Getting ready forthe Fort Collins Museum of Discovery.
A science, history and culture museum with a music lab, a tornado chamber and a dome theater. Its own social story names the loud rooms and three quiet spots, and a free sensory pack is at the front desk.
Sensory supports. Free S.P.A.R.K. packs, social story.
From the museum's own social story: “Some of the exhibits have bright lights and reflective surfaces. I might get overwhelmed. If that happens, I need to tell someone who can bring me to a quiet area.”
“The Big Backyard has a lot of grass, trees, and squirrels. It is a quiet place for me to go and be outside.”
Our note The museum doesn't say which times are quieter, but its social story names the loud rooms and three quiet spots. Look at it together the night before.
Our note The social story is from 2023, so a few exhibit names may have changed.
Three things to know
Free S.P.A.R.K. Explorer Pack at the front desk: a wiggle seat, a visor, noise-reducing headphones, a weighted lap pad and fidget keychains. They hold an ID or membership card as a deposit.
Ability Pass: visitors with intellectual, physical or developmental disabilities who come with a caregiver get discounted admission (Dome Theater too), and the caregiver gets in free.
Free parking at the museum, with overflow along Cherry Street. A drop-off area is in front of the main entrance, and 4 accessible spaces are by the Museum Café entrance.
More: tickets, food, restrooms, staff
Named in the museum's own social story (2023); it doesn't publish a noise scale.
Louder or brighter, in the museum's own story
The lobby (“It is very bright and can be loud.”)not stated
Music & Sound Lab (bells, drums and a theremin; “It can get loud.”)not stated
Tornado Chamber (winds up to 70 miles per hour; “It is fun, but loud!”)not stated
OtterBox Digital Dome Theater, 2nd floor (“It is dark and loud.”)not stated
Restroom hand dryers (“The hand dryers are very loud.” Paper towels are there too.)not stated
Quieter, in the same story
The Big Backyard, outsidequiet zone
The Archive (walk-in Tuesday to Saturday, 9 am to 1 pm)quiet zone
Rooftop Observation Deck, 3rd floorquiet zone
Tickets: adults $15.50; youth, students and seniors $12.75; under 2 free. Dome shows are $6 more for non-members. The Archive, Rooftop Observation Deck, store and café are always free.
No food or drink in the galleries. Eat in the café or at the outdoor picnic tables. The café is open Tuesday to Friday 9:30 am to 4 pm and weekends 10 am to 4 pm.
Every restroom has an accessible stall and a baby-changing station. The gender-neutral companion restrooms are in the Music and Sound Lab.
In the museum's story, staff wear nametags shaped like thought bubbles and volunteers wear bright orange lanyards.
The Tot Spot is only for kids 5 and under.
An elevator in the main lobby goes to the 2nd and 3rd floors.
Questions: 970-221-6738.
What the museum doesn't say
not stated a quieter time of day
not stated a dedicated quiet or sensory room
not stated where first aid is
not stated a stroller rule
not stated a re-entry rule
not stated sensory-friendly hours or low-sensory Dome shows
Tickets in a bright lobby that can be loud, then hands-on galleries: a music lab with real instruments, a tornado chamber with strong wind, live animals, and a dome theater upstairs that is dark and loud. The free S.P.A.R.K. pack at the front desk has headphones and a wiggle seat. Quiet spots: the Big Backyard outside, the Archive and the Rooftop Observation Deck. Change anything.
Common questions
What if my child won't look at the schedule or story?
That is common at first. Leave it where the moment happens, point to one picture at a time, and keep it low-pressure. Many kids warm up to it after a few calm tries, in their own time.
Can I make this in Spanish?
Yes. Every tool and this page exist in Spanish, and the printed page comes out in the language you choose. Use the language switch at the top.
Do I need an account?
No. There is no signup, and we don’t keep what you type; anything you save stays on your device. Make it, print it, done.
