A visit to the Discovery Museum of Sacramento is a way to eliminate complaints by kids or parents that start with "I am bored" or "There are no nearby, fun places to visit."

Not only do children get a hands-on experience at the Discovery Museum's Gold Rush History Center or Science and Space Center, but there are summer camps, tours, birthday party packages, field trips and many more activities that stretch their imaginations.

"The Discovery Museum boasts three of Sacramento's best kept secrets," says Erin Maile Graham, Discovery Museum assistant director of development. "So, in a nutshell, the best benefit of having the Discovery Museum right here in Sacramento is being able to enrich our local community by encouraging the exploration of history, science and space."

The goal of the museum is to enrich the lives of area residents and those that come to the Sacramento region by providing them a place that encourages them to explore history, nature, science and space. The way the centers fulfill that mission as a "family-focused educational institution" is through original programs, rotating exhibits, events and tours that make learning a fun and interesting experience. Its educational experiences are designed for K-12 and compliment the school systems in the area.

The Science and Space Center features multiple exhibits throughout the year. The intent is to promote an understanding of the world and universe. It also boasts Sacramento's only public planetarium.

"And the Challenger Learning Center at the Science and Space Center is a space simulation program where adults and students alike can experience NASA's mission control room and a space craft," Graham says.

A Nature Trail outside of the Center features groves of native trees with special appearances by wildlife - turtles, ducks and hawks.

For example, those that visit the Nature Discovery Room get to see a live turtle, an owl, a porcupine and various kinds of cockroaches - in glass cases.

"The display here at the Science Center that seems to be the most popular right now is the Incredible Insects exhibit," says Emily Anderson, museum educational specialist. "The kids like to see the live bugs and how they live. Of course they like the Bone Zone where they can see skeletons and learn how they are placed together."

Through the Gold Rush History Center and museum in Old Sacramento, visitors are exposed to the story of the California Gold Rush of 1849.

"The center also promotes cultural awareness and regional heritage by telling the important stories of all the different ethnic groups that make Sacramento the wonderful place it is today," Anderson says. "You can also see one of North America's largest gold collections."

The Discovery Museum was formed when the Sacramento Science Center/Junior Museum that opened in 1951 and the Sacramento History Museum, incorporated in 1985, merged to form one educational institution in 1993. Its focus was reevaluated in 1999 and the Discovery Museum's Gold Rush History Center and the Discovery Museum's Space and Science Center were named.

"The goal was to blend the themes of history, science and technology," Graham says. "Thus, the newly formed organization was given the name Sacramento Museum of History, Science and Technology, doing business as the Discovery Museum."

The centers combine the stories of cultures and technology to explain how the past, present and future are connected.

One such "story" is the doctor's office in the science exhibit where a lesson in technology and the human experience are available through lab coats and stethoscopes. Children get a chance to simulate being a physician. This exhibit was the "best part" for Lizbeth Paige, 6.

"I liked putting the coat on and listening to my brother's heart," she says. "There were puzzles that showed how things worked too."

Children's comments after a tour or trip through the centers are one of Graham's greatest delights.

"We receive so many letters, most often from the young ones themselves, thanking our staff for teaching them so much," she says. "Most of the letters express the excitement of learning that the children themselves experienced while visiting. The most frequently reported excitement comes after viewing the gold collection or visiting the space exhibit, which returns in March. We always love to hear this type of feedback because that means that we are accomplishing our mission to enrich the lives of the youth within our community."

The Science and Space Center is located at 3615 Auburn Blvd., while the Gold Rush History Center is 101 I St. in Old Sacramento.

For information call the Gold Rush History Center at 264-7057 or the Science and Space Center at 485-8836.