Permanent Exhibition

Discovery Center

A Place to Learn & Play

Step into the Discovery Center at the Petersen Automotive Museum—where creativity, play, and learning come together for all ages! Explore our hands-on Maker Space, featuring new themes ev...

2nd FloorPermanent Collection

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Location 2nd Floor

Dates Permanent Collection

Included With Museum Admission

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About the Exhibit

Rob Walton Discovery Center

Step into the Discovery Center at the Petersen Automotive Museum—where creativity, play, and learning come together for all ages! Explore our hands-on Maker Space, featuring new themes every day that inspire imagination and innovation. Build, test, and race your own creations on our interactive tracks, or dive into captivating automotive stories with our curated collection of books.

We're open every day from 10 AM to 5:30 PM, so swing by and join the fun! Be sure to check out our schedule for upcoming interactive activities that'll take your Discovery Center experience to the next level. Get ready to rev your engines and make memories that'll last a lifetime!

Adult + Vault

Ages 18-61

$51

Includes Vault

Vault Added +$29

+ $29 to add

Senior + Vault

Ages 62+

$49

Includes Vault

Vault Added +$29

+ $29 to add

Youth + Vault

Ages 12-17

$42

Includes Vault

Vault Added +$29

+ $29 to add

Child + Vault

Ages 4-11

$25

Includes Vault

Vault Added +$13

+ $13 to add

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Tickets are valid for 1 year from purchase. View full policy

Discovery Center Maker’s Space

Welcome to the Maker’s Space—where creativity takes the driver’s seat! This hands-on area invites guests of all ages to explore, design, and build using a variety of materials and prompts inspired by the world of cars and beyond. Whether you're stopping by for a quick activity or settling in to create something unique, there’s always something new to discover.

We offer daily themed challenges to spark imagination and keep ideas flowing all week long:

Monday Masterpieces – Get creative with art projects.

Tinker Tuesday – Explore hands-on science and building.

Build Day Wednesdays – Construct, build, and create with different materials.

Throwback Thursday – Go back in time with the museum.

Exhibit Explorer Friday – Discover and learn with our exhibits as inspiration.

Weekend Wonders – Get inspired by seasonal themes and upcoming holidays to make something amazing.

In addition to our daily themes, don’t miss our Mystery Box Challenge! Choose a box filled with surprise materials and use your imagination to create something based on a fun prompt. There’s no right or wrong way to build—just let your creativity lead the way. Once you’re done, you can take your creation home or add it to our community display for others to admire!