Museum of Discovery and ScienceAbout Museum of Discovery and Science
The Museum of Discovery and Science is a major science center in downtown Fort Lauderdale, Florida, offering interactive exhibits and public science programming. It serves families, school groups and general audiences with hands-on learning experiences.
Exhibits cover topics such as aviation and flight, regional ecosystems and marine science, human biology and technology, and include live animal displays and hands-on labs. The museum also contains a domed IMAX theatre and a dedicated children’s area that hosts age-appropriate interactive exhibits.
The institution hosts permanent and rotating exhibitions as well as education programs, camps and outreach for schools. Facilities include mission-simulation and special-event spaces used for STEM learning activities.
The museum is in downtown Fort Lauderdale, on the urban side of the New River and roughly 25 miles north of Miami.
- Family facilities: Features an IMAX dome theatre and a dedicated children’s museum, making it a major family destination in South Florida.
- Central location: Located in downtown Fort Lauderdale, the museum is within easy reach of the city’s Riverwalk area and central transit routes.
What to See#
- IMAX Dome Theatre: A domed IMAX theatre showing science and nature films alongside museum exhibits and scheduled screenings.
- Great Explorations: Great Explorations Children’s Museum, an interactive area geared to younger children with hands-on exhibits and play spaces.
Nearby Attractions to Museum of Discovery and Science
Best Time to Visit Museum of Discovery and Science
Indoors and family-oriented, the museum is a good all-year destination; visit in winter for livelier crowds and more scheduled programming.
Weather & Climate near Museum of Discovery and Science
Museum of Discovery and Science's climate is classified as Tropical Monsoon - Tropical Monsoon climate with hot summers (peaking in August) and mild winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 15°C to 33°C. Abundant rainfall (1566 mm/year), wettest in June.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | 15° - 24° | 20° | 71 mm | - | - | 4.6 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | 15° - 25° | 20° | 70 mm | - | - | 4.7 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | 17° - 26° | 22° | 76 mm | - | - | 5.2 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 19° - 28° | 23° | 87 mm | - | - | 5.0 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 21° - 30° | 26° | 157 mm | - | - | 4.6 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 23° - 31° | 27° | 236 mm | - | - | 4.1 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 24° - 32° | 28° | 164 mm | - | - | 3.4 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 24° - 33° | 28° | 175 mm | - | - | 3.5 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 24° - 32° | 28° | 207 mm | - | - | 3.8 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 22° - 30° | 26° | 158 mm | - | - | 4.5 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | 19° - 28° | 23° | 103 mm | - | - | 4.8 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | 17° - 25° | 21° | 62 mm | - | - | 4.5 m/s | - | - |
How to Get to Museum of Discovery and Science
The museum is in downtown Fort Lauderdale near the Himmarshee Riverwalk area. From I-95, take Broward Boulevard east to SW 2nd Street and follow signage to the museum. Brightline and Tri-Rail stations are a short taxi or rideshare away; downtown trolleys and local buses serve the area. Street and lot parking are available nearby.
Tips for Visiting Museum of Discovery and Science
- Buy timed-entry IMAX tickets in advance for weekend prime-time shows - they sell out fast.
- Arrive early to see the live animal demonstration and the desert vivarium when keepers feed animals; these are scheduled events with limited capacity.
- Use the museum's parking (401 SW 2nd St area) or nearby lots; Fort Lauderdale's downtown can be busy during events on the riverwalk.