Skip to main content

Schools

How Do I...

  1. About Us
  2. Our Space

Our Space

OUR SPACE

Margaret C. Woodson Planetarium photo

Margaret C. Woodson Planetarium 

Since 1969, the Margaret C. Woodson Planetarium has been enthralling audiences with images of our neighborhood, the night sky and the universe.  In the 73-seat, 30-foot planetarium in which recent updates have made this dome state-of-the-art. A new laser 4K fish-eye projector allows images and shows anywhere from planet Earth to the outer reaches of space. Our upgraded laser system and sound system creates a multisensory experience for our concert laser shows. With the continued support of the Margaret C. Woodson Foundation, our 1969 Spitz A3P star projector has LED lighting to continue to provide a hyper-realistic night sky for all ages. 

photo of plants representing a rainforest

Rainforest

Have you ever heard of a rainforest right outside of Charlotte? Our indoor rainforest supports a wide range of vegetation types and demonstrates different aspects of the rainforest ecosystem, such as the importance of tree canopy. This artificial humid environment includes a raging waterfall and life-like rock structures. 

photo of an aquarium

Aquariums

Have you ever seen stars under the sea? Explore our 1,300 gallon touch pool modeled after a coastal tidepool. Inhabitants include various starfish, sea urchins, tropical fish, and other marine species. In addition to our touch pool, our facility has 3 two-hundred gallon aquariums that include native fish and aquatic turtle habitats. 

A teacher holds a snake as HS students pet it.

Animal Collection

Slithering, hopping, and crawling around are our animal ambassadors! Our animal collection includes creatures with no legs, and some with as many as eight legs. With a combination of North Carolina native and exotic species, we promote conservation of the natural world, and help students develop a closer connection to nature. In addition to our ambassadors, we possess various biofacts, allowing us to bring nature inside the classroom.

Setzer School building

Setzer School

Built in Southern Rowan County in 1847, this one-room schoolhouse educated children in the area for 50 years. One-room schooling incorporated multiple students from every grade level in the same building and only operated for 2-3 months during the year. In partnership with the Rowan Museum, the Setzer School is used as a resource for public programming. Students have a chance to compare how their school life has changed compared to Setzer, and what inventions, changes, and societal freedoms have changed since the mid-19th Century. 

Kids dressed up in lab coats and masks perform an experiment.

Science Labs

Put on your safety goggles and lab coat, because it’s time to start a dissection in Horizons Unlimited’s science lab! Hone your dissection skills, learn how to properly use stereoscopes, and have a blast with your lab partner learning about animal anatomy. 

We offer dissection programs to 7th grade and high school students, focused on developing lab skills such as tool use, comparative anatomy, and lab safety. Dissection options include our introductory pickle (great for students who are both familiar and unfamiliar with dissection skills),  grasshoppers, worms, crayfish, squids, herrings, and sheep hearts.

Seating up to 60 students, our science lab(s) can be divided into two separate laboratory spaces. Equipped with lab tables, chairs, stereoscopes, and a washroom, our lab is suited for a wide range of lab-related uses.