McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center
About
The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center is dedicated to two New Hampshire space pioneers: Christa McAuliffe, the teacher-astronaut lost in the Challenger disaster, and Alan Shepard, the first American in space. The 45,000-square-foot facility holds interactive exhibits on astronomy, aviation, and earth and space science, anchored by one of only three 10K projection digital planetariums in North America. An observatory enables live stargazing, and a 1956 Crusader jet and an outdoor Science Playground extend the learning environment. The center runs STEM summer camps and school outreach programs throughout the year.
🏠 Homeschool Programs
Dedicated homeschool programs available — see starhop.com/homeschool for current offerings. Check website for current schedule.
Subject Areas
Best For
Hours of Operation
Closed Monday and Tuesday. Planetarium shows require separate ticket — check website for show schedule.
Hours change seasonally — verify before visiting.
Admission
Paid admissionGeneral admission required; planetarium shows require an additional ticket. Member and youth discounts available.
✓ Membership available
ASTC Travel Passport Program
Members of the Association of Science and Technology Centers' Travel Passport Program offer free or discounted admission to members of other participating institutions. Over 300 science centers worldwide participate.
Learn more →47 other places in our directory accept this membership:
Museum of Science
Boston, MA
Harvard Museum of Natural History
Cambridge, MA
EcoTarium
Worcester, MA
Connecticut Science Center
Hartford, CT
Yale Peabody Museum
New Haven, CT
Stepping Stones Museum for Children
Norwalk, CT
ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain
Burlington, VT
The Franklin Institute
Philadelphia, PA
Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA
Delaware Museum of Nature and Science
Wilmington, DE
New York Hall of Science
Queens, NY
Maryland Science Center
Baltimore, MD
Liberty Science Center
Jersey City, NJ
Houston Museum of Natural Science
Houston, TX
Adventure Science Center
Nashville, TN
Science Museum of Minnesota
St. Paul, MN
COSI
Columbus, OH
Saint Louis Science Center
St. Louis, MO
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Denver, CO
Museum of the Rockies
Bozeman, MT
Pacific Science Center
Seattle, WA
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
Portland, OR
California Academy of Sciences
San Francisco, CA
Science Museum of Virginia
Richmond, VA
Exploreum Science Center
Mobile, AL
Perot Museum of Nature and Science
Dallas, TX
Discovery Place Science
Charlotte, NC
Kenneth C. Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
Chicago, IL
Milwaukee Public Museum
Milwaukee, WI
Indiana State Museum
Indianapolis, IN
Arizona Science Center
Phoenix, AZ
Exploratorium
San Francisco, CA
Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science
Miami, FL
McWane Science Center
Birmingham, AL
Museum of Life and Science
Durham, NC
Science Center of Iowa
Des Moines, IA
The Tech Interactive
San Jose, CA
Witte Museum
San Antonio, TX
Orlando Science Center
Orlando, FL
Cincinnati Museum Center
Cincinnati, OH
Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum
Denver, CO
Space Center Houston
Houston, TX
Louisiana Children's Museum
New Orleans, LA
Great Lakes Science Center
Cleveland, OH
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Chicago, IL
Maine Discovery Museum
Bangor, ME
Virginia Museum of Natural History
Martinsville, VA