in an engaging, interactive way.

🎸 Les Paul’s House of Sound

Tribute to Les Paul, the Waukesha native and inventor of the solid-body electric guitar.

Features include:

Sound mixing labs

Guitars and artifacts from Les Paul’s life

Interactive sound experiments (like string vibration, magnetic pickup demos)

A playable music studio setup

🏗️ Milwaukee Muscle

Dedicated to hydraulics and pneumatics with real equipment scaled for kids and teens.

Includes:

A working mini-excavator

Pneumatic power system simulator

Crane and lift mechanism you can control

Applications in automotive and construction fields

🤖 Automation Everywhere

Robotics and mechanical engineering area.

Visitors can program robots, watch automation demos, and try manufacturing simulators.

Includes a scale replica of the American Family Field retractable roof to demonstrate real-world engineering.

✈️ Virtual Explorer & Flight Simulator

Multiple screens and motion-enabled platforms simulate:

Flying a plane

Driving racecars

Space travel through VR headsets

Remote piloting of underwater drones

🔬 Labs & Classrooms

Discovery World hosts several high-tech lab areas for school programs and public workshops:

Tech Lab: 3D printing, robotics, coding.

SPARK Lab: Basic electronics and circuits.

Health Science Lab: Human biology experiments.

Freshwater Lab: Real-time water testing and purification experiments.

3. Outdoor Features

Challenge Schooner: A full-size replica of an 88-foot 19th-century Great Lakes cargo ship.

Wind Leaves Sculpture: Kinetic sculpture of spinning stainless steel columns on the lakefront.

Piers and Boardwalks: Allow access directly to the lake for weather and environment demonstrations.

4. Events, Education, and Programming

Hosts hundreds of school field trips annually.

STEM Saturdays and Girls & STEM workshops offer hands-on group activities for youth.

Live Diver Talks in the aquarium include feeding demonstrations and Q&A with marine scientists.

Offers camps, birthday parties, and corporate events.

Annual events include a Family Science Night, STEM Career Expo, and Freshwater Symposium.

5. Visitor Experience

Recommended visit length: 3 to 5 hours for a full experience.

Best for families with children ages 4–14, but most areas have adult appeal.

Stroller and wheelchair accessible; elevators and wide halls support accessibility.

Gift shop with STEM-themed toys, books, and Great Lakes merchandise.

Lakeview Café: Offers snacks, sandwiches, and drinks with panoramic views of Lake Michigan.

6. Admission & Hours

Adults: $24

Children (3–17): $20

Seniors (60+) and College/Military ID: $18

Children under 2: Free

Access Admission (WI EBT card holders): $7 per person

Hours:
Wednesday to Sunday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Monday–Tuesday: Closed (except special holidays or school break periods)

7. Upcoming Additions

2025: Major expansion of the Caribbean Tunnel including new reef species and augmented reality overlays.

2026: Launch of “The Life of Water,” a new multi-floor freshwater ecosystem exhibit.

Continuous updates to lab spaces and inclusion of AI-related exhibits in Automation Everywhere.

8. Tips for Visiting

Arrive early to enjoy touch tanks and simulators before crowds form.

Plan around scheduled diver presentations or STEM demos-they vary daily.

Parking: Heated indoor parking beneath the museum (6′8″ clearance), with outdoor overflow lots nearby.

Perfect pair with a visit to the adjacent Milwaukee Art Museum or lakeshore walk.

Summary

Discovery World blends science, technology, engineering, and natural ecosystems into one captivating museum on Milwaukee’s lakefront. It offers world-class aquariums, innovative labs, immersive simulators, and deep dives into topics like robotics, sustainability, sound, and maritime history. It's a must-visit destination for families, educators, and anyone curious about how the world works - above and below the surface.