Discovery World on Market is a non-profit museum that offers hands-on programming for children focused on science, technology, engineering and math (STEAM). There are plans to renovate the museum theater and build an additional building. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)
Parkersburg and the surrounding area has a place for children to learn, and there are plans for growth in the near future.
Discovery World on Market is a nonprofit science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) children’s museum, said executive director Wendy Shriver.
Discovery World, which is housed in a former Masonic temple built in 1915, opened on April 2, 2023, and has since been visited by 52,000 people from 29 states, according to Shriver.
Discovery World has $4.1 million worth of interactive exhibits, each with a theme related to the local area. Exhibits are sponsored by local businesses and include things like the Ohio River themed river adventure and the Ball Factory, which was inspired by Parkersburg’s manufacturing history, according to Shriver.
Discovery World also offers programming including Izzy’s Kids Club events that teach science, technology engineering and math (STEM) concepts; Little STEAMERS for 2- to 5-year-olds, which encourages parents and caregivers to interact with children in a hands-on STEAM activity; classes; STEAM camps in the summer and during spring break; and a makerspace where kids can use different equipment like 3D printers, laser cutters, woodworking tools and more to make whatever they want, according to Shriver.
“That’s really the whole point, to introduce STEM to kids at an early age,” Shriver said of Discovery World’s goal in the market.
Discovery World is just getting started, according to Shriver.
There is a theater on the top floor of the Discovery World building. The museum has been fundraising to be able to work on the theater. Some repair work began the week of Feb. 14, according to Shriver.
Discovery World will renovate the theater and update it with 21st century technology, including new audiovisual, sound and lighting equipment, acoustical work and new plaster, Shriver said.
Discovery World will receive $300,000 in federal funds to support theater operations. The museum also had a capital campaign, the so-called “Lights, Camera, Action” to help raise the necessary money. West Virginia University in Parkersburg donated $75,000 worth of theater chairs to the theater, Shriver said.
Shriver said the next project Discovery World will work on is outdoor development. Discovery World purchased the two buildings next to it at 914 Market St. that house the Wood County Senior Center and other organizations.
They have just begun planning the project and are in the architecture stage, Shriver said.
As part of the project, they will add outdoor space that can be used for children’s museum programs and exhibits. The exhibits will likely be similar to those at the children’s museum in that they will be themed to the local area, Shriver said.
They will have a separate capital campaign for the outer space. They’re just starting to brainstorm ideas for it and will likely have focus groups to get input, Shriver said.
Discovery World will have an invitation-only fundraising gala on June 8 at the residence of Discovery World’s Chairman of the Board of Directors. The funds will go toward outdoor space development, according to Shriver.
Shriver said that as part of the project, Discovery World also plans to build another building on the site to replace the two existing buildings. They do this because they no longer have room for programming. With a new building, they will be able to accommodate additional classes and have more birthday rentals because they are all booked up right now and there is an appetite in the county for the programs they offer.
“We need more space,” Shriver said.
Shriver said they will begin fundraising for the new building, which will be a $12 million investment.
“We are also looking at possibly changing our main entrance,” Shriver said about the upcoming changes at Discovery World.
To learn more about Discovery Word on Market and the programming it offers, donate and sign up to become a member, go to https://www.dwonmarket.org/.
Michelle Dillon can be reached at [email protected]
