General Admission
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Cville’s Best Discovery Spot for Kids 8 & Under
Welcome to Charlottesville’s best hands-on discovery spot for families with infants to children age 8! The Virginia Discovery Museum is a small, nonprofit children’s museum and welcomes more than 70,000 visitors each year to explore, imagine, and discover through play across 6,000 square feet of educational play space. Despite our tiny size, we strive to be mighty: For more than 40 years, VDM has facilitated exploratory and imaginative play and provided enrichment opportunities in literacy, science, math, and the arts for children in preschool and early elementary through interactive exhibits; sensory, motor, and STEAM programs; and annual community events.
Location & Hours | Admission | General Policies | Parking | Contact
Admission & Discounts
Enjoy all-day entry to the Museum! Pay once when you arrive, then come and go as much as you wish until VDM closes at 5:00 p.m. Your receipt serves as your ticket for re-entry. Visitors must have one adult for every four children, and kids must be supervised by an adult caregiver at all times. Visiting with a school class or other formally organized community group? Reservations are required for large groups of 8 or more children, so check out Group Visits or call Education Manager Amy Griffith at (434) 977-1025 x106 for more information about booking a field trip.
* Learn More: Sponsored Admission | JMRL Pass Program | Wegmans Wednesdays | Museums on Us® | Blue Star Museums
General Policies
For a complete list of Museum rules, policies, and frequently asked questions, visit Museum Policies & FAQs.
Before Your Visit
- Visitors with any of these symptoms are asked to refrain from visiting the Museum. Staff may ask a visitor to leave the building if symptoms are present.
- Visitors must have at least one adult for every four children.
- Adults who are unaccompanied by a child and who wish to tour the Museum must be escorted at all times by a VDM staff member, if one is available. If one is unavailable, the adult may not enter.
- The Museum prohibits visitors from carrying firearms, knives, and weapons of any kind, regardless of whether visitors are licensed to carry those weapons. The only exception to this policy is on-duty local police officers and other federal and state law enforcement officers.
- Smoking and alcohol user are prohibited. Visitors under the influence of any legal or illegal substance may not enter.
During Your Visit
- Food, gum, and drinks – with the exception of water bottles – are prohibited in the Museum galleries. These items are restricted to the lobby and stroller room
- Children must be supervised by an adult at all times.
- Walk in the Museum galleries; do not run.
- Use inside voices; no shouting or screaming.
- Treat visitors and exhibits with respect; no pushing, hitting, or throwing. Share and return exhibit pieces where they belong after playing.
- All visitors must leave the Museum by closing time at 5:00 p.m. each day to allow for the arrival of the daily cleaning crew. VDM’s Cleaning Policy can be reviewed in full here.
Photography Policy
- By visiting the Museum or participating in Museum programs and events, visitors grant permission for any photographs of them and their dependents to be used for education and promotional purposes. If a visitor does not consent and wishes to opt out of this policy, they are asked to inquire at the front desk, contact a staff member using our Contact Us page, or call our general line at (434) 977-1025.
Parking & Directions
VDM validates parking for Museum visitors at the Market Street Garage and Water Street Garage. Both locations provide the first hour of parking for free, and Museum guests receive an additional hour of free parking – for a total of two hours – when they request a validation ticket at VDM’s front desk. The Museum is also located next to the Downtown Transit Station, and Charlottesville Area Transit offers a Free Trolley that stops at the station as it travels through Downtown and the University of Virginia. Click to learn more about parking downtown or more about public bus routes and fares.
Click the icon in the upper left corner for map legend and details.
To Market Street Garage
To Water Street Garage
Contact Us
Can’t find the answer you’re looking for? For more information about the Museum, please visit Museum Rules & FAQs, call (434) 977-1025, or email Visitor Services Manager Matt Berman at matt@vadm.org.