By 1999 $1.8 million had been raised and the construction of the 18,000 sq ft (1,700 m 2) center began in 2001. They then began a grassroots funding campaign to raise the money needed for the 'Discovery Center'. The Board of Directors, with the help of local citizens, was able to procure a large amount of privately donated wetlands.
In 1996 the City of Murfreesboro leased 6 1⁄ 2 acres of city land to the Discovery House. After several years it was decided that, for environmental reasons, the old structures should be demolished and new buildings built. In 1995 after it outgrew its old location the Discovery House staff, Congressman Bart Gordon and Murfreesboro Mayor Joe Jackson, with the help of the United States Army Corps of Engineers, began to study the possibility of reusing the vacated site of the old Murfreesboro Water & Sewer Plant. During its first year of operation it had 11,000 visitors. The Discovery Center began as the 'Discovery House', a children's museum, in 1986. There are live animals on display, an outdoor nature play area, and trails through the wetlands. Exhibits include themed exploration areas for town life, science, trains, cars, a fire engine and farmers market.
The Discovery Center is a children's museum, nature center and wetlands boardwalk near downtown Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Children's museum in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States Discovery Center
