ROCKINGHAM — Nearly 200 visitors walked through the doors of Discovery Place Kids on Sunday to help the museum celebrate 13 years of science.
Children worked their way through the numerous hands-on exhibits, from the kitchen, veterinarian office and Speed Shop on the main floor, to the Vulcan mining station and water works room downstairs.
Many of the parents joined their kids in exploring the principles of science through the interactive exhibits.
Like last year, local teacher Christine Haber demonstrated several experiments, one involving shaving cream cupcakes and another with sparklers.
Real cupcakes were available for guests in the front lobby.
Discovery Place Kids-Rockingham is one of two satellite museums of Discovery Place in Charlotte. The other DPK is in Huntersville, which opened in 2010.
The science museum first opened in 2013 — competing against other Charlotte suburbs like Matthews and Pineville — with financial help from the Community Foundation of Richmond County and the Cole Foundation, as well as local support.
The city of Rockingham owns the property and is responsible for providing and paying for water and sewer, natural gas, electrical and security services, while the museum pays the staffing communication costs.
DPK underwent renovations in late 2023 and early 2024 and reopened with several new research stations.
"It’s common to meet museum visitors who’ve driven into town specifically for a special event or weekend outing," said Alyssa Mulliger, senior communications director for Discovery Place. "It’s encouraging to see the museum serving not just our community, but families across the region."
According to Mulliger, DPK-Rockingham saw a record-breaking 41,680 vistors from July 2024 to June 2025 — the highest attendance since the year the museum opened.
Within the past year, DPK has received nearly $100,000 grants from the Duke Energy Foundation, the Amazon Richmond County Community Fund and the N.C. Science Museums Grant Program.
The museum also partnered with Vulcan materials for a fourth-grade geology program.
NOTE: This story has been updated to include visitor information and links. 5:26 p.m. 2-23-26.
