Skip to content

Explore More Discovery Museum

Why We Exist

Our mission is to engage young minds through interactive, multi-sensory learning experiences—promoting a greater understanding of themselves and their world.

What We Do

Explore More opens its doors to nearly 60,000 visitors annually.The museum environment promotes early literacy, creativity and critical thinking skills, nurtures childhood and family, supports the school learning standards and reaches out to serve children of all backgrounds and abilities. Exhibits are the backbone of Explore More’s mission, and programs extend the learning through weekly activities, enrichment workshops and an extensive field trip program based on VA Standards of Learning. Explore More regularly partners with local organizations and universities to offer experiences in a variety of subjects including the arts, health/wellness, alternative energy, robotics and more. The museum serves as a valuable educational resource for area elementary schools, hosting over 7,500 visitors annually through field trip programs. We are proud to have been voted Best Museum in the Valley by the Daily News-Record’s regional readership for the past 10 consecutive years. We have also been recognized as a Best Museum of VA by Virginia Living Magazine for 3 years in a row. Additionally, we have been listed as Trip Advisor’s top family travel location in VA.

Who We Serve

We are a place for all children, focusing on families with children ages 1 to 12. Special free events and scholarship opportunities ensure that every child has access to the museum’s rich learning environment. One in seven visitors (15%) attends through sponsored admissions.
Why Community Members Support Our Work
“At Explore More, I see children use their imaginations and play out their thoughts and dreams. I watch the future!” — Kathy Whitten, EMDM Board of Directors If you have followed the history of Explore More Discovery Museum over the past thirteen years, there is no doubt that its foundation has been firmly rooted in community partnerships. The impact of this regional learning resource starts with the youngest members of our audience and overflows to the community at large. The museum’s rich learning environment promotes critical thinking skills, workforce development, and has a positive, economic impact on the Shenandoah Valley. Explore More continues to show responsible financial stewardship of all funds received and has always remained in the black, receiving no governmental funds for operations. As a nonprofit, we rely on sponsorships, private contributions and grants to support approximately 40% of operating expenses.
How Volunteers Contribute to our Work:
“At Explore More, I see children use their imaginations and play out their thoughts and dreams. I watch the future!” — Kathy Whitten, EMDM Board of Directors If you have followed the history of Explore More Discovery Museum over the past thirteen years, there is no doubt that its foundation has been firmly rooted in community partnerships. The impact of this regional learning resource starts with the youngest members of our audience and overflows to the community at large. The museum’s rich learning environment promotes critical thinking skills, workforce development, and has a positive, economic impact on the Shenandoah Valley. Explore More continues to show responsible financial stewardship of all funds received and has always remained in the black, receiving no governmental funds for operations. As a nonprofit, we rely on sponsorships, private contributions and grants to support approximately 40% of operating expenses.
How Volunteers Contribute to our Work:
“At Explore More, I see children use their imaginations and play out their thoughts and dreams. I watch the future!” — Kathy Whitten, EMDM Board of Directors If you have followed the history of Explore More Discovery Museum over the past thirteen years, there is no doubt that its foundation has been firmly rooted in community partnerships. The impact of this regional learning resource starts with the youngest members of our audience and overflows to the community at large. The museum’s rich learning environment promotes critical thinking skills, workforce development, and has a positive, economic impact on the Shenandoah Valley. Explore More continues to show responsible financial stewardship of all funds received and has always remained in the black, receiving no governmental funds for operations. As a nonprofit, we rely on sponsorships, private contributions and grants to support approximately 40% of operating expenses.

Contact Information:

Trisha Blosser
150 South Main St.
PO Box 957
Harrisonburg,
Virginia
22801