rocket and engine outside the Center In 1984, the Boards of the Exploratory Learning Center (now the
Heritage Museum of Orange County) and the Experience Center joined to form the Discovery Museum of Orange County with the dual goals of teaching children what life was like in
Orange County in the 1900s and creating a world-class science center. A funding feasibility study in 1989 indicated that county leaders would support the project. In the mid-1990s, prior to construction, a smaller "beta" version of the science center called Launch Pad operated in
South Coast Plaza. The current facility was opened on December 17, 1998, in what had originally been a
Bekins Van Lines depot. In 2008 the Center became an affiliate within the
Smithsonian Affiliations program. On September 29, 2012, it was announced that the center was seeking to expand its facilities. Phase 1, opened on June 11, 2015, features the new Discovery Pavilion and of remodeled space. Future phases include a Life Sciences Hall, Courtyard of Learning and Living, Environmental Pavilion, an
IMAX theater, and a "
green" parking facility.
Discovery Cube Los Angeles The center has also entered into a partnership with the City of Los Angeles to take over and operate the former
Children's Museum of Los Angeles facility at
Hansen Dam, located in the northern
San Fernando Valley. The city provided financing and contracted with the center in April 2012, and the center finalized federal funding in January 2013 to finish construction on the existing facility and begin building exhibits. The satellite campus opened on November 13, 2014, and is named
Discovery Cube Los Angeles. This is also the site of the 1991
Rodney King beating. == Exhibits ==