Cities/Concord/McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center

McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center

4.4(427)google

3.4(35)yelp

Adult $15·Senior(65+) $13·Student $13·Military $13·Child(3-12y) $12·Infant(under 2) FreeUSD

KidsIndoorInteractiveEducationalPlanetariumAviationSpace & Aerospace

Overview

The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center is a science museum located in Concord, New Hampshire, United States, next door to the NHTI campus. The museum is dedicated to Christa McAuliffe, the Concord High School social studies teacher selected by NASA out of over 11,000 applicants to be the first teacher in space, and Alan Shepard, the Derry, New Hampshire, native and Navy test pilot who became the first American in space and one of only twelve human beings to walk on the Moon. The Discovery Center's stated mission is to inspire new generations to explore space, through engaging, artful, and entertaining activities focused on astronomy, aviation, Earth and space science.

Practical Info

2 Institute Dr, Concord, NH 03301, USA

MonClosed

TueClosed

Wed10:30 AM – 4:00 PM

Thu10:30 AM – 4:00 PM

Fri10:30 AM – 4:00 PM

Sat10:30 AM – 4:00 PM

Sun10:30 AM – 4:00 PM

Suggested Duration2.5-4 hours

Best TimeExcellent year-round due to fully climate-controlled galleries. Aim for weekday mornings around 10:30 AM to explore the high-tech space shuttle simulators and planetarium shows without queues. Alternatively, book the first Friday evening of the month for telescope sky-viewing from the rooftop observatory balcony.

Getting ThereLocated on the NHTI campus in Concord at 2 Institute Drive. Drive off I-93 via Exit 15E for US-4 E. At the first traffic light, turn right onto College Drive, then transition into Institute Drive; the aerospace facility surfaces a grand, modern paved open parking plaza with completely free access.

(603) 271-7827

starhop.com/

Travel Tips

General admission excludes planetarium theater seats; booking a combo ticket at arrival is mandatory, and late entry is strictly denied 5 minutes before showtime.
School field trips dominate weekday mornings, driving simulator lines past 40 minutes; non-group visitors should arrive after 13:30 or during weekend blocks.

Photo Tips

Photo Rules

The outdoor Redstone Rocket exhibit is protected by federal airspace regulations; low-altitude drone photography is strictly banned and heavily fined.

Reviews

Positive

The planetarium shows are incredible, featuring top-notch audio and visuals; buying the combo ticket is highly recommended.
It's a fantastic spot to spark kids' interest in space and science, offering plenty of hands-on interactive exhibits.
The exhibits honoring Christa McAuliffe and Alan Shepard are touching and provide immense historical and educational inspiration.
The interior is clean and tidy with plenty of restrooms, and the spacious halls make pushing a stroller very easy.

Heads up

Some interactive stations feel dated, and a few buttons were broken without timely repairs or modern updates.
If you don't purchase the extra planetarium show tickets, the main exhibit floor is quite small, making it less value for money.
The gift shop merchandise is overpriced, and there's no proper cafe inside, only vending machines with no real meal options.
When school field trips or large tour groups arrive, the halls become incredibly noisy, making it hard to quietly read text panels.