Built by moms. Powered by play.
The Mt. Pleasant Discovery Museum is what happens when a community decides its kids deserve a place to wonder.
From a moms' group to 50,000+ guests a year
The Discovery Museum began with three local moms, Jennifer Fields, Heather Prout, and Shelly Smith, who met in a moms' group and shared a conviction: central Michigan kids deserved a hands-on, play-based museum of their own, without the long drive to one of the big cities.
Their vision caught fire. The Morey Foundation stepped forward with $1 million to launch the effort plus a $500,000 matching challenge, and the wider community answered. The result: a 12,000-square-foot, eco-friendly, fully accessible museum, the first of its kind in the central Michigan region.
Today the museum welcomes over 50,000 guests a year from all over Michigan, hosts field trips and summer camps, and remains what it was always meant to be: a place for gathering, for growing, and for celebrating the important work of play.
Three moms and a big idea: the museum effort is organized, and the community begins rallying behind it.
The doors open! The 12,000-square-foot museum welcomes its first explorers.
The Front Yard Farm opens right out front and becomes our newest place to play.
Over 50,000 guests a year, monthly LOCAL reciprocal partnerships across Michigan, summer camps, Discovery Days, and Cow Pie Bingo.
Our team
The people who keep the discovery going, every single day.
Jack McDonald
Executive Director
Krystal Campbell
Education Coordinator
Amy Weaver
HR & Facilities
Megan Bair
Marketing & Communications
Executive board
The museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit guided by a volunteer board of directors from across the mid-Michigan community.
Seth Blackey
Board Chair
Brittany Smith
Vice Chair
Nicole Wisney
Treasurer
Andrew Rhode
Secretary
Jennifer Cotter
Board Member
Jenny Justis
Board Member
Liz Bliss
Board Member
Luke Lirones
Board Member
Rob Powell
Board Member
Joellen Lewsader
Board Member
Kori Burlager
Board Member
Zac Taube
Board Member
Interested in serving on the board? We'd love to hear from you.
Be part of the next chapter
Memberships, sponsorships, and volunteers keep the discovery going.