New Discovery in Reno!

The Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum is set to open Sept. 10 in Reno. The kids' museum is full of hands-on exhibits grouped into seven galleries, the centerpiece of which is the two-story Cloud Climber, a climbing structure enclosed by netting. The Cloud Climber Gallery (below) combines with the Truckee Connects Gallery to help kids learn about Nevada's watershed systems. Other galleries are Nevada Stories (covering the state's history), Build It! (where kids can learn about building construction), Da Vinci's Corner (combining art and science), Under the Stars (celebrating Nevada's tradition of outdoor adventure) and Little Discoveries (a play area for very young children.) An eighth exhibit, The Works, will explore the inner workings of music (and two other things; look at my notes) and will open at a later date. Also scheduled for a later opening: the museum's Spark!Lab, a partnership with the Smithsonian. The museum has an indoor picnic area as well as birthday party rooms and space for a restaurant to open at a later date. The $21 million check facility at 490 S. Center St. — the old Reno City Hall Building — is the culmination of work that began at the local level in 2004.