Umpqua Discovery Center

Enjoyed our visit here. $ 8 per person and no senior discount. Seems like it is geared to children, with adults to assist to read the material. I enjoyed «feeling» like a kid again and trying out all the exhibits. Only had 1.5 hours and could have used another 30 min. or so, but they were closing at 4pm. Great stop for a down pour afternoon in Reedsport!

I remember going to the Discovery Center with my kids on a previous trip to Reedsport and we had a good time. Two days ago I was in town and went to the center. The receptionist was having a conversation with someone the entire time I was there and completely ignored me. I work in a National Park Visitors Center. We always greet everybody and tell them all about the park, tours and events going on so when they leave they have a good impression of the park. Apparently that’s not the way it works at the Discovery Center.

Completely overrated. Expecting higher quality of art and better explanations of the exhibit that both, children and adults can follow. I would not recommend anyone visit this «discovery center».

Such a wonderful, completely unexpected gem. If you have kids and you’re looking for a great indoor activity when the coastal weather is a little too wet, go here! I was so impressed at the complete transformation of this very unassuming building into an amazing outdoor scene. Trails through outdoor landscapes, bear cave with a fast slide, and a cave with a movie theater.

Fun, family friendly place. My 15 month old was frightened by the slide and loud noises but enjoyed the floor displays. The store had a lot of cute stuff. My favorite part of the center is the locals sharing stories of when they were younger. It was very interesting to learn the history of Umpqua.

I am 71 years old and have spent my whole career trying to communicate natural history to people of all ages. I am just back from my trip and I can not get this experience out of my mind because this is absolutely the best such discovery center I have ever seen. The other two reviews try but fail to communicate just how scientifically complete and accurate place is, and I can not do it justice either. Whoever designed the exhibits is one of the best in the world, and I say this with some experience from being on various boards and exhibits.
I think having stumbled on the center with essentially no advertisements and very minimal signage in a town obviously in serious economic distress was that the small community supports such a wonderful hidden treasure. Those of us who have seen it need to help advertise it more broadly. These reviews help, but we need to do more!

So few reviews for such a wonderful place! The Umpqua Discovery Center is a museum and interpretive center that explores the history, nature, and culture of the Reedsport area. We visited in September 2012 while on our way home from camping at Umpqua.
The museum is split into two sections: a nature trail experience and a history museum. The nature center portion has sound effects, beautiful murals, an abundance of interactives, and a very cool slide. The slide takes you from the entrance of a cave into a bear den, where you hear growls from a bear as you shoot down the slide. The slide is FAST and drops you into a cave where visitors can explore bear hibernation, including comparing the differences in heartbeat between hibernating and non-​hibernating bears. Very cool! (A word to parents– the slide is fast, dark, and a bit loud from the growling bear. Try going down with your child the first time around.)
I have visited many natural history museums and have never seen such excellent use of interpretive murals. The experience includes an exciting theater area where visitors can choose their video. A small science center experience rounds out the nature trail exhibit, with opportunities to explore the weather and climate of the rugged coast. The entire nature trail side is beautifully and thoughtfully designed.
The history side was equally as impressive, with immersive exhibits depicting the first peoples of the areas and then subsequent settlement and development. Again, the exhibits are thoughtfully designed and incorporate perspectives from real people from around the area. There are many opportunities to explore the region’s history through oral histories. The upstairs storefront provides visitors with an opportunity to eavesdrop on a conversation between a barber, a town gentleman, and a young boy. The mannequins are very well done.
I explored the Umpqua Discovery Center with my husband and our 5 year old son. My husband is not normally interested in museums and proclaimed the Umpqua Discovery Center as «the best in Oregon.» My five year old also enjoyed his experience, though the sounds, lighting, and effects at the entrance of the nature trail exhibits were a bit overwhelming to him. The docent in the gift shop said sometimes children are scared by the sounds and effects; I would suggest the staff turn the sound down just a tiny bit to avoid scaring the little ones.
The museum was impeccably clean and all of the exhibits were in excellent condition. Someone clearly spends a lot of time keeping the place in good condition. A large gift shop is located in the center of the museum and offers something for everyone, including toys, books, t-​shirts, and decorative items. The docents were so helpful and engaging. They asked us where we were headed and gave us some wonderful tips on where to stop along the Umpqua highway. Thanks to them, we were able to see elk and butterflies– for free!
Admission was $ 8.00 for adults and $ 4.00 for kids under 16. It is worth every penny. We’ll definitely visit again when we go through Reedsport in a few months. The museum’s website and print materials look just a bit dated, but don’t let that deter you. They’ve put together a great experience that is unlike anything you’ll see in Oregon.

An absolute treasure for Douglas County. I can’t believe I am the first to review this place! The Umpqua Discovery Center is a living history and exhibit center for kids and families. It features two different environments to explore as well as a really fun gift shop. The environments are meant to realistically portray a frontier town and the unique ecology of Oregon (Dunes, old growth forest, tides, etc).
You have to see this place to believe it, and you won’t be disappointed. There are really nice original murals all over both environments, done by a local artist. There are fun items like the bear cave slide and a periscope, as well as tons of educational exhibits that allow kids to touch, see, and hear elusive Oregon wildlife, yearly rainfall in Oregon, and stories from the original residents of Reedsport as well as those of settlers in the area.
The Discovery Center has varying admission costs depending on age (discount for young ones and seniors), and they also have a family deal. I have taken large groups of 9 – 11 year old kids, as well as kids as young as 3, and they all enjoyed this place a lot. You can’t take pictures in the exhibits, or I would post some here. My only suggestion would be to make sure you are interacting with your kids here; it is not the kind of place you set the kiddos loose and wait in the gift shop for them. You really need an adult helping explain the exhibits, asking questions, and prompting thought for both kids and adults to get the most out of this place.