Discovery Center at Murfree Spring

Hours, admission, exhibits and memberships at Murfreesboro's hands-on museum for children

502 SE Broad Street, Murfreesboro, TN 37130 · (615) 890-2300

By the Only in Murfreesboro local team · Last updated: October 16, 2026

What Is the Discovery Center at Murfree Spring?

The Discovery Center at Murfree Spring is a hands-on museum at 502 SE Broad Street in Murfreesboro, designed for children ages 0 to 12. It is open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. Admission is $15 for ages 1 and up; children 12 months and under and members enter free.

Location & Parking

502 SE Broad Street
Murfreesboro, TN 37130
(615) 890-2300

Free on-site parking, first come, first served, with accessible spaces in the first row and an overflow lot behind the museum.

Hours

Discovery Center at Murfree Spring hours
Monday	Closed
Tuesday	10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday	10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday	10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday	10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday	10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday	12:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Closed Mondays and major holidays, except for camps and special events.

Admission

Ages 1 and up: $15
12 months and under: free
Members: free
Museums for All (SNAP EBT or WIC card with photo ID): $4 per person, up to four people

Who It's For

Exhibits and programs are designed for children ages 0 to 12. Every group must include a child in that range, and adults 18 and over are not admitted alone. Close relatives ages 13 to 17, parents 16 and over, and individuals with disabilities of any age who will benefit from the exhibits are welcome.

Source: Discovery Center, Plan Your Visit, checked October 16, 2026.

About the Discovery Center

The Discovery Center was chartered in 1986 as the Children's Museum Corporation of Rutherford County, after a grassroots campaign led by young parents raised money to buy a building and create exhibits. More than 11,000 people visited in its first year. Today the nonprofit museum has 30,000 square feet of museum space and reports more than 130,000 children and family members exploring its exhibits each year. Its stated mission is to “engage curious minds to fuel the future.”

Discovery Center Exhibits

MathRox (featured exhibit)

Life-size math games, logic puzzles and challenges such as a giant Tower of Hanoi, included with general admission through January 10, 2027.

Super Slide

A 2 1/2-story slide built around the principles of gravity and motion.

WaterWorks

Water play and experiments where children build boats and control the flow of water.

The Great Outdoors

Live turtle habitats and displays on Tennessee turtle species, a Jon boat simulation and a simulated campfire, where Campfire Story Time is held.

Tiny Town

A miniature village where children shop at Publix, visit MMC Pediatrics, make music, send mail and craft in a workshop.

Farm to Table

A pretend farmers market where children pick produce and ring it up at interactive cash registers.

5 Senses

Visual illusions, soundscapes, scent stations and touch zones that show how each sense works.

Nature Play

A nature-themed play space with learning stations and discovery activities.

Train Depot

Engineer costumes, a ticket counter and railroad role play.

The Firetruck

A life-sized fire engine with firefighter dress-up and fire-safety lessons.

Wheels

Hands-on vehicle, motion and engineering activities plus make-believe driver and mechanic play.

The Studio

Art stations stocked with materials for different kinds of artistic expression.

LEGO Lab

Thousands of LEGO and DUPLO bricks for building challenges, open Tuesday to Thursday 10 AM to 5 PM and Friday 10 AM to 3 PM.

Exhibits as listed on the Discovery Center exhibits page. The museum adds new exhibits each year.

Murfree Spring Wetlands

Murfree Spring Wetlands is a 25-acre Murfreesboro city park at the corner of Maney and Broad streets, next to the Discovery Center. Paved walking trails and raised boardwalks wind through the wetlands, and it is a favorite spot for nature photographers and birdwatchers.

The plaza was designed around the site's old water treatment plant: railings, fountains and paving patterns echo the plant's equipment, and refurbished pieces of old pump equipment stand as sculptures. Interpretive signs shaped like wetland plants and animals line the boardwalks, a History Wall traces the site from prehistoric times to today, and stepping-stones through a pond-like water feature demonstrate an aquatic food chain. The wetland walkways are accessible by ramp.

Programs & Events

Public programs are held each afternoon, and several times a day in summer, and are included with admission. Weekly programs include Turtle Talk, Campfire Story Time in The Great Outdoors exhibit, and Tasty Tuesdays. All Access Nights open the museum to families with special needs only, and Field Studies are guided programs for school groups. The museum also hosts birthday parties, camps and facility rentals. See the Discovery Center calendar for dates.

Upcoming Events at the Discovery Center

196 upcoming events are scheduled at the Discovery Center at Murfree Spring.

View the full events calendar →

Discovery Center Memberships

One + One

$90/year

Two + One Plus

$115/year

Discovery

$140/year

Deluxe

$170/year

Sustaining

$330/year

Unlimited visits for a full year, starting the day of purchase
Discounts on camps, birthday parties and facility rentals
10% off gift shop purchases (excluding food and drink) and $5 off any guest admission
Invitations to members-only events
Free admission to 350+ museums through the ASTC Travel Passport Program (restrictions apply; does not include Adventure Science Center)
15% off memberships for active and retired military and currently employed K-12 classroom teachers, asked for at the front desk

Source: Discovery Center, Become a Member, checked October 16, 2026.

Tips for Visiting the Discovery Center

Go in the Afternoon

The Discovery Center suggests afternoon visits for smaller crowds, and staff can tell callers what is happening on a given day.

Food & Drink

Small snacks, bottled water and baby food or formula are allowed, but not in the exhibit areas. Eat on the covered patio or at the outdoor picnic areas; the gift shop also sells snacks and drinks.

Pack Light

The museum has no lockers or storage for personal belongings. Families and groups are asked to stay together inside.

Accessibility

The building is fully ADA accessible with an elevator to both floors. Noise-reducing headphones, weighted vests and other assistive items can be checked out free with a driver's license deposit, and The Chill Zone is a sensory calm-down space. See the accessibility page.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Discovery Center

Where is the Discovery Center at Murfree Spring?

The Discovery Center at Murfree Spring is at 502 SE Broad Street, Murfreesboro, TN 37130, next to the Murfree Spring Wetlands, a 25-acre city park at the corner of Maney and Broad streets. Parking on site is free and first come, first served, with an overflow lot behind the museum. The phone number is (615) 890-2300.

How much does the Discovery Center cost?

General admission is $15 for ages 1 and up. Children 12 months and under and Discovery Center members get in free. Through the Museums for All program, families with a SNAP EBT or WIC card and photo ID pay $4 per person for up to four people.

What are the Discovery Center hours?

The Discovery Center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. It is closed on Mondays and major holidays, except for camps and special events.

Can adults visit the Discovery Center without children?

No. The Discovery Center says its exhibits and programs are designed for children ages 0 to 12, every group must include a child in that age range, and adults 18 and over are not admitted alone. Individuals with disabilities of any age who will benefit from the exhibits are welcome.

How much is a Discovery Center membership?

One-year memberships range from $90 (One + One) to $330 (Sustaining), with the Two + One Plus at $115, Discovery at $140 and Deluxe at $170. Members get unlimited visits for a year, discounts on camps, parties and rentals, 10% off gift shop purchases, $5 off guest admission and ASTC Travel Passport reciprocal admission.