Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin is a recent addition to the lakefront museums in Milwaukee. Situated across the street from the Betty Brinn Children's Museum and next to the famous Calatrava addition to the Milwaukee Art Museum, Discovery World is a blend of both with its striking white architecture and abundance of activities for kids.
Hours: Discovery World is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Mondays. Insider tip: Avoid visiting during Summerfest, which is very crowded and occurs on the property next door. Summerfest happens each year starting a few days before and ending after the Fourth of July.
Directions: Take I-94 to Milwaukee, then take I-794 toward the lake. Take the Lakefront exit and get in the right lane. Turn right onto Harbor Drive. Discovery is in front of you to the right. Parking is in the garage under the building.
The Grounds: Take some time to explore the outdoors. In front of the building are man-made trees with leaves that sparkle and wave in the wind. Benches around the trees are in the same pointed oval shape. Look closely. The benches, made with wooden slates, come with drumsticks. Each bench can be "played" like a xylophone. Also take some time to walk around the side of the buliding by the pier or around the back across the breakwater. Heed the signs regarding your children. The water is deep here. If you are lucky, the Dennis Sullivan will be docked at the back of the museum and you will get a close-up view. T-shirts with a picture of the Dennis Sullivan are available for purchase at the gift shop inside.
The Museum:
The Museum is divided into two areas. The circular portion of the museum that is closest to Lake Michigan has water-themed exhibits. Start on the first floor where there is a large aquarium that is turned into a map of the Great Lakes. Indigenous creatures are found in the lake-shaped tanks. Every couple minutes a "storm" will hit the great lakes. Black curtains will automatically lower, blocking out the view of the city through the windows and making the tank area darker. Then overhead rain will plummet onto the land and lakes and lightning will flash and thunder will rumble. Soon the storm will be over.
Look above you to find the bottom of a large wooden sailing ship. Continue up the stairs to find the Challenge. This large wooden ship is dangling between the first and third floors. Climb aboard to learn about the parts of the ship. Take a hand at steering the ship and watching the rudder move, or climb down into the bottom bunks. Other science exhibits can be found on either side of the ship.
Then take an elevator to the top floor where you'll find the Pilot House. The room is for private parties and other functions, but a balcony all along the outside provides spectacular views of the lake and city.
Go back to the elevator and head to the lower level where the aquariums await you. A waterfall welcomes you and the fish tanks are found next to you, under your feet, and over your head. You also have the opportunity to pet a stingray or let a shrimp cling to your finger. An undersea robotic explorer with a camera is yours to drive around a tank.
A movie theater is on the first floor of this area and another one is in the hallway near the cafe and gift shop. Movies occur every hour or so with themes such as Space: Boldly Go and Blue Planet - Seas of Life: The Deep.
In the other half of the museum is a two-story area for techno junkies. On the first floor is the Dream Machine. Climb the Double Helix staircase which surrounds an expanding and shrinking replica of a double helix. Upstairs find an array of remote controlled gadgets in the TechnoJungle. Try your hand at the green screen, the same kind of technology used in TV stations where weather forecasters point to maps that are not really behind them but on a TV screen. And don't miss your chance to lie on a bed of nails. Don't worry, it won't hurt too much. Insider tip: A large portion of this part of the museum is still under construction so not all exhibits are yet available.
For more information, phone 414-765-9966.
For other kid friendly activities in Milwaukee, see the Milwaukee County Zoo, Milwaukee Public Museum, Betty Brinn Children's Museum and Daniel M. Soref Planetarium articles.
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