Discovery Lab Tulsa: Children's Museum Visitor Guide

What children can explore

The museum’s exhibit directory includes the Central Gallery’s tape tunnels, Ballapalooza’s ball-moving systems and HydroLab’s water activities. Let children spend time testing an idea instead of trying to finish every area in a fixed order.

Energy explores how power works, while Math and Music connects sound with patterns and movement. The Imaginarium uses responsive projected environments. These give families different ways into the same visit: building, listening, moving or watching what changes when you try again.

The Science Lab and WorkShop add facilitated experiments and changing challenges. Check the current exhibit directory for featured installations and activity details before promising a particular experience.

Choosing activities for different ages

Little Lab is designed for children four and under and their parents or caregivers. It gives younger visitors an age-focused place to explore while older children may want to spend longer with the wider gallery activities.

For a mixed-age family, pick a meeting point and decide how the adults will divide their attention before everyone heads toward a different exhibit. Follow the posted guidance in each area and help children choose a challenge they can enjoy.

You don’t have to rush past a favorite just to say you saw everything. A few repeat attempts at building or moving something can be the most engaging part of the day.

Hours and admission

The dedicated hours page lists Monday 10:30 a.m.–2 p.m., Tuesday–Saturday 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sunday 11:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Select Saturdays have extended evening hours, so use the calendar to check your date.

General admission is currently listed at $14 plus tax, with children under two and members admitted free. Teachers receive free admission with current school staff ID. Check current eligibility before purchasing, especially if you plan to use a membership from another museum.

The museum says ordinary visits do not require a reserved time. Check the calendar for special programs, holiday changes and any separately ticketed activity.

Arrival and guest parking

The guest lot entrance is off 31st Street, with spaces wrapping around the amphitheater toward the east side of the building. The museum also identifies an overflow gravel lot south of the building marked for Gathering Place.

Museum entrances are on the east and west sides. Use the official parking map before arriving if you need to choose your approach, and follow any current directions at the site. Field-trip bus arrangements are separate from ordinary family parking.

Accessibility, food and breaks

The museum’s FAQ lists elevators and ramps in the exhibit hall and stroller parking beside Little Lab. For a specific mobility or exhibit-access need, call (918) 295-8144 before visiting so you can plan around the activities your family wants to try.

Sensory-Friendly Family Time is listed for the second Sunday of each month, 9:30–11:30 a.m., without registration. Check the current calendar before choosing that session.

Food is not allowed in the exhibit hall. Elote Café & Catering is an on-site option, and the museum allows eating in the outdoor amphitheater when no event is scheduled there. If you step out and plan to return, ask the front desk about the same-day re-entry stamp.

Add Gathering Place if the family has energy left

Gathering Place is the natural outdoor companion to Discovery Lab, with its own play areas and visitor arrangements. Keep it flexible: a museum session may be enough for one day, while another family may want a picnic or an outdoor stop afterward.

Gathering Place has no admission fee, but that does not make Discovery Lab admission free. Plan each part separately and check the park’s current map and seasonal activity status before promising a particular playground or water feature.

Find Discovery Lab

Before you head out

Questions, answered