

AVAMPATO DISCOVERY MUSEUM
AVAMPATO DISCOVERY MUSEUM


The Avampato Discovery Museum houses three floors of hands-on exhibits and more than 12,000 square feet of non-stop fun.
Splash around in WaterWorks, learn about the science of sound in the Maier Foundation Music Studio, and get your body in motion in Healthy Me! Explore “real life” in My Town and climb to new heights on Ashton’s Climbing Sculpture! Like to change it up every once in a while? Our gallery hosts touring exhibits from all over the country.
















EXHIBITS
Welcome to a world of discovery! Our playful and interactive science exhibits are designed to foster curiosity and learning in young minds.
Our exhibits rotate frequently, so visit often because there’s always something new to see and explore!
Join Tracey the pencil dog and her crew—Rooth, Drop, Inky, Uno, and Kari—on a fantastically immersive journey to create stories using science and imagination. Channel your creativity and develop your own animated masterpiece using animation basics like storyboarding, sketching, stop-motion movie making, and more!
Prepare for launch! Step into Space Lab, a hands-on exploration of space science and interplanetary adventure. Whether you're defending Earth from incoming asteroids, engineering your own rocket, or mining asteroids for valuable resources, this immersive exhibit challenges visitors to think like scientists, engineers, and astronauts.
In WaterWorks visitors play and work with water along sweeping flow routes, dramatic water falls, controlling the water to animate and energize everything in its path in an expression of water’s power. Along the way, they will experience the potential, kinetic and mechanical energy of water.
In the Maier Foundation Music Studio, visitors see, listen to, move to, and create their own music; examine the scientific foundations of music they hear; and explore the mathematical concepts of rhythm, pattern, and harmony.
Focusing on the human body in motion, Healthy Me provides a safe environment to test your physical skills and learn why regular physical activity is essential to health.
Enter a town much like Charleston but on a kid’s scale. In My Town, the kids have the jobs, get to spend (imaginary) money and participate in fun activities every day!
See all three stories of the Clay Center from a new perspective as you climb a work of art. From kids to adults, everyone can take part in this interactive exhibit.
ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
We have a wide variety of engaging and educational activities for all ages at the Clay Center. Through our hands-on science labs, art workshops, and classes, children and adults alike can unleash their curiosity and let their imaginations grow.
Our hands-on experiments, playful simulations, and interactive activities make learning fun!
CharCon offers a unique environment where you can experience new games, introduce your favorites to others, and meet fellow gamers who share your interests.
Step into a world of imagination and creativity at Sketchfest, a special one-day event inspired by the Animationland traveling exhibit at the Clay Center!
CAMPS
When school is out, camp in session at the Clay Center! Our Discovery Day Camps, Spring Break Camps, and Summer Camps are fun-filled, hands-on educational experiences.