Catawba Science Center

Category: Science museum

Address: 243 3rd Ave NE, Hickory, NC 28601, USA

Phone: +18283228169

Opening hours

Sunday: 1–4PM

Monday: Closed

Tuesday: Closed

Wednesday: 10AM–4PM

Thursday: 10AM–4PM

Friday: 10AM–4PM

Saturday: 10AM–4PM

Reviews

nine2-5traveler

Sep 2, 2022

Best place in Hickory! A wonderful and true community center. The foundation puts together great events and shows for the community. Very clean and very safe for the entire family. Kid friendly. Elderly friendly. An overall outstanding place.

rj minton

Aug 26, 2022

Bring your kids and be sure to take your time they will love it all! You will too! The planetarium was awesome!

christopher van

Aug 25, 2022

Staff were amazing and friendly but for $12 a person half the exhibits were closed things online weren’t even open yet and good portion of it was broken

John Patterson

Aug 6, 2022

The wife and I took our son there today earlier and he loved it. I think the aquarium was the highlight for him. He loves looking at the fish and trying to touch them. They had a decent size sting ray and some nursing sharks that you could touch. They had there butterfly exhibit open today which was pretty cool. Our son enjoyed watching them fly around and landing on the flowers. Just about all the exhibits we're open today and they were having a few shows in the planetarium. They weren't that busy when we got there and we got there about twelve thirty. Good place for elementary age children plenty of hands on activities to do. Our son played with everyone of them. I give them my two thumbs up.

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Questions & Answers

How much for adult admission

Kathy Mcdaris | Sep 17, 2018
Catawba Science Center | Sep 16, 2021

Adult admission is $10 plus sales tax and it includes all exhibit areas and any available public planetarium shows.

Do they have a Special display at this time?

Eva Smith | Sep 17, 2018
Catawba Science Center | Sep 17, 2019

Our current featured exhibition is "Making Scents: The art and passion of fragrance!" It's a sensory filled exhibit that explores the history of fragrance and perfume making, has a "perfume palace" of over 200 antique perfume bottles, scent stations to create your own scent, and more! This exhibit is on display from September 28th through January 6th.

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About how much time should I plan to spend there with my children excluding any planetarium shows or special events? I want to plan a visit, but I don't know if it's a place you can spend the majority of the day or just a couple of hours.

Nicole Craig | Aug 17, 2022
Arya Buchanan | Aug 17, 2022

Really it can be a few hours or a day. lots of interactive exhibits and things to learn. Could keep kids attention for hours at a time.

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Do i have to reserve ahead of time??

Mervat Kassed Rink | Aug 17, 2022
Tammy “TC” Wood | Aug 17, 2022

No

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Is there a senior discount?

Karen May | Oct 21, 2021
Xopher | Oct 21, 2021

Yes!

Is the Center crowded on Sundays? Are Mask required and is social distancing still being enforced?

Nicole Francis | Oct 21, 2021
Xopher | Oct 21, 2021

Sundays are usually not crowded. Masks are not required while walking through the exhibits, but are required in the planetarium. Social distancing is strongly recommended.

I used to go to the Science Center every time I visited my grandmother, around 20 years ago. I would like to visit again, as an adult. How much has the museum changed in that time, and what parts would I still recognize?

patrick wilkenloh | Sep 16, 2021
John Patterson | Aug 17, 2022

Well after that long the place really gets smaller than what it was when you were younger. They have the majority of the exhibits still there as they were. They've went and done a little refreshing as far as painting and up keep but for the majority about the same.

How long does the shows last in the planetarium?

Tracy Potts | Sep 16, 2021
Catawba Science Center | Sep 16, 2021

Our daytime public planetarium shows typically last from 25 - 30 minutes long. Our lasers shows are around 45 minutes long.

Are y'all still closed on mondays

AMBER ANGEL | Sep 16, 2021
Curtise Trivette | Sep 16, 2021

On there website it says closed to the public on Monday and Tuesdays.

My son would like to apply for summer work there. Are applications online?

Andrea Trent | Sep 16, 2021
Catawba Science Center | Sep 16, 2021

Yes, you can find our employment application and any current openings at this link: https://catawbascience.org/about-us/employment

Do you have penguins?

Tamara Sweet | Sep 16, 2021
Rogue “CelticKellie” Goddess | Sep 16, 2021

No, they do not have penguins, but they do have turtles, manta rays, and a variety of fish, which are worth checking out. They also have tortoises. If you go, please keep in mind that they do have a mask rule in effect, as well as a floor plan designed to keep you safe. Despite the lack of penguins, I would certainly recommend taking a trip to the museum, they have plenty of things for you to look at and appreciate.

Do we have to wear mask if we visit now????

Lorrie Bradshaw | Sep 16, 2021
Ashley Smith | Sep 16, 2021

Yes, for your protection and the protection of the science center employees.

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Do y'all let people have one year olds birthdays here? And how much would it cost we are only planing on having me and my daughter and my boyfriend and two or three of our friends if we decide to have it here Thank you in advance

breiana starnes | Sep 16, 2020
Cindy Scott | Sep 16, 2020

When we was there, a family was having a birthday party for a little girl. The kids looked like they was having so much fun. Our kids enjoyed the Science Center and want to go back.

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Do you accept debit cards??

Dawn Adkins | Sep 16, 2020
Cindy Scott | Sep 16, 2020

Yes, they do accept debit cards

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Do you sti have butterfly exhibit?

Shirley Sogluizzo | Sep 17, 2019
patrick schluth | Sep 17, 2019

Yes I will be there all Summer,

Do they have a dinosaur exhibit?

Sandy Hood | Sep 17, 2019
patrick schluth | Sep 17, 2019

Not currently they do have butterfly exhibit

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When is the live butterfly exhibit for 2019? I would love to take my daughter.

Elizabeth Harless | Sep 17, 2019
Xopher | Sep 17, 2019

It opens May 12th, 2019.

How much is adult and children admission?

Selena | Sep 17, 2019
Disney Fan | Sep 17, 2019

Nonmember Adult $8.00 Senior (62+) $6.00 Youth (3 – 18) $6.00 Children (under 3) Free Student (with ID) $6.00 Active Military (with ID) $6.00 Group Rate (10 or more) $6.00 (Free CSC Membership admission doesnot apply to school field trips or group admission) General admission includes the opportunity to see a daytime public planetarium show on a first-come, first-seated basis. Imagine. Design. Play.: CSC Members: FREE; Non-Members: General Admission plus $1.00 All admission fees are subject to 7% sales tax as required by NC General Assembly.

Is foard’s (high school) students art work out out today

Strawberry Juice Girl | Sep 17, 2018
_ G43NK0R | Sep 17, 2018

Yes

Is there ever a particular day of the week/month or any period of time that there is free admission for children?

Amy Miller | Sep 17, 2018
Kala Hedrick | Sep 17, 2018

Not anymore. 2 and under are always free.

How much does it cost

Kayly Allman | Sep 17, 2018
Bethany Miller | Sep 17, 2018

Children, students and seniors $6. Adults $8. Under 3 years old free.

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Do you have eclipse glasses for sale

ronnie griffith | Sep 17, 2017
Xopher | Sep 17, 2017

They sold out Tuesday.

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