The Discovery Science Center (DSC) in Santa Ana is an incredibly popular destination, with over 450,000 visitors a year. Though it’s mainly aimed at kids, adults are sure to enjoy the Center’s 120 interactive exhibits covering a wide range of scientific fields, from physics and physiology in the ice hockey exhibit, to seismology in the Shake Shack.
The DSC specialises in experiential simulators where visitors can have a fully immersive experience and get a deeper understanding of science at work. Feel the power of a hurricane by standing in a wind machine. Push a button, and launch a rocket engine into space. Journey through the belly of a dinosaur for a lesson in digestion.
Earth sciences like geology and meteorology are housed in the Planetary Research Station, with images of historic storms and earthquakes projected onto a 1.8-metre high globe. Visitors can learn about the role we play in our planet’s future in the ecology exhibits and explore the science behind recycling in the Eco Challenge exhibit. Why not see how you shape up—push your digital trolley around the virtual supermarket and learn how to choose food with the greenest packaging, or sort household waste and find out how good you are at identifying recyclable rubbish.
The DSC’s best-known feature is a gravity-defying black cube which is balanced on just one point. As part of the Center’s green credentials, the south side of the cube is covered in solar panels, which generate ten per cent of its electricity. The interior houses the facility’s most popular exhibit—the Boeing Rocket Lab. Kids will delight in seeing a real Delta Rocket RS-68 Booster Engine hanging from the roof, and they can even experience what a real launch feels like thanks to blasts of fog, sound effects and imagery.
In addition to these permanent displays, the DSC also hosts temporary exhibitions—visit the Center’s website or ask at the local tourist office for more details on these—and a rotating schedule of short movies screens in the Discovery Theater (for a small admission fee on top of the general admission charge).
The Center is a popular destination for individuals and school groups alike, so buy your tickets online to avoid queuing at the ticket office, and be prepared to wait for some of the more popular exhibits, especially if your visit happens to coincide with touring school groups.
The DSC is located in central Santa Ana and is accessible by public bus with on-site parking available for a fee. The museum is open daily except for Thanksgiving (the fourth Thursday in November) and Christmas Day.
