Sound Garden exhibit opens at Museum of Life and Science

The Museum of Life and Science in Durham has a new do-it-yourself music exhibit.

The new Sound Garden is in Gateway Park, which sits just outside the Durham museum's main building. It's open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m., Sunday.

Here, museum visitors can experiment with the "science of sound." Sound Garden features more than 25 hands-on instrument and sound experiences. Many of these musical instruments are made with recycled, reclaimed or renewable materials - from trash can lids to wrenches to pieces of bamboo.

The museum's development team designed the exhibit with help from local musician, professor, and "artivist" Pierce Freelon, according to a press release.

Gateway Park opened in spring 2015, replacing the former Loblolly Park, which had included a station where kids could make some noise with various percussive instruments.

Sound Garden is free with admission, which is $16 and $11 for kids ages 3 to 12.

This week, the museum also will open Frozen Over with seasonal activities for little ones such as an "icicle" forest, indoor ice rink and igloo build area. It opens Wednesday and runs through Jan. 29. It's also free with admission.