The Don Harrington Discovery Center is hosting "Leonardo's Lab," a hands-on traveling exhibit that explores Leonardo da Vinci’s contributions to art, engineering, anatomy and science. Interactive stations let visitors recreate designs, solve gear puzzles and build take-home projects. The show, developed by Carnegie Science Center with partners in Ithaca, runs through Jan. 9, 2026, at 1200 Streit Dr., Amarillo. DHDC will follow with a major dinosaur exhibit to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
Step Inside Leonardo's Mind: "Leonardo's Lab" at Don Harrington Discovery Center Through Jan. 9, 2026
The Don Harrington Discovery Center is hosting "Leonardo's Lab," a hands-on traveling exhibit that explores Leonardo da Vinci’s contributions to art, engineering, anatomy and science. Interactive stations let visitors recreate designs, solve gear puzzles and build take-home projects. The show, developed by Carnegie Science Center with partners in Ithaca, runs through Jan. 9, 2026, at 1200 Streit Dr., Amarillo. DHDC will follow with a major dinosaur exhibit to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
09:56 PM, 11/20/2025Culture
Step Inside Leonardo da Vinci’s Mind at the Don Harrington Discovery Center
The Don Harrington Discovery Center (DHDC) in Amarillo is presenting "Leonardo's Lab," an interactive traveling exhibition that invites visitors of all ages to explore Leonardo da Vinci's wide-ranging curiosity in art, engineering, anatomy and science. The exhibit runs through Jan. 9, 2026, at the DHDC campus, 1200 Streit Dr., Amarillo.
Developed by the Carnegie Science Center and produced in partnership with the Sciencecenter in Ithaca, New York, the display features hands-on activity tables where guests can reproduce da Vinci’s designs or reinterpret them with their own creative twists. A period-style backdrop painted by DHDC exhibits manager Roman Pastucha provides an immersive historic atmosphere for the installations.
What to experience
Interactive highlights include gear-assembly challenges that illustrate mechanical principles, anatomy and art stations that combine observation with experimentation, and small projects visitors can take home. Marketing Coordinator Kamden Slough said, "We’re focusing on math, science, art and all of the things that Leonardo da Vinci was a big proponent of. It’s really fun and for all ages."
The exhibit targets STEAM learners—Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math—but is accessible to all ability levels. One crowd favorite is a puzzle that requires assembling gears across a board so they rotate correctly, teaching cause-and-effect through play.
DHDC’s Friendsgiving Day Camp and other workshops will feature rotating science demonstrations and hands-on experiments, so children who return to the center often encounter new activities. Staff lead age-appropriate groups and offer a fresh experiment each session.
When "Leonardo's Lab" concludes, DHDC will mark its 50th year with a major dinosaur-themed exhibition. Visitors should check the center’s schedule for hours, program details and special events while the exhibit is on view.