Don Harrington Discovery Center & Helium Monument
Don Harrington Discovery Center
An interactive science center with a dome planetarium, plus a stainless steel helium monument outside that holds several time capsules.
Amarillo once called itself the “Helium Capital of the World.” To mark the centennial of helium's discovery, the city erected the Helium Time Column in 1968, a stainless steel monument about 18 meters tall. Inside are four time capsules, set to be opened in 25, 50, 100, and 1,000 years. Next to it, the Don Harrington Discovery Center offers more than a hundred hands-on exhibits, aquariums, and a digital dome planetarium, making it a great pick for families. It sits close to the botanic garden and the medical district. Admission is about $15.
Opening hours
About 09:30–16:30; open Sunday afternoons; closed Mondays
Nearby sights
- U.S. Route 66–Sixth Street Historic District
- Cadillac Ranch
- Wonderland Park
- Ozymandias on the Plains
- American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum
- The Big Texan Steak Ranch
- Texas Air & Space Museum
- Panhandle–Plains Historical Museum