CHANGING LIVES AND INSPIRING LEARNING THROUGH SCIENCE AND WONDER.
While we offer the option to purchase tickets online in advance of your visit, this is not a requirement. Tickets may be purchased upon arrival at any of the Visitor Service Desks or the Gift Shop.
Tickets purchased online will remain valid until redeemed at the time of your visit. They can only be used once.
No, the aquarium, featured exhibit hall, and public planetarium shows are included with the price of admission. Our planetarium shows run at specific times throughout the week. Click here for Planetarium showtimes, seating is limited to 65 and is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Yes, Catawba Science Center currently offers discounted admission for residents of Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, and Lincoln counties who receive WIC, SNAP or Medicaid benefits. Please visit the Portal to Science page HERE to learn more.
No, there is no parking fee at Catawba Science Center. Please see the campus map HERE for parking areas.
No, Catawba Science Center does not offer any food for sale. The City of Hickory offers several dining options near the SALT Block. Visitors may leave for lunch and then return to Catawba Science Center to finish exploring on the original date of their visit, provided they still have their CSC sticker.
While visiting the science center, we ask that you be respectful to other guests and gentle to our exhibits. Please allow everyone the opportunity to learn. Particularly within exhibits, please make sure to explore purposefully and respect other visitors, CSC’s animals, and interactives. Be patient and take turns on exhibit pieces. Eating and drinking inside the exhibits are prohibited. Containers with a lid or cap must remain closed.
Are you a teacher looking to book a Field Trip? Click HERE to learn more!
Groups are available to come Wednesday–Friday. School group visits must be coordinated with CSC’s office at least two days prior to visiting. We suggest exploring the museum in groups of 10 to 12 people or fewer, with 1 adult minimum per group. Your group’s adults are responsible for supervising your participants throughout your science center visit. Particularly within exhibits, please make sure to explore purposefully and respect other visitors, CSC’s animals, and interactives. Eating and drinking inside the exhibits are prohibited. Containers with a lid or cap must remain closed. We also offer a lunch space at a $30 fee per school, with a limited capacity of 50 people for the large lunch space and 30 people for our other lunch space. We ask that you please clean up after your group has finished.
While Catawba Science Center houses many animals, we cannot take them all. See below for a list of hyperlinked animal resources.
Animal Donation? Give us a call, we may be able to take it! (828) 322-8169
There are four ways to purchase a membership:
Your membership will be activated immediately upon receipt of payment.
Memberships are valid for 12 months and will expire the following year at the end of the month, regardless of the specific date purchased. Your membership expiration date is listed on your digital membership card. To maximize benefits, make sure to renew before your expiration date here.
A download link and instructions will be emailed to the primary member within 1 week of purchase or you can download your digital cards now by clicking here, entering the phone number associated with your membership and the last name of the primary adult on the membership, select Search, and then select Add to Wallet.
You can also download the eMembership App in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. See below for instructions.
eMembership App Easy Download Instructions
STEP 1: Download the eMembership App from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.
STEP 2: Select the Catawba Science Center tile and then select Find My Membership Cards.
STEP 3: Enter the phone number associated with your membership and the last name of the primary adult on the membership.
STEP 4: You can now access your membership card in the app under Show My Membership Cards. To download the card to your phone, select Download My Cards, then select Add to Wallet.
Each adult name listed on the membership will have their own digital card, but they will need to use the primary member’s information (last name and phone number) to download their cards. When accessing your digital membership cards, swipe left to see the card with the second, third, or fourth adult’s name on the membership. You will then be able to text the cards out to the corresponding member.
No problem! You can also access your digital cards on a desktop computer by clicking here and printing a copy of the cards from home.
OR
You can visit the Catawba Science Center anytime without your digital card, you will however need to provide your ID to the desk as well as your name for our staff to locate your membership in our system. However, if you wish to use the reciprocity at other museums, you will need to provide either a digital card, or the printed version to gain admission to the other institutions.
Yes! The digital card will automatically update within minutes of your transaction. This means that you only have to download the card once!
Yes! Please visit a desk or call our office (828) 322-8169 x.323 to add someone to your membership for a one-time $25 fee. If you need to make other adjustments such as changing one of the members out for someone else, please stop by a desk to fill out our Membership Adjustment Form or email Membership@catawbascience.org
Whoops – so sorry! Please contact us through email or call (828) 322-8169 x.323 and we will be happy to make the correction.
Gift memberships have gone digital! When purchasing a gift membership, check the box to indicate “this membership is a gift” and select whether the membership should be delivered to the gift recipient or directly to you (the gift giver). The gift membership certificate will either be emailed to you or your giftee directly, based on your selection. The giftee can access their digital membership cards as soon as they receive their certificate!
Yes! You may apply your CSC admission toward a membership purchase on the day of your visit. Simply retain your original ticket receipt as proof of purchase and submit with your membership application at the admissions desk before leaving CSC.
Membership privileges may not be shared or transferred. Free admission to other guests with your membership is only available with our Premium Level memberships. Guests must always be accompanied by a member cardholder.
If you have a Student, Star Gazer, Solar System, Galaxy, or Universe level membership, only the people (and children if applicable) named on the membership will gain entry with the membership card. ID is required at check-in.
Yes! As long as your babysitter or nanny is 18, you can add them to your membership as an additional adult. Our memberships are set up for you to pick your level based on how many adults will be bringing your children to CSC.
Solar System - 2 adults are able to bring your children
Galaxy - 3 adults are able to bring your children
Universe - 4 adults are able to bring your children
Yes! Catawba Science Center members enjoy free or discounted general admission to more than 350 science centers around the world through the Association of Science and Technology Center’s (ASTC) Passport Program and more than 180 museums across the southeast through the Southeastern Reciprocal Membership Program (SEMC).
The reciprocal benefits vary by location and details are subject to change without notice. Local restrictions may apply. For more information check out our reciprocal membership page.
It’s true! As a recipient of Department of Social Services or Public Health benefits, you can visit Catawba Science Center as often as you'd like for $3 admission (plus tax) per person with a Portal to Science Passport card! Just show your benefits card/voucher and a valid North Carolina state-issued photo ID at our admissions desk, and fill out an application to receive your Portal to Science Passport card.
Portal to Science benefits are for residents of Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba or Lincoln counties who receive benefits from the Department of Social Services or Public Health.
Portal to Science will reduce the cost of admission to $3 plus tax per person for up to two adults and any children 18 and under in the same household. For example, if your family of four is visiting, Portal to Science admission would cost a total of $12 plus tax for your visit. At Catawba Science Center, children under the age of 3 are always free.
To receive a card for Portal to Science pricing, please apply online for program discounts or provide the following information at the admissions desk on the day of your visit:
The Portal to Science card allows you to bring up to two adults and any children 17 and under living in the same household. Children and adults both qualify.
Anytime you want! Portal to Science is not restricted to certain days or times. You and your family can enjoy CSC during any of our normal daytime business hours. It will not cover member discounts for special events and programs unless you have received a membership by applying for a Portal to Science Scholarship.
As many times as you’d like! There is no restriction on the number of times you and your family can visit CSC until the card expires on June 30 the following year.
No, we require guests to present documentation of benefits from the Department of Social Services or Public Health to Admissions, along with a matching state-issued photo ID. If your photo ID does not match the name printed on your documentation, you will not be able to sign up for a Portal to Science card.
CSC has lifted the requirement for guests to wear masks during Birthday Party Programming.
Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. Guests can have the use of the party room for two hours.
Call 828-322-8169. Payment in full is required in order to reserve a party.
If CSC must cancel a party because of weather, or other circumstances beyond our control, we will make every effort to reschedule the party, or issue a full refund. Someone from CSC will reach out to you to let you know if we are closed due to inclement weather. You can also keep a look out on our Facebook page for any updates.
Payment in full (Cash, Check or Credit Card) is required in order to reserve a party. If a registrant cancels a party at least two weeks in advance, CSC will issue a refund less a $10 administrative fee. If party is canceled less than two weeks before the reserved date, no refund will be given. Note: If CSC must cancel a party because of weather, or other circumstances beyond our control, we will make every effort to reschedule the party, or issue a full refund.
The guest limit is 35 people for a standard party room and 50 for the Special Events Room, with a $10 additional charge for each extra person after that.
For a 10:30 a.m. party you can have entry to your party room at 10 a.m.
For a 1:30 p.m. party you can have entry to your party room at 1 p.m.
You can download a parking map here.
If you are interested in more information about booking a party outside the range please contact camps@catawbascience.org for more information.
Although no one may enter the party room more than 30 minutes early or occupy it more than 30 minutes after the party, you and your guests are free to gain admission to the museum at any time that day during our operating hours which are Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. In order to do so, they need to check in at any desk by telling them which party they are here to attend and receiving a special admission sticker.
Catawba Science Center is a children’s museum offering hands-on exhibits, salt and freshwater aquarium galleries, and a state-of-the-art digital planetarium theater. Learn about exotic fish, turtles, snakes and other species found in the Amazon River Basin, touch live sharks and stingrays, and stay for a shark feeding. Enter the Germ Zone to learn about disease-causing bacteria, explore the surface of Mars with a robot arm, create and launch rockets, and experiment with circuits. See live reptiles, amphibians, insects and arachnids, as well as a collection of fossils, in the Naturalist Center. Climb a mountain wall, experiment with sound and dig for fossils in the Outdoor Courtyard.
*Some of these experiences may be altered or off limits due to COVID19 restrictions.
Yes! You may bring your own cake.
No, there is not.
You may, but we do not allow the use of tape on the walls. We provide magnets for you to use instead. We also do not allow the use of glitter or confetti.
You may. Keep space and time limitations in mind. There isn’t usually room for a DJ. Dress up characters are welcome.
You may dependent upon availability.
Yes. You can call and arrange to see them during our business hours, or you can click the button at the top to see pictures of the rooms.
We offer a "snacks and drinks" package for $65 in a standard party room or $80 in the Special Events Room. It includes regular chips, Cheetos, rice crispy treats, fruit snacks, Capri Sun, soda, and ice.
We do not currently offer warm food catering, but we can recommend these nearby restaurant locations:
Whataburger
2060 US Hwy 70 SE
(828) 270-7037
Chick-fil-A
1239 2nd St NE
(828) 569-2769
See step-by-step instructions for how to enroll in the ‘Registration’ section above. Remember to complete a separate registration form for EACH child. Completed registration forms should be submitted at least one week prior to the start of your desired class or camp. Registration is accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and subject to class availability. After your registration has been confirmed, you will receive a digital confirmation packet including detailed information about your camper’s schedule, policies, procedures, and more.
Unfortunately we cannot place campers in specific classes. Registering at the same time will increase the changes of your camper’s siblings or friends being in the same class.
Our Summer Fun camp experience is completely customizable! We offer anything from two to ten hours per day of fun exploring and learning. You can build whatever camp experience works best for you by combining Sunrise Science, SciFun Classes, and/or Afternoon Adventures, or by simply picking just one.
If you wish to cancel your registration, please contact our office at (828) 322-8169 as soon as possible. If cancellation occurs two weeks before class begins an administrative fee of $12 per class will be deducted from the refund. Refunds will not be given for cancellations occurring after the two-week cancellation date.
If you requested to add your child to waitlisted camp session(s), your child will be placed next in line on the waitlist. If a spot opens up for them, they will automatically be registered for that session and the payment method on file will be charged. If your plans change and you would like to be removed from a waitlist, let us know ASAP. Once registrations are processed, our cancellation fee policy applies.
We love the Science Center! I take my 2 and 4 year old boys weekly to play and enjoy the exhibits. The staff are wonderful and the classes offered are excellent! We are so blessed to have such an amazing resource in our area.
Fabulous and I don’t often give praise. We took our grandson and were there for hours. He loved it and so did we.
Took the kiddos and they loved it. Employees were nice and helpful. If your looking for something to do with the kids give this place a shot.
What a wonderful place to visit! Great environment to learn and the staff is very helpful! Hickory is lucky to have great family education and entertainment.
This place was great. We have kids from 8 to 1 and they all had a great time. What I really liked is most of the exhibits are hands on and that really kept them occupied.
