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Discovery Dome

The Discovery Dome is a portable full-dome theater surrounding viewers with roaring dinosaurs, fascinating planets, and explosive storms—all immersive, engaging, and realistic. Developed by the Houston Museum of Natural Science and Rice University, this theater offers a state-of-the-art visual learning experience that can address many different fields of science for any grade level. Dickinson State University is partnering with the Southwest Art Gallery and Science Center to bring the Discovery Dome to regional schools and events.

  • High Definition Images – Museum-quality productions are projected by a computer-driven, state-of-the art projection system.
  • Convenient Show Lengths – Each show will engage viewers’ attention and is approximately 25 minutes long. Multiple shows can be viewed on the same day for the same school.
  • Low Maintenance – We transport, set up, and run the dome for you.
  • Low Cost to Hosting School – There may be a fee to cover transport costs.
  • Fully Portable – The dome can easily travel to schools throughout Southwest North Dakota and beyond.
  • Meets Space Requirements – The dome has a 5-meter diameter circular footprint and is 10 feet tall. It easily fits into a school gymnasium or on most school stages.
  • Continuous Entry Door – The air-lock door permits constant entry and exit without disrupting the presentation. It features a stand-up entry door, no crawling or shoe removal necessary.
  • Large Seating Capacity – The dome comfortably seats 30 elementary students plus teachers.
  • No Cost to Hosting School* – There is no cost to request the dome visit a school in Southwest North Dakota. As of 2013, the Discovery Dome is grant funded by a STEM grant and a Math-Science Partnership grant.

Click here to view a printable listing of our shows.

Click here to learn more about specific shows. 

Astronomy Shows

  • Amazing Astronomers of Antiquity
  • Astronomy: 3000 Years of Stargazing
  • Birth of The Solar System
  • Black Holes
  • Chronicle of A Journey to Earth
  • Extrasolar Planets: Discovering New Worlds
  • Ibex: Search for The Edge of The Solar System
  • Moles: What Is Out There?
  • One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure
  • Saturn: The Ring World
  • Seasonal Stargazing
  • Secret of The Cardboard Rocket
  • Star of Bethlehem
  • Two Small Pieces of Glass: The Amazing Telescope
  • We Choose Space
  • X-Planets: Discovering Other Earths

Earth Science Shows

  • Climate Change: What Future Are We Facing?
  • Dinosaur Prophecy
  • Earth’s Wild Ride
  • Force Five
  • Impact!
  • Night of The Titanic

Biology Shows

  • Life of Trees
  • Lucy’s Cradle
  • Oceans in Space
  • The Body Code

History Shows

  • Amazing Astronomers of Antiquity
  • Night of The Titanic
  • Secrets of The Dead Sea

The Discovery Dome is owned by Dickinson State University. We are partnering with the Southwest Art Gallery and Science Center to bring the Discovery Dome to regional schools and events.

For more information on bringing the Discovery Dome to your school/event, contact:

Dustin Young
Executive Director
Southwest Art Gallery and Science Center
701-318-1473
swartandscience@gmail.com
99 2nd Street East, Dickinson ND 58601