Help us spark curiosity in our community.
Through The Panhandle Gives 2023 campaign, the Don Harrington Discovery Center’s goal is to raise funds supporting our mission to create moments of discovery that reveal the inner workings of our world to learners across the High Plains.
The vision to spark curiosity, inspire lifelong learning through play, and coax the individual genius within each of us to engage confidently in our world is encompassed in our innovative programs, special events, community outreach, and day-to-day operations.
Almost HALF of the Discovery Center’s income comes from donations as little as $1. Help us continue to create moments of discovery here in Amarillo!
Serving more than just Amarillo
Across both sites, we serve students, educators, and the half-a-million residents of the Texas Panhandle, along with our neighbors in the surrounding four-state regions of New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, and Oklahoma. We have served an average of 140,000 guests per year since 2009, inspiring learners of all ages from cradle to career and beyond.
Providing equitable access to all learners
As the only organization of our size in the Texas Panhandle championing informal education through playful exploration, we bridge educational gaps stemming from screen dependency, inequitable access to resources, and low comprehension of basic literacy foundations. At DHDC, our hands-on exhibits and interactive learning avenues ensure equitable access to vital educational tools, empowering individuals to chart their own learning journeys and envision careers across the field of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math).
A part of the community for almost 50 years
DHDC opened to the public in 1976, having been founded by Amarillo Independent School District as a learning resource to supplement formal education. We have provided the community with fun and engaging science experiences for almost 50 years, growing from a small gallery and planetarium to now include large interactive galleries for all ages, state-of-the-art technology, and an outdoor science park. DHDC emerged as an independent nonprofit science and technology center in 1984.
The Don Harrington Discovery Center could not exist without the support of the community and our donors. Very simply, we can’t do what we do without you. We were started by the community and continue to be here for the community. We are your Discovery Center! Help us during The Panhandle Gives so we can continue to be a place of learning and discovery for our community and beyond.
The Panhandle Gives, hosted by the Amarillo Area Foundation, is an annual event that spans from November 20 to November 28, 2023, encompassing Giving Tuesday. Nonprofits eligible for AAF grants can participate, and they retain 100% of donations they raise. Additionally, organizations raising at least $250 receive a percentage match from the Amplification Fund, comprised of contributions from foundations, corporate sponsors, and individual donors. Visit here to learn more.