McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center
2 Institute Drive
Concord, NH
New Hampshire's planetarium and space-science center, named for two of the state's own who reached for the stars, the first American in space and the teacher who never came home.
The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center is New Hampshire's planetarium and space-science museum, and its name carries the state's proudest and most bittersweet connections to spaceflight. It honors Alan Shepard, the Derry, New Hampshire, native who in 1961 became the first American in space, and Christa McAuliffe, the Concord schoolteacher chosen to be the first teacher in space, who died in the Challenger disaster in 1986.
Built around a planetarium dome, the center pairs immersive shows about the cosmos with hands-on exhibits on astronomy, aviation, weather, and the science of our own planet. It began as a planetarium named for McAuliffe and later broadened to include Shepard, tying together two New Hampshire lives that reached, in very different ways, toward space.
What Guests Love
- A full planetarium with immersive dome shows about space and the night sky
- Hands-on exhibits on astronomy, aviation, weather, and Earth science
- The moving tribute to Christa McAuliffe and Alan Shepard, both New Hampshire figures
- An observatory and public sky-watching programs on clear evenings
Worth Knowing
- Planetarium shows run on a schedule, so check show times when planning your visit
- It is especially rewarding for families and school-age kids, but engaging for adults too
- Evening observatory sessions depend on clear skies, so confirm before making a special trip
- Concord's downtown and the State House pair well with a visit
Details
Concord, NH
Learn about McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center
Two New Hampshire lives
Alan Shepard grew up in East Derry, New Hampshire, became a Navy test pilot, and on May 5, 1961, rode the Freedom 7 capsule to become the first American to travel into space. A decade later he walked on the Moon as commander of Apollo 14, famously hitting golf balls across the lunar surface. He remains one of the state's most celebrated figures.
Christa McAuliffe was a social studies teacher in Concord when she was selected from thousands of applicants for NASA's Teacher in Space program, chosen to teach lessons from orbit. She died with her six crewmates when the space shuttle Challenger broke apart shortly after launch on January 28, 1986. Her hometown planetarium was named in her memory, and the center today keeps her belief in teaching and curiosity at its heart.
The planetarium and exhibits
The centerpiece is the planetarium, a domed theater where full-dome shows carry audiences through the night sky, the solar system, and the wider universe. Around it, hands-on exhibits let visitors explore astronomy, rocketry, aviation, weather, and Earth science, with plenty designed to be touched, tried, and puzzled over.
The exhibits balance the cosmic and the earthly, from how stars and planets form to how weather works in our own atmosphere, giving families a full afternoon of discovery whatever the weather outside.
Watching the real sky
Beyond the dome, the center runs an observatory and hosts public sky-watching events, wheeling telescopes out to view the Moon, planets, and stars on clear nights. These live sessions connect the indoor shows to the real thing overhead, a chance to see Saturn's rings or lunar craters with your own eyes.
Special programs mark eclipses, meteor showers, and other sky events, making the center a gathering point for the region's amateur astronomers and curious newcomers alike.
The Concord setting
Concord is New Hampshire's capital, a walkable Merrimack Valley city whose downtown is anchored by the gold-domed State House, the oldest state capitol in which a legislature still meets in its original chambers. Main Street's shops and restaurants make an easy pairing with a Discovery Center visit.
The city sits at the crossroads of the state, an easy base for reaching the Lakes Region, the Seacoast, or the White Mountains, and a fitting home for a museum about looking outward and upward.
Closest Boutels
The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.
Things to Do Near Concord
New Hampshire State House
About 3 miles, a 8 minute drive
The gold-domed capitol in downtown Concord, the oldest state house where a legislature still meets in its original chambers, open for visits.
SEE Science Center
About 20 miles, a 25 minute drive
A hands-on science museum in Manchester's historic millyard, home to an enormous Lego model of the mills at their peak.
Canterbury Shaker Village
About 15 miles, a 20 minute drive
A preserved Shaker village of white clapboard buildings, gardens, and craft demonstrations set in rolling farmland.