Discovery Lab is a hands-on children’s science museum at 3123 Riverside Drive, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74105, beside Gathering Place in the Riverside/Brookside area. Founded in 2007 as a museum without walls, it opened its purpose-built Riverside home in January 2022 after operating in Owen Park. Families come for climb-through tape tunnels, water experiments, and open-ended making activities that turn physics and engineering into physical play.
What to Expect at Discovery Lab
The approximately 57,000-square-foot building gives children room to investigate through movement, construction, and repeated trial and error. Its signature Tape Tunnels transform ordinary packing tape into a suspended, crawl-through structure: the material itself becomes a lesson in tension, strength, and design. Water-based experiments introduce flow and cause and effect, while ball-moving activities encourage children to follow motion rather than simply press a button and leave. This is an active museum, with the sound and pace of a busy indoor playground.
Making is equally central. Workshop activities invite children to manipulate materials, test ideas, and revise their designs; offerings change, so check the day’s program on arrival. Younger children have an early-childhood play area rather than needing to compete for every activity with older visitors. There is no essential guided-tour sequence: begin with the physical exhibits, pause for a making session, then revisit a favorite experiment. The museum shop extends the science-and-play theme, and Elote Café provides an on-site meal option; check its service hours separately.
- Tape Tunnels: Crawl through an engineered structure made from layers of packing tape.
- Water exploration: Experiment with moving water and observe how changing a pathway changes the result.
- Hands-on making: Build and troubleshoot using real materials during changing workshop activities.
- Early-childhood play: Give smaller visitors space for developmentally appropriate exploration.
- Gathering Place connection: Combine indoor science with the neighboring park’s paths, gardens, and playgrounds.
Discovery Lab at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 3123 Riverside Drive, Tulsa, OK 74105 |
| Neighborhood / Area | Riverside corridor, beside Gathering Place and west of Brookside |
| Operating Hours | Monday 10:30 a.m.–2 p.m.; Tuesday–Saturday 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sunday 11:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Check the official calendar for changes. |
| Admission / Price Range | Paid admission; $$ family-attraction price tier. See official admission rates and membership options. |
| Recommended Visit Duration | 2–3 hours, longer with lunch or a park visit |
| Nearest Transit / Parking | Free on-site parking; MetroLink Tulsa’s Aero 700 serves Peoria Avenue near East 31st Street, followed by a walk west. |
| Official Website & Phone | discoverylab.org; +1 918-295-8144 |
Visiting Tips, Getting There & Nearby Pairings
Arrive near opening for a full morning, or choose a weekday afternoon after school groups begin departing. Monday’s short public session requires tighter planning. Consult Hours + Admission before buying tickets, particularly around holidays and special events; groups should use the museum’s field-trip request process. Wear comfortable clothes and secure shoes for climbing. Keep bags compact, ask the desk about storage and photography restrictions, and supervise children around shared activities. For sensory-sensitive visitors, ask about Accessible Discovery programming before selecting a date.
Drivers can use the museum’s free parking rather than treating Gathering Place’s lots as the default. For public transport, Aero 700 on Peoria requires roughly a 15-minute walk west along 31st Street; use marked crossings at Riverside. The modern building has step-free access and elevator connections between public levels, although the crawl-through tunnels themselves are not wheelchair-accessible routes. Strollers can circulate through the main spaces. Afterward, walk into Gathering Place, reach Peggy’s Pond in roughly 10–15 minutes, or join the nearby River Parks trail for an Arkansas River walk. Allow extra time when crossing roads with children.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Discovery Lab’s hours, and when should we arrive?
Regular hours are 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. Arrive at opening for the longest uninterrupted session, and check the calendar for special closures.
Is admission free, and do families need reservations?
Discovery Lab charges admission and offers memberships. Check the official admission page for current ticket categories and purchasing options; school groups and organized visits have a separate booking process.
How long should we spend at Discovery Lab?
Budget two to three hours for exhibits and a making activity. Add time for café service or a separate walk through Gathering Place rather than squeezing both into the same short visit.
Is Discovery Lab suitable for toddlers and wheelchair users?
Early-childhood play makes the museum useful for families with younger siblings. Step-free circulation and elevators support wheelchair and stroller access, but climbing structures require different physical abilities; ask staff to help identify suitable activities.
When planning your Tulsa travel guide or comparing verified attractions and wedding venue in Tulsa, pair this stop with standout local spots including Greenwood Rising Black Wall St. History Center, Ti Amo Ristorante Italiano Downtown, French Hen, and Philbrook Museum of Art (1.4 km away).
