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    Catawba Science Center

    4.1 (23 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 2 weeks ago

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    Ashley G.

    Such a fun place for our 2 year old. She would spend all day if she could! Great for a rainy day! She is a sensory seeker and loves hands on activities. It's such a perfect place for her. We have an annual membership and it is 100% worth it!

    I was looking for a halfway point for my and my bestie to meet while she was visiting and we found this place it was three hours away from both but it was definitely worth it we had a great time and kids loved one price for all three buildings

    Ashlea C.

    I am so torn between giving the Catawba Science Center a 3 and 4 star review, but I'm going to settle with a 3 for now. I have been coming here my entire life, and have very vivid memories of ALL of the different attractions and rooms that they've added/taken away over the years. My most recent visit really disappointed me, and it was very upsetting because there is very little to do now. But I will say this... They have added a new aquarium that is actually pretty neat, you can pet the stingrays and interact with the hermit crabs. However, I really miss the way the building used to be set up. They are doing construction at the moment, but they have taken away SO many good attractions and rooms, like the old aquarium they used to have inside the main building. They also took away the playroom for toddlers as well. I was sad to see this because I was really looking forward to letting my 1 year old play in there. To my understanding, they are just renovating that specific room though. They also got rid of the fish tanks that you could "stick your head in." I'm sure a lot of people will remember what I'm talking about. Downstairs they have added a new "poop" lab, (at least that's what we call it.) and removed the water/sand table and the storm TV (where you could stand up and see yourself on screen inside of an actual hurricane or tornado.) That will be missed a lot by so many of us 90's babies! They started charging for the extra traveling exhibits, and the gift shop doesn't have as much as it used to. All together though, we still had fun, we just wish everything was back to the way that it used to be. There used to be so much more hands on things, and things to do and see.

    The Catawba Science Center brings back so many memories! My cousin and I would always go with our grandparents and have so much fun. They have many exhibits and activities. They have an amazing gift shop with lots of fun items. There is so much to explore, such as animal exhibits, butterfly homes, rockets, (my personal favorite) a huge nose that sprays you with water, stingrays, a poop examination, slime, fish, tornado simulator, and so much more! If you are in the Hickory area, stop by the science center for a fun time and lots of memories!

    2012 Ted x Hickory event in the Art Center's auditorium

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    22 days ago

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    4 years ago

    Well it is nice for a close place to go to but having been to bigger city science centers it does leave more to be desired.

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    6 years ago

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    8 years ago

    Great place for kids... hands on museum. Staff is really nice... they have a small aquarium that is very good for kids.

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    8 years ago

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    13 years ago

    Great deal for families! Great aquarium, planetarium and exhibits.

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    10 years ago

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    Ask the Community - Catawba Science Center

    Review Highlights - Catawba Science Center

    And, every three years or so, they hold a butterfly exhibit where you can watch the butterflies flutter about.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

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    Hickory Aviation Museum

    Hickory Aviation Museum

    4.7(9 reviews)
    3.1 mi

    I was so looking forward to my stop at the Hickory Aviation Museum located at the Hickory Airport…read morein what used to be baggage claim. Admission is free as is parking in the lot. When you enter the airport, follow the hallway back to the museum. I was greeted at first then asked to sign the guestbook. From there I was on my own and felt like I was interrupting the groups conversation and not welcomed. Although they continued talking about medical conditions; whether they liked the menu at the reopening restaurant in the terminal; what they were going to eat for lunch, etc. It made it difficult to read the signage. The museum had many artifacts and memorabilia that provide insight on how flying has changed over the years and military history. One section is dedicated to Bill and George Preddy. A Wall of Honor was created for those who have died. Outside there are many aircraft to see. It would have been nice to get some background information and extra details while there but that might just depend on the volunteers that day.

    This is a gem of a place for people interested in aviation and as I experienced, Mustangs! I…read morevisited the Museum for the first time when they were hosting the Snakes and Plane auto display where the cars (Mustangs) were on display among the planes. They have some really cool planes from the Blue Angels to some WWII planes and lots in between. Admission is free and it's right at the Hickory Regional Airport. There's also a little Cafe in the terminal building that I want to try on my next visit.

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    Hickory Aviation Museum
    Hickory Aviation Museum
    Hickory Aviation Museum

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    Harper House Hickory History Center

    Harper House Hickory History Center

    4.5(2 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    While in Hickory, I knew I had to make a stop at the Harper House. After you drive up the driveway,…read morethere is a free parking for you to use on the property. When you arrive for your tour, you do need to go to the Lyerly House (Hickory History Center) to check in and pay rather than the Harper House. (I do think they want you to schedule an appointment to tour the house even though I just showed up and asked for a tour as I didn't know about needing an appointment then) I don't have much background in Hickory's history so I wasn't sure what to expect with the Harper House. From the minute I walked in the house, I was wowed. It is said to be the finest Queen Anne home in the state and I think I'd agree with that statement. The house was built in 1887 by Daniel Webster Schuler who founded Hickory's first bank. The Harper's acquired the house in 1923 and three generations of the family lived in the house. In 2000, Catawba County took ownership of the house and started to restoring it to its original Victorian decor. The architecture is just amazing and unique in this house from the fish scale shingles to the spindles on the porch railing to the pebble dashing to the stained glass windows to the cherry staircase to the winged Mercury on the stair post to the parquet floors. The ornate details are there. I hadn't seen wallpaper before on the ceilings or various patterns used together. One room had at least 13 different patterns in the design. The furnishings are elegant to show off their luxury. It is a little overwhelming. The draperies are beautiful and the chandeliers are amazing but it is a lot. The attic was a fun surprise as that is the speakeasy used during Prohibition and the Harpers required they get a silhouette on the wall. I highly recommend touring the Harper House as you are in for a treat with this gem.

    Lovely Victorian house. Nice way to spend an hour or two. The guide had a lot of knowledge about…read morethe entire history of the home & the exhibit in the office building on polio was very interesting.

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    Harper House Hickory History Center
    Harper House Hickory History Center
    Harper House Hickory History Center

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    Hickory Museum of Art - Kids stations

    Hickory Museum of Art

    5.0(2 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    The Hickory Museum of Art is located at the SALT complex which was once a high school gymnasium…read more Both admission and parking are free and if the lot in front is full there is a huge lot in the back. Hickory Museum of Art just celebrated its 80th Anniversary. The museum is on three levels and they have curvy staircases; regular staircases and an elevator. I used each during my visit as the curvy stairs made me dizzy so I opted for the elevator to the 3rd floor and found the regular stairs. Besides in the big open spaces there is also art to be found in the nooks and crannies of the art portion of the building. There are also hands on areas for children. I really enjoyed the In Memoriam exhibit of Joe LaFone. I do not believe I had seen his work before but I loved the vibrant colors of the work as well as the textures. It grabbed my attention and made me smile. I believe there are permanent and changing exhibits so that means a return trip to see the new artwork and discover another artist new to me.

    I'm surprised that I'm getting the FTR on this wonderful museum. While it's not MOMA or the Getty,…read moreit's a great museum in a small town that is an exurb of Charlotte. Five stars because it's in a category all by itself. Y'all need to make the trip up here! The Hickory Museum of Art has a long-term exhibition of Southern contemporary folk art, showcasing the work of self-taught artists from around the region. North Carolina's second oldest museum, Hickory Museum of Art was established in 1944 when visionary founding Director, Paul Whitener, declared, "I am going to make Hickory, North Carolina an art center." Hickory Museum of Art first earned national accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums in 1991. The museum is free to enter though they of course accept donations. When I visited, only the first and third floors were accessible as the second floor is currently having a changeover of exhibitions. You can easily tour the entire place in an hour. Today, the museum's permanent collection includes approximately 1,500 art objects, ranging from Hudson River School paintings, American art pottery, Glass Art, High-Speed Photography, and the work of regional artists. The third floor of "folk art" was interesting and enjoyable though not the type of art that I usually look for. On the first floor, more landscapes and portraits and a few pieces of contemporary art. Definitely more my speed. The museum has free parking and if you've come this far, check out the Ivey Arboretum two blocks away which features 50 different species of trees and plantings plus a few pieces of public sculpture, https://www.yelp.com/biz/ivey-arboretum-at-sally-fox-park-hickory?hrid=7Ncg9GcUykd7nIRM-MopeA. The museum shares the space with the Catawba Science Center. [Review 15882 overall - 3098 in North Carolina - 1386 of 2021.]

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    Hickory Museum of Art
    Hickory Museum of Art
    Hickory Museum of Art

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    Catawba County Firefighters Museum

    Catawba County Firefighters Museum

    5.0(1 review)
    5.4 mi

    The Catawba County Firefighters Museum is a hidden gem in Conover, NC. It is just open on…read moreSaturdays and Sundays as it is run by volunteers. Admission is free but they do take donations. I was warmly greeted when I arrived at the stone building and informed that the museum is the largest firefighters museum in the state. I have been to most of them so I would agree with that. I was given a guided tour of the museum but did have the option to go around on my own and did do that after my tour. But I wasn't going to turn down a guided tour by a retired firefighter 30 years experience. The museum pays tribute to those who lost their lives in service. The bell in the lobby has part of a pole from a fire station in the county. The wood work around it is amazing and the attention to detail is there. The museum is very organized into sections so you can see how each has changed and improved through time. I didn't count how many fire trucks were on display but there are a bunch of older ones that were donated. The museum covers everything about firefighting though from the the ways fires were discovered before the current technology. Alarms used to be on the streets and if pulled it would print out a punch tape with so many holes and they could look up which box it was coming from. Then there were pagers and walkie talkies to phones and there are phones from different times in history. Then there was the setup for what was used like 911 is today. Alarms, sirens and lights that were used are on display. Uniforms used to be like a rain jacket but have come along way since so they are lighter and keep the firefighters cooler. To dress a firefighter with everything needed runs about $4500 from boots to the helmet to pants to a vest to breathing equipment. The first breathing equipment was turned by hand to pump in fresh air so thankfully the machines are more efficient now. A large life net is on display where someone would need to jump into it. There are many ladders on display and the first ones were made of wood. The newer ladders are lighter and easier to maneuver. Fire extinguishers are on display as well as heat detectors and smoke detectors. Sprinklers would start when a part of the mechanism melted. Then various tools used from axes to wrenches ton alarm that would buckets when they used to put fires out by passing the bucket. The arson area of the museum was interesting as each fire is investigated to see where and how it started. So there is evidence of illegal fireworks to bombs made. The classroom area had scrapbooks with articles and photos and then some objects that burned from landline phones to a box of crayons to an alarm that would have melted on the wall. I'm not sure if I was allowed to touch these items but I couldn't resist. There are robots used to teach children fire safety and they will talk to them and explain what to do. I highly recommend a visit to the museum if near Conover.

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    Catawba County Firefighters Museum
    Catawba County Firefighters Museum
    Catawba County Firefighters Museum

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    The Mitford Museum

    The Mitford Museum

    5.0(1 review)
    11.5 mi

    The Mitford Museum opened in October of 2021. When I recently saw an article for the museum in Our…read moreState Magazine, I decided I wanted to check out this gem of a museum. I'd never been to Hudson, NC so another adventure awaited me as I explored the small foothills town of Hudson. The Mitford Museum is inside the Hub Station in Hudson, NC. There is plenty of parking available. The museum showcases, Jan Karon, a New York Times, best selling novelist, who wrote fourteen Mitford Novels. You will also learn about Karon's life growing up and where she got her inspiration for the ordinary people she wrote about. You will feel as if you are in the fictional town of Mitford. As the sign said when I entered "Midford is now home in Hudson". The Hub Center is the town's Art Center. It used to be a grade school building where Jan Karon attended school. This seemed like the fitting place as the museum highly values education and educators as besides being a museum it is a non profit as well that promotes literacy education. The museum is in the room that was Karon's first grade classroom. When you enter the building, you can buy your admission ticket in the gift shop. The museum gift shop called Happy Endings has a books signed by Karon as well. If you cannot make it in person, I believe there is an online gift shop or will be soon. I enjoyed my time in the museum and the staff was so friendly. The museum is self guided as there are a lot of artifacts to see and information to read. But a staff member is available to answer any questions you might have. I highly recommend a visit to Hudson as this museum is well worth a stop.

    From the owner: This North Carolina literary landmark, founded by # 1 New York Times Bestselling Author Jan Karon,…read moreoffers exhibits, programs, and a bookstore.

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    The Mitford Museum
    The Mitford Museum
    The Mitford Museum

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    Catawba Science Center - museums - Updated June 2026

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