The Vandenberg Launch Experience gives Central Coast families an unprecedented opportunity to launch rockets and experience the 21st century world of aerospace science through this exciting, hands-on educational exhibit. Kids will simulate a space launch using actual United Launch Alliance Control Center computer consoles, witness live feeds from Vandenberg Air Force Base on a 90-inch […]

The first installment in the Vandenberg Launch Experience, the Discovery Space Shuttle allows future astronauts to imagine they are launching a satellite or piloting a mission to Mars. Complete with a full simulation dashboard, children are motivated to be explorers, as well as provided a hands-on introduction into the aerospace industry.  For more information, check […]

Giving children a hands-on understanding of the movement and power of air, CATCHING AIR allows them to choose, move and elevate items through floor-to-ceiling pneumatic tubes at the entrance of the museum. This exciting new STEM exhibit has been developed and funded by the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD). Come in and give […]

An homage to Santa Maria’s bountiful valley, this whimsical produce truck playground offers every child a dynamic outdoor place at the entrance of the museum to play and lean about our local agriculture. Our repurposed truck includes an open space for climbing and stacking boxes, a rigging system for hoisting giant strawberries, a slide, and […]

If rummaging through drawers and bins is your idea of fun, you can spend hours in the Creation Station selecting recycled materials for creating one of a kind crafts with our low temp glue guns.  Great for all ages, this space can dominate your visit if you don’t watch out.

Children who climb into the DISCOVERY READING TREE will explore ourselves, our valley, our world and beyond through the magic of books. This specially designed reading area will give children of all ages a fun space to focus on bilingual story time experiences that encourage literacy in all disciplines – science, finance, arts, food, nutrition and protecting […]

Healthy eating gets a modern, kid-friendly infusion in this updated cafeteria using the latest educational tools, such as “Eat a Rainbow,” to teach children about nutrition, portion size and healthy eating habits. The cafeteria brings the table to the farm, linking to our ranching exhibit, so families can truly visualize our bountiful valley’s connection to […]

Learn the importance of clean water by following the path of rainwater from a backyard storm drain into the ocean.  While crawling through our special storm drain, children will see common items that make their way to the ocean, posing the question, “Do I want that in my water?” There is also an interactive kiosk […]

Shipwreck!    Topside you can take a turn at the wheel and make an imaginary voyage along the coast.  Beware!  Coastal and pelagic birds are above.  Who knows what they had for lunch, but splerd, splat, and splood can be found around.

Dig for fossils and recover bones to identify in Pit 21, o tribute to the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles. Enjoy an informative interactive game with Leander the American Lion as you move him with your feet through the basin.  He will need food and rest to successfully transverse the course.   Don’t […]

STOP, DROP and ROLE PLAY! Transform into a local hot-shot by layering yourself in real fireman gear from head to toe. Unravel the hose, extinguish imaginative flames and be a hero!

Put on some cowboy boots and a hat and discover the world-famous Santa Maria barbecue. Visit R.H. Tesene’s BBQ Hall of Fame and find your favorite family brand, then sit down and sketch your own!

Filled with artifacts associated with a working barn, children can take a ride through our the history of our valley and learn about bits, belt buckles, and barn tools. They say nothing runs like a Deere, a John Deere Tractor that is! This big green machine has been working the Museum floor since our inception.

Part of the Our Valley exhibit, you can settle into the bunkhouse for a game of checkers or to play the harmonica while exploring one of our Discovery Boxes available for check out at the front desk. If you are part of the younger set, saddle up a rocking horse and ride while the grown-ups sit by the […]

What color is your shadow? Colored lights create three different colors of shadows, and you can block different lights to get up to seven colors. Make your shadow wiggle and dance!  

Kids ages 0 to 3 will enjoy this space created just for them, shielded from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the museum. There is plenty of room for crawling and exploring, age-appropriate toys and blocks to promote tactile learning and fine-motor skills, and chairs for parents to sit and watch their little […]

Experience high quality, interactive observations with our microEYE DISCOVERY video microscope. Adjust the magnification by zooming in and out and move the slider from left to right to adjust its focus. What you place under the microscope for observation is up to you – from items throughout the museum, to fossils and real shells.

Big Blue, our blue whale, is more than fun and games.  You will learn all kinds of whale facts  in our interactive touch screen video and migration game.  At the end of your Big Blue journey, slide through her baleen and find your way into Discovery Cove safely beneath the pier while listening to Big […]

Sponsored by Coast Hills Federal Credit Union, this exhibit is sure to leave an everlasting impression in the minds of future economists! Role play as a bank teller, check your account with an ATM card, put some money in the bank at a convenient drive through window or play a few interactive games which highlight […]

The Santa Maria Valley is famous for its fertile soil. We aren’t just strawberries in this valley, though they are the yummiest! Plantel keeps the Museum stocked with valley vegetable transplants through all the planting seasons. Broccoli, cauliflower, red lettuce, and celery are just a few of the cash crops nourishing our valley economy. So […]

Heads up while driving the USS Discovery! Coastal birds and pelagic birds are flying above, and who knows what they had for lunch? Splerd, splat, and splood can be found all around. Learn more about birds’ diets, altitude of flight, and sizes. But don’t forget to strap on your life jacket—safety first!

Make “sole” music by walking, dancing, and even exercising on the giant interactive keyboard! Learn how to read simple sheet music and to play “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” or make your own harmonious melodies, just like Tom Hanks in the movie BIG. Special thanks to the family of founding board member, Mark Stone, who donated […]

  Secure your space suits! We’re about to step foot on the the fourth planet from the Sun, Mars. Watch for craters as you climb the rock wall and expand your understanding of our universe.