Discovery Place is proud to introduce the next chapter in its more than 77-year legacy of welcoming visitors from across the Carolinas to explore the wonders of the natural world. As the newest destination in the Discovery Place nonprofit 501(c)(3) family of Museums, the Charlotte Museum of Nature will redefine nature exploration and education in the Carolinas.

Now under construction in the heart of Freedom Park on what was once the site of Discovery Place Nature, the new Charlotte Museum of Nature will serve as a cornerstone for learning and a gathering place for our community.

Discovery Place is thrilled to unveil a new name and brand for the reimagined nature museum, under construction on the site of the original Discovery Place Nature in Freedom Park.

The project to reinvent the Museum is a public-private partnership between Mecklenburg County, which owns the property and facility, and the nonprofit Discovery Place, which has operated the Museum since its doors opened to the Charlotte community in 1947.

The Board of County Commissioners of Mecklenburg County approved the selection of Liollio Architecture and Hood Design Studio as the architectural team leading the planning and design, and design plans were unveiled in 2022. Following free community “Farewell Days” and a groundbreaking and ceremonial tree planting in May 2024, construction led by Rodgers Builders has moved steadily along, with a “topping out” celebration held in December 2024 to mark the significant milestone of placing the last steel beam on the structure.

Construction for the new Charlotte Museum of Nature continues, with an anticipated opening in 2026. Read more at the Mecklenburg County Project Site