imagination to discovery
Kansas Children's Discovery Center

Once Once upon a time, a group of Topeka visionaries came forward with a dream to build a Children’s Discovery Center in the capital city of Kansas. They longed to inspire imaginations and spark the love of learning for generations of Kansans to come. Flash forward – the dream is alive and well — and quickly becoming a reality.
The visionaries transformed into a Founding Board of Trustees, and nearly 100 volunteers are serving on committees providing guidance, leadership and a collective vision to drive and direct this community investment — the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center.
To date more than $4 million has been raised, which is 2/3 of the total needed to build what will be Topeka’s newest family attraction. The City of Topeka has generously donated 9.4 acres of land in the southwest corner of Gage Park, providing ample space for children to learn, explore and discover.
“The Discovery Center will be a place of unique hands-on learning experiences for children. It’s what we like to call…SERIOUS FUN!” said Joanne Morrell, executive director. “Exhibit areas will emphasize math, science and the arts, encouraging both critical and creative thinking, and promoting physical and gross-motor activity,” Morrell said.
With programming and exhibits that align with Kansas curriculum objectives, the Discovery Center will be a resource for educators and a destination for economical field trips.
“The Discovery Center’s exhibit areas will provide a rich hands-on experience, reinforcing the concepts children learn in the classroom and allowing our teachers and parents a tremendously valuable option for authentic educational experiences,” said Brenda S. Dietrich, Ph.D., Auburn-Washburn superintendent.
Beyond the benefit to local educators, the Discovery Center will enhance the quality of life for Topeka and Shawnee county residents and provide an additional recruitment tool for the Chamber and our corporate community.
The Discovery Center will also provide an economic boost for local and state tourism by attracting families throughout the state to come visit the capital city. “The Kansas Children’s Discovery Center will provide a wonderful, new experience, enhancing what residents and visitors can do, see and experience while in Topeka. The educational component that is intertwined into the fun is something that Visit Topeka will be able to offer to convention delegates and leisure visitors alike. It will provide another reason to stay a little longer and enjoy all the Capital City has to offer,” said Olivia Simmons, Visit Topeka Inc. president/CEO.
Topeka is the largest of only six capital cities that does not have a facility like the Discovery Center. “Working together we can bring to our children what nearly 300 other communities across the nation are already providing for their children,” said Morrell.
TK