The Rocky Reach Discovery Center in Wenatchee is a one-of-a-kind destination where families can explore the wonders of the Columbia River, hydropower, and local wildlife under one roof. Kids can peer through fish ladder windows to watch salmon swim upstream, experiment with renewable energy, and explore interactive exhibits that blend science, history, and fun. Surrounded by beautiful riverfront grounds, this public power–funded museum offers a mix of indoor discovery and outdoor play that makes learning unforgettable.
What Parents Will Love
Parents love the Discovery Center’s safe, go-at-your-own-pace “edu-tainment” approach — and the fact that it’s completely free to visit. With easy parking and quick access from Highway 97A, it’s an effortless family stop. The mix of hands-on science, cultural exhibits, and outdoor play areas makes it a crowd-pleaser for all ages, and its focus on hydropower and renewable energy gives kids (and adults) a new appreciation for how electricity is made.
What Kids Will Love
Where else can you look a live salmon in the eye, steer a steamship, and crank your own electricity? Kids love the tactile experiences here — touching real fish models, exploring massive turbines, and running wild in the shaded Rocky Reach Park. Whether they’re investigating the fish ladder or testing their strength at the “Hydropower Know-How” exhibit, every moment sparks curiosity and wonder.
Don’t Miss These Exhibits
Steamboat Captain
Steer a steamship through the Columbia River rapids and test your captain skills.
Fish Viewing
Watch salmon and other fish swim upstream through massive underwater windows.
Fish Tales
Explore hands-on dissection activities — minus the slime!
First People
Learn about the Indigenous communities of the Columbia River region.
Hydropower Know-How
Use your own energy to crank a turbine and generate electricity.
Plan Your Visit
- Address: 5000 State Hwy 97A, Wenatchee, WA 98801
- Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Cost: Free (A public power benefit — Rocky Reach Dam is owned by the people of Chelan County)
- Website
- Social: Facebook | Instagram
- Free/Discounted Days: Every day
- Special Events:
- Salmon Festival: Saturday, September 20, 2025
- Fall Harvest Round-Up: Saturday, October 25, 2025
- Summer Camps: Yes — call 509-661-8437 to register
- After-School/Weekend Classes: Yes
- Programs for Schools & Homeschoolers: Offers interactive STEM field trips and science presentations for school and homeschool groups. Call to book a session.
- Family-Friendly Features: Four floors of free hands-on exhibits, landscaped park, and playground
- Museum Café: Rocky Reach Café — Enjoy breakfast, lunch, or freshly baked treats Tuesday–Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Explore More Family-Friendly Museums
- Guide to Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture (Seattle, WA)
- Guide to The Museum of Flight (Seattle, WA)
- Guide to the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) (Seattle, WA)
- Guide to KidsQuest Children’s Museum (Bellevue, WA)
- Guide to the Pacific Bonsai Museum (Federal Way, WA)
- Guide to the White River Valley Museum (Auburn, WA)
- Guide to Imagine Children’s Museum (Everett, WA)
- Guide to Hands On Children’s Museum (Olympia, WA)
- Guide to Children’s Museum of Skagit County (Burlington, WA)
- Guide to SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention (Bellingham, WA)
- Guide to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) (Portland, OR)
Remember, some Seattle-area museums also participate in the First Thursday program, offering free or discounted admission. Check out exactly which museums offer what, and when at our Guide to First Thursdays.
