Museum of Discovery and Science (MODS) is a 150,000-square-foot interactive science center and accredited live animal eco-center located at 401 SW 2nd Street in downtown Fort Lauderdale’s Arts and Entertainment District. Originally founded in 1976 as the Discovery Center inside the historic New River Inn and opened at its purpose-built modernist facility in 1992, the museum anchors the city’s cultural corridor along the New River. Travelers and families visit to explore two expansive floors of hands-on physical science galleries, native Florida wildlife habitats, aviation simulators, and the six-story AutoNation IMAX 3D Theater.
What to Expect at Museum of Discovery and Science
Before stepping through the main entrance, visitors encounter the museum’s signature kinetic sculpture in the outdoor atrium: the Great Gravity Clock. Standing 52 feet tall, it is one of only three kinetic energy timepieces of its kind in the world, using gravity-driven bowling-sized spheres that descend along calibrated rails every minute to mark the hour. Inside, the first floor focuses heavily on South Florida’s fragile ecosystems, prehistoric geology, and early childhood discovery. The Living in the Everglades and Florida Ecoscapes galleries house one of the region’s largest living coral reef tanks, loggerhead sea turtle nurseries, American alligators, and a two-story indoor/outdoor habitat for North American river otters. Nearby, the Prehistoric Florida exhibit places guests face-to-face with a 50-foot life-sized reconstruction of the ancient Megalodon shark and Ice Age fossils excavated across the peninsula.
Taking the glass elevator or central staircase to the second level shifts the focus toward aerospace, meteorology, engineering, and human health. The To Fly Aviation Hall features nine interactive cockpit simulators alongside replica aircraft, including a Wright Brothers flyer and an F/A-18 Hornet cockpit where visitors practice carrier landings. Adjacent galleries include the Storm Center—where guests step inside a Hurricane Simulator generating 78-mph winds and touch a 10-foot simulated tornado vortex—the Hangar Makerspace for robotics and tinkering, and the Sprouting STEM Early Childhood Learning Lab. On-site amenities include the Elements Cafe and the Explore Store gift shop, which also acts as an official LEGO Minifigures trading station.
- Great Gravity Clock: A 52-foot-tall outdoor kinetic sculpture in the Grand Atrium that uses weighted spheres and gravity rails to tell time without motors inside the mechanism.
- Otters at Play & Florida Ecoscapes: A two-story aquatic and terrestrial habitat featuring rescued North American river otters, a live Atlantic coral reef aquarium, sharks, bats, and native reptiles.
- To Fly Aviation Hall & Everglades Airboat Adventure: Nine flight simulators, historic cockpit displays, and a motion-platform airboat simulator that takes riders virtually across the River of Grass.
- Prehistoric Florida & The Megalodon: Paleontology exhibits centered around a walk-through, 50-foot jaw and body model of the prehistoric giant shark Carcharocles megalodon alongside Saber-toothed cat and Imperial mammoth fossils.
- AutoNation IMAX 3D Theater: A 300-seat theater housing a 60-by-80-foot screen—the largest giant screen in South Florida—equipped with dual 4K laser projection and a 15,000-watt digital sound system showing educational documentaries and Hollywood releases.
Museum of Discovery and Science at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 401 SW 2nd St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 |
| Neighborhood / Area | Downtown Fort Lauderdale / Arts & Entertainment District (Riverwalk) |
| Operating Hours | Monday–Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Sunday: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM |
| Admission / Price Range | Paid admission ($$); Discovery Pass includes exhibits and one IMAX documentary film. View current packages at mods.org/tickets. |
| Recommended Visit Duration | 3 to 4 hours (4.5+ hours with an IMAX film) |
| Nearest Transit / Parking | Brightline Fort Lauderdale Station (5-minute walk); Broward County Transit Central Terminal; Arts & Science District Parking Garage across SW 5th Ave |
| Official Website & Phone | mods.org | +1 954-467-6637 |
Visiting Tips, Getting There & Nearby Pairings
Weekday mornings between 10:00 AM and 12:30 PM frequently see school field trip groups during the academic year; independent travelers and families with toddlers will find quieter galleries after 1:30 PM on weekdays or right at the 10:00 AM Saturday opening. Start your route on the second floor in the To Fly Aviation Hall and Storm Center before queues build at the flight simulators and Everglades Airboat ride, then work your way down to the first-floor aquariums and Science Park outdoor courtyard. Check the daily schedule at the box office for live animal encounters, KaBoom! liquid nitrogen science shows, and documentary screening times at the AutoNation IMAX Theater.
Located at the intersection of SW 2nd Street and SW 5th Avenue, the museum is a five-minute walk south of the Fort Lauderdale Brightline high-speed rail station and Broward County Transit’s Central Terminal. Drivers can park in the city-operated Arts & Science District Garage directly across the street at 200 SW 5th Avenue. The entire complex is wheelchair and stroller accessible via wide ramps, oversized passenger elevators, and ADA-compliant restrooms on both levels, and the museum maintains Sensory-Friendly resources—including noise-canceling headphones and quiet zones—accessible via its Access Programs. Pair a visit with a stroll along the adjacent Fort Lauderdale Riverwalk, a tour of the historic 1907 Stranahan House Museum, or dining along Himmarshee Street and Las Olas Boulevard, all within a 5-to-12-minute walk.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the operating hours and best times to visit the Museum of Discovery and Science?
The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Sunday from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM, operating 365 days a year. For the calmest experience around the interactive flight simulators and otter habitat, arrive after 1:30 PM on weekdays once school buses depart, or at 10:00 AM on Saturday mornings.
Are IMAX movies included with museum admission?
Standard Discovery Pass tickets include full access to all permanent and traveling museum exhibits plus one 45-minute IMAX documentary film at the AutoNation IMAX 3D Theater. Feature-length Hollywood movies screened in the evenings or on weekends are ticketed separately via mods.org/tickets, and discounted admission is available through Museums for All, Blue Star Museums, and ASTC Passport reciprocal memberships.
How much time should I budget for a visit?
Most visitors spend 3 to 4 hours exploring the two indoor floors, the outdoor Science Park, and the live animal habitats. If you plan to watch an IMAX documentary or participate in a scheduled Makerspace workshop, budget 4 to 5 hours.
Is the museum accessible for wheelchairs, strollers, and neurodivergent visitors?
Yes, both floors, the outdoor Science Park, and the AutoNation IMAX Theater offer step-free access, wide corridors, and large elevators suitable for wheelchairs and double strollers. The museum also provides complimentary sensory backpacks with noise-reducing headphones and visual guides at the main box office.
When planning your Miramar travel guide or comparing verified attractions and museums in Miramar, pair this stop with standout local spots including Rosewood Sand Hill, The Ancient Spanish Monastery, Rosalia's Kitchen, and DIGIKIDS (4.0 km away).
