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| McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center | |
|---|---|
| Name | McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center |
| Established | 1998 |
| Location | Concord, New Hampshire, United States |
| Type | Science museum and planetarium |
McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center is a science museum and planetarium located in Concord, New Hampshire, honoring astronaut Christa McAuliffe and astronaut Alan Shepard. The center serves as a regional hub for informal science learning, public engagement, and STEM outreach, connecting visitors to topics in astronomy, spaceflight, aeronautics, and earth science through exhibits, shows, and programs.
The center was founded in response to the legacy of Christa McAuliffe, who was selected for NASA's Teacher in Space Project and perished in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster of 1986, alongside fellow astronaut Ronald McNair and crew members including Gregory Jarvis and Ellison Onizuka. Local leaders in Concord, New Hampshire and state officials including the New Hampshire General Court worked with community organizations, hospitals, and educators to establish a memorial and educational facility, drawing inspiration from science centers such as the Smithsonian Institution and the Museum of Science, Boston. The center opened in 1998 near landmarks like the New Hampshire State House and incorporated partnerships with institutions such as Dartmouth College, University of New Hampshire, and the American Astronomical Society to develop programming. Over time, the facility has hosted commemorations involving representatives connected to Alan Shepard, trials of exhibits associated with the National Air and Space Museum, and events marking anniversaries of the Apollo 11 mission and the Mercury-Redstone 3 flight.
The center features a fulldome planetarium theatre inspired by installations found at the Griffith Observatory and the Hayden Planetarium, with projection systems comparable to those employed by the American Museum of Natural History. Exhibit galleries present hands-on displays on topics related to spaceflight, aeronautics, robotics, and earth science, with rotating exhibits that have included artifacts connected to institutions like the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and traveling exhibits organized by the Association of Science-Technology Centers. Permanent displays highlight the lives and careers of Christa McAuliffe and Alan Shepard alongside interactive modules on orbital mechanics referencing missions such as STS-7 and historical programs like Project Mercury. The center houses classroom spaces and maker labs influenced by designs from the Exploratorium and community-focused facilities like the Boston Children's Museum.
Programming at the center targets audiences ranging from K–12 students to lifelong learners, aligning with curriculum frameworks used by the New Hampshire Department of Education and drawing on professional development models from organizations such as the National Science Teachers Association and the American Association of Physics Teachers. Outreach includes school field trips, teacher workshops modeled after NASA educator programs, summer camps reminiscent of offerings at the Lawrence Hall of Science, and family science nights in collaboration with entities like the Concord Public Library and Manchester Community College. Special initiatives have partnered with regional institutions including Saint Anselm College, the Seacoast Science Center, and the Currier Museum of Art to integrate cross-disciplinary themes and community events commemorating anniversaries of missions like Apollo 13 and landmarks such as the International Space Station.
The planetarium presents fulldome shows and live-narration sessions covering phenomena such as planetary motion, stellar evolution, and cosmology, often referencing discoveries by organizations including the Hubble Space Telescope, Chandra X-ray Observatory, and the James Webb Space Telescope. Public star parties and observing sessions are coordinated with groups like the New Hampshire Astronomical Society and regional observatories such as the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center Observatory and nearby university facilities like the University of New Hampshire Observatory. Lectures and speaker series have featured researchers from institutions including Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, as well as presentations about missions such as Voyager 1, Cassini–Huygens, and Mars Science Laboratory.
The center collaborates with higher-education and research organizations including Dartmouth College, University of New Hampshire, Plymouth State University, and regional community colleges to support citizen science projects, data-driven exhibits, and curriculum development. Partnerships with federal agencies and nonprofits such as NASA, the National Science Foundation, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have enabled grant-funded programs, professional development, and participation in initiatives like GLOBE Program and Zooniverse. The center has also worked with aerospace companies and museums—ranging from vendors associated with Lockheed Martin and contractors for the International Space Station to traveling exhibitions curated by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service—to secure artifacts, simulators, and interactive installations.
The center operates seasonally with hours that adjust for school schedules and holiday programming, welcoming families, school groups, scouts such as the Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of the USA, and tourists visiting Concord, New Hampshire, the Merrimack River valley, and nearby attractions like the Mount Washington Observatory. Visitor services and fundraising activities coordinate with local government offices, philanthropic organizations such as the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, civic groups including the Concord Rotary Club, and cultural institutions like the Capitol Center for the Arts. The center’s governance involves boards and advisory committees modeled on nonprofit museum practice and engages volunteers, docents, and interns from programs linked to institutions such as Keene State College and regional high schools.
Category:Museums in New Hampshire