Treasure! Makes Its Way to the Discovery Center

One of the greatest treasures we have in Amarillo is the Don Harrington Discovery Center.  It is a great place for the kids to have fun and learn at the same time.  The last time my son and I went to the Discovery Center we spent 4 hours just hanging around playing, enjoying shows in the Space Theater, and activities.  It is a great learning experience.  Not only that, they have awesome exhibits they bring throughout the year. This summer  they are bringing Treasure! to the Discovery Center.

A special preview of the exhibit will happen this Friday for members and VIPs but this awesome exhibit will open to the public on Saturday.

So what can guests expect to experience with Treasure!?  Hands on activities and lots of learning.  Who doesn't love a great treasure hunt?  Pirates? or panning for gold?

Here are some of the great things you and the family can learn at Treasure!

Underwater Treasure - Sunken treasure, lost aboard ships that never arrived at their destinations, has long been the object of pursuit for treasure hunters. Actual shipwreck artifacts are featured in this area. Activities include a Remote Operated Vehicle which guests can “test drive” to explore a water-filled tank like a modern-day treasure hunter.

Buried Treasure - Pirate booty, the Knights Templar, and hoards of gold are popular themes in treasure lore and some of it really exists. Discovery Center guests will explore how people hunt for buried treasure and what they find.

Pirates - Guests will have several opportunities to pillage and plunder in this area of the exhibition. Hands-on activities include sinking a pirate ship, taking a virtual ship tour, making musical sea shanties, and learning how to tie nautical knots.

Gold Rushes - The gold rushes of the 19th century are slipping further into history, but their impact remains in many parts of North America. This part of the exhibit brings the hunt for gold to visitors with an actual gold panning activity. Biographical sketches, timelines, and maps put the gold rushes in context. Visitors are also invited to measure their weight in gold with a special scale.

Treasures in the Attic - Bringing the treasure closer to home, the attic replica shows visitors how to find treasures in everyday objects. Family heirlooms and even long-lost toys may hold hidden value. Treasure hunting is often thought of as someone else's activity, but most of us pursue our own version of treasure in one way or another. The attic invites people to consider what they treasure most.

Treasure in Popular Culture - Treasure is one of the most popular themes across cultures. Games, books, movies, and TV shows are full of treasure stories. Even breakfast cereal and license plates have been touched by our thirst for the adventure of treasure hunting. Guests will test their estimating abilities in this thematic area.

The Modern Treasure Hunt - Contemporary treasure hunting employs exciting technology, like metal detectors. In this area, visitors will consider the various ways that people find their way (maps, compasses, landmarks) and other tools of navigation, including the Global Positioning System.

Protecting Treasure - This area explores to what extremes will people go to protect treasure—or to steal it.  Visitors try their hand at safe-cracking in this area of the exhibit.

Admission:
Free for Discovery Center members
10 for adults
$7 for children and students ages 3 to 22
$7 for seniors ages 60+
Children 2 and under are admitted free

Discovery Center Hours

Tuesday - Sunday during the school year

Memorial Day to Labor Day  Seven Days a Week -  9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 12n to 4:30 on Sunday.