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Donate to the Creative
Discovery Museum

Help the region’s leader in experiential
learning expand to meet the needs of future generations. Your donation will help:

  • Build 8 new interactive galleries
  • Expand STEAM educational focus
  • Grow educational outreach programs
  • Increase free/reduced admissions
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Be an igniter for generations to come.

In addition to renovating and expanding the museum that’s served more than 5 million visitors since 1995, your contribution will help us continue educational outreach and free admissions to millions of children and families in the Chattanooga region.

5 Million
Museum Visitors
(since 1995)
711,000
Participants in School
Outreach Programs
(since 2004)
683,000
Free & Reduced Price
Admission (since 1995)

The region’s only museum that helps kids learn through play.

Using proven, evidence-based principles, CDM exhibits engage the senses, inspire exploration, and ignite children’s passion for life-long learning.

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Award-winning and Nationally ranked.

See what your donation will ignite.

THE
THREE-GOAL
PLAN

1
2
3

GOAL 1

A LEADER IN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

Fueling the talent pipeline to meet workforce demands is a growing problem in the region. In fact, Chattanooga 2.0 reports 6 out of 10 students are unprepared for Kindergarten. Facility and exhibit renovations will help ensure CDM remains the region’s premier informal education partner in early childhood learning and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) experiences by incorporating:

  • Proven research in early learning and brain development
  • Experiences that foster critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, teamwork and communication
  • Next Generation Science Standards
  • National Core Arts Standards
New The Little FarmHouse Gallery will expand the early-learning environment for children ages 0-5, including an expanded crawler space, renovated Little Yellow House and a new Little Red Barn.
Renewed RiverPlay exhibit will feature new water tables illustrating the earth’s water cycle and connecting to life on the Tennessee River.
A new UnEarthed Gallery will explore the physical forces of nature, like earthquakes, erosion, and volcanoes and host a renovated and accessible DinoDig.
The new STEMZone will build competencies and skills required in an evolving workforce through new vehicle design, engineering, and build and test stations.
The new STEMZone will feature electricity and energy manipulation stations and an electric-combustion engine station, helping develop critical thinking, problem solving and reasoning skills.
The new STEMZone feature a smart house floor plan with features such as touch control windows with opacity control and thermal control mapping.

GOAL 2

A GATHERING PLACE FOR ALL CHILDREN

Hamilton County ranks in the bottom nine percent in the nation for economic mobility and childhood poverty, and by 2040 a projected 1.4 million people representing a diversity of cultures will call the greater Chattanooga region home. CDM will continue to lead the region in providing programs and exhibits that are accessible to and celebrate all populations by:

  • Increasing outreach programs
  • Improving museum access for all populations
  • Expanding exhibits and programs that celebrate cultural diversity
New visual and performing arts gallery to include two cultural exhibit spaces that explore global cultures and strength connections to Chattanooga’s diverse cultures and vibrant folk arts programs.
New permanent exhibit space devoted to Appalachian/East Tennessee music and culture.
New performance areas and enhanced arts studio will feature events and activities that celebrate the mosaic of cultures in the region and around the globe.
New visual and performing arts gallery to include two cultural exhibit spaces that explore global cultures and strength connections to Chattanooga’s diverse cultures and vibrant folk arts programs.
New permanent exhibit space devoted to Appalachian/East Tennessee music and culture.
New performance areas and enhanced arts studio will feature events and activities that celebrate the mosaic of cultures in the region and around the globe.

GOAL 3

A GATEWAY TO A VIBRANT DOWNTOWN

Education, culture, and recreation assets, like CDM, contribute to quality of life throughout the region and attract residents and businesses alike. CDM helps deliver on Chattanooga’s “family friendly” promise and serves as the gateway to the Riverfront District. Exterior renovations will feature:

  • New rooftop exhibit that captivates visitors as they enter or leave Chattanooga
  • Redesigned plaza and new public art installation that transforms the 300 Block into a vibrant civic space
New TreeHouse Adventure, an amazing new rooftop exhibit visible from Hwy 27, will draw guests to the Museum and Riverfront District.
Newly redesigned Plaza will feature a unique and interactive art installation and transform the 300 Block into a vibrant, attractive civic space.
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CDM is a lead partner and collaborator with more than 40 institutions including: