Beverly and Jon Thompson Discovery Zone

Now Open!
Permanent exhibit

Explore, observe, study, pretend and play! This new permanent exhibit designed for children 8 and under will have opportunities for the whole family to discover and learn together. It includes an area for infants and toddlers, as well as a vast array of touchable objects. See a fully articulated human skeleton and replica T. rex skull, view items under microscopes and enter a forest habitat.

The exhibit is FREE.

The Beverly and Jon Thompson Discovery Zone was made possible by the generous support of Museum donors and is sponsored in part by the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs, Florida Division of Historical Resources and Alachua County Board of County Commissioners through the Tourist Development Tax.

Click for high resolution versions of each image for download.

The exhibit features a central area that resembles Earth’s spherical shape and showcases the biodiversity of our natural world. ©Florida Museum photo by Kristen Grace

A child closely examines different species with a microscope in the “Discovery Zone” study area. ©Florida Museum photo by Kristen Grace

A family interacts with eggs in the Discovery Zone exhibit.

In the “Discovery Zone” study area, families interact with an array of skeletons, skulls, bones and teeth. ©Florida Museum photo by Kristen Grace

A child uses the magnet wall in the Discovery Zone exhibit.

The exhibit features a magnet wall where kids learn about the life cycles of different organisms. ©Florida Museum photo by Kristen Grace

Visitors look at the insect display in the Discovery Zone exhibit.

Visitors examine beautiful displays illustrating insect diversity and classification in the “Discovery Zone.” ©Florida Museum photo by Kristen Grace

A child looks for animals in the tree peepholes in the Discovery Zone exhibit.

The exhibit includes a section for infants and toddlers to look for animals hidden in tree peepholes and a forest mural. ©Florida Museum photo by Kristen Grace

Children use the wind tunnel in the Discovery Zone exhibit.

Children investigate how different objects float in the “Discovery Zone” wind tunnel. ©Florida Museum photo by Kristen Grace

A child plays with the multicolored lights in the Discovery Zone exhibit.

The “Discovery Zone” features a wall of multicolored lights for children to discover different figures, shapes and colors. ©Florida Museum photo by Kristen Grace

A family uses the Cedar Key fishing boat interactive station in the Discovery Zone exhibit.

The “Discovery Zone” includes a Cedar Key fishing boat interactive station for children to explore marine life in the Gulf of Mexico. ©Florida Museum photo by Kristen Grace

The front of the Discovery Zone exhibit.

The Florida Museum of Natural History’s “Discovery Zone” exhibit allows children and their caregivers to engage in science-oriented interactives and experience display cases with stunning collections, true-to-scale touchable objects and various activity stations. ©Florida Museum photo by Kristen Grace