Dedicated to preserving the heritage of our rivers.

Welcome to the River Discovery Center!

 

Become a Member of the River Discovery Center!
Your family enjoys unlimited entry to RDC and more than 550 museums and science centers!

Find a list of the Participating museums in the following links.

 

Association of Science and Technology Center Museums

and

Southeastern Museums

Call us today 270-575-9958, or click HERE to print our membership form.

 

Featured Exhibit

Boat Simulator

Take a Turn at the Wheel

In this state-of-the-art audio visual experience, you can “captain” a speed boat, a towboat or a Coast Guard vessel in a variety of scenarios, including daytime or nighttime.   The center’s simulator, the first of its kind to be open... Learn more

News & Events

Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition Highlighting Changing Landscape of Rural America Coming to Paducah
The Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street, in cooperation with the Kentucky Humanities Council, presents “Crossroads: Change in Rural America.” The exhibition examining the evolving landscape of rural American opens at the River Discovery Center in downtown Paducah. “Crossroads” will be on view from... Learn more
River Discovery Center Earns Award
RIVER DISCOVERY CENTER EARNS 2018 TRIPADVISOR CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE PADUCAH, KENTUCKY/USA – May 25, 2018 – The River Discovery Center today announced that it has received a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence. Now in its eighth year, the achievement celebrates businesses that have... Learn more

Educational Programs

Adopt-a-Towboat
Adopt-a-Towboat is a year-long educational program which matches up a real towboat and its crew with a classroom in the region. The local towboat companies commit one of their vessels as an off-site,  teaching  "classroom" as the students learn about the industry and its impact... Learn more
Off-Site Visits
The River Discovery Center is now offering grade specific Outreach Programs for Elementary School students.  Please contact Julie Harris at 270-575-9958 or jharris@riverdiscoverycenter.org for more information. 
Career Day
Rivers of Opportunity Career Day is an all-day career fair that invites area high school students to come to the center for an event focusing on river-related careers. Representatives from the towing industry, KY Fish and Wildlife, US Army Corps of Engineers, the US Coast Guard and other marine-... Learn more
Skippers
Skippers is an educational offering for all area 3rd graders. This program is sponsored by Ingram Barge Company and is FREE to all third-grade classes. The Skippers Program includes a tour of the center’s exhibits, time in the navigation simulator, a classroom session and the film shown in the... Learn more