NC MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCES FAST FACTS
LOCATION: Raleigh, NC
HOURS: 10am-5pm Tuesday-Saturday, Closed on Mondays
COST: FREE
TIME TO COMPLETE: 2-3 hours
ACCOMODATIONS: Large parking lot, public restrooms, restaurant and Museum Store
The NC Museum of Natural Sciences is a wonder to behold.
There are no end of things to do in North Carolina. In addition to all of its natural beauty and rich historical culture, the Tar Heel State also has fantastic museums for all ages. A great many museums in the state have free admissions as is the case for the NC Museum of Natural Sciences.
The NC Museum of Natural Sciences is actually (2) different museums connected by a skywalk. There is the Nature Research Center and the Nature Exploration Center. They’re both located on West Jones Street (next to the North Carolina Museum of History) in a beautiful section of downtown Raleigh. Each museum is free of charge plus free parking on the weekends. But get there early . . . it gets crowded (for good reason).
Both centers have permanent exhibits as well as temporary featured exhibitions. The variety of showcases virtually guarantees that everyone can find plenty to enjoy. The exhibits feature everything from hands-on and live to dioramas and virtual. Following are our favorite permanent exhibits that will be there when you visit. They are listed by starting on the first floor of the Research Center, moving up to visit all 3 floors, then crossing the skywalk to the second floor of the Exploration Center where you can take escalators up or down.
Jump to a specific section.
SECU Daily Planet
Nature Research Center
All Floors
The world globe that adorns the exterior of the museum becomes a 3–story virtual theater on the inside. The 42-foot tall screen can be viewed, at the northeast end, from each of the center’s three floors. While there is always a visual show being displayed, there are usually specific themed shows once or twice a day as well. Our visit was during BugFest so we saw a show on “Tree Killing Beetles” . . . kinda creepy!
Our Changing Ocean
Nature Research Center
1st Floor
Featuring a 10,000-gallon aquarium, the Changing Ocean exhibit explores the sea life from coastal Carolina. On display are a variety of species ranging from ladyfish, pufferfish, angelfish and even the invasive Red Lionfish. There is an interactive touch screen display where you can learn more about the different habitat living in the Atlantic Ocean.
Researching Weather
Nature Research Center
2nd Floor
Local TV station, WRAL, has a fascinating interactive section called the “WRAL Storm Center”. Kids really enjoy learning about the difference between climate and weather, how meteorologists forecast upcoming storms and even comparing their predictions with the experts. You can view weather from around the country, see the tools and techniques used by meteorologists including tracking the path of a major storm.
Naturalist Center
Nature Research Center
2nd Floor
This fantastic section is great for kids and adults alike! It is devoted to hands-on exploration of specimens and artifacts, many of which you can touch and experience first-hand. There are preserved examples of everything from a small brown bear and wolverine to a preserved pufferfish and orca skull. Some items are set aside, like bones, gems, fur and other specimens, to physically interact with along with staff members available to provide more information.
One Planet, One Health
Nature Research Center
2nd Floor
Though not as glamorous, interactive or visually appealing, the One Planet, One Health exhibit is worth the visit. It examines the connective tissue between all living things on the planet. How bees are essential to agriculture and the sharing of medical tools and technology between MDs and veterinarians. See a case study on the issue of amphibian decline and the impact of ongoing climate change on all earth’s inhabitants.
Ancient Fossils, New Discoveries
Nature Research Center
3rd Floor
The only things missing from this exhibit is . . . more! Everyone is fascinated by dinosaurs but the Ancient Fossils, New Discoveries section attempts to broaden the visitors horizons more by examining the microscopic origins of life throughout the different periods. See the fossils of Triassic period predators that predate the dinosaurs or the Ice Age mammoths and mastodons that came after.
Postcards from Space
Nature Research Center
3rd Floor
This exhibit, along with the “Beyond Our Planet” display next to it, explore life outside of our world. You can learn about the journey of meteorites as they make their way to Earth. You can even touch one! See fragments of asteroids, learn about solar flares and the SOHO and SDO missions and magnetic fields. In particular, there is a great exhibit dedicated to our Sun and how we are learning more and more about it every decade.
Skywalk
Nature Research Center
3rd Floor
From the 3rd floor of the Nature research Center you can take the Skywalk over to the 2nd floor of the Nature Exploration Center. Be sure to first check out the international collection of precious stones and rocks on display in the anteroom. As you enter the Skywalk itself look behind to your left for a great view of the museum’s trademark exterior globe.
Mountains to the Sea
Nature Exploration Center
2nd Floor
The entire middle of the 2nd floor is a flowing diorama displaying some of the various wildlife to be found in North Carolina. You’ll find everything from deer and bears to snakes and beavers. There are also live animals including a massive snapping turtle. All of it is set in a forest environment that feels so real you’ll be hard-pressed to tell the difference.
Prehistoric North Carolina
Nature Exploration Center
3rd Floor
Returning to our favorite, dinosaurs, the Exploration Center has far more skeletons on display including a T-Rex skull, a Thescelosaurus and a giant ground sloth. Explore the Paleozoic era with its explosion of life and the Mesozoic and its giants of land, air and sea. Learn what actually defines a dinosaur and the ways in which they evolved over several time periods toward abrupt extinction at the end of the Cretaceous period.
Terror of the South
Nature Exploration Center
3rd Floor
Next up is the so-called “Terror of the South” . . . more specifically, Acro, the Acrocanthosaurus skeleton which is, in fact, the only of its kind in the world. The skeleton is located within a dome which also features a mini replica (though it’s plenty big at 2 stories) of a brontosaurus reaching high towards swirling pterodactyls. The kids, and the adults, will love this always crowded exhibit.
Snakes of North Carolina
Nature Exploration Center
3rd Floor
Ok, I admit, I love snakes while fully understanding they aren’t everyone’s “cup of tea”. They are, however, incredibly graceful, athletic and smooth operators. They are also most likely to pose no threat to humans while doing a great job of reducing the local rodent population. In fact, of the 37 varieties of snakes in North Carolina, just six are venomous and only the copperhead is even likely to be seen by humans. Don’t worry, all of these on display are safely behind glass.
Arthropod Zoo
Nature Exploration Center
4th Floor
From cool to creepy . . . arthropods basically is short for bugs. But it covers a lot of territory. This exhibit displays a wide variety including everything from lobsters and praying mantises to hornets and termites. There are interactive displays, staff on hand to teach the kids and large and small replicas of your favorite creepy-crawlies!
Coastal North Carolina Overlook
Nature Exploration Center
1st Floor
Just behind the escalators is the Coastal NC area which includes the overlook that is visible from each of the Center’s floors. The highlight is the skeletal Blue Whale hanging from the ceiling. It’s interesting to see it from so many vantage points as you wind your way up and down from floor-to-floor. There are also great dioramas along the near wall displaying beach scenes featuring dunes, saltmarshes and maritime forests in addition to several other species of whales and a wonderful full-sized sea turtle.
North Carolina Natural Treasures
Nature Exploration Center
1st Floor
This unique collection showcases some of the natural things that make North Carolina so fascinating. There are replicas of floating beluga whales, cougars, owls, goldfinches, red bats and Venus flytraps. Each of encased with descriptions and maps showing where they can be found. Directly across from the escalators is the museum store which has a great little Nature Art Gallery upstairs that is worth a visit.
The best museums offer variety for all age groups and interests. The NC Museum of Natural Sciences fits the bill very well. There are loads of hands-on activities for the kids and adults will appreciate the history and context provided. Have you been? What was your favorite exhibit? Please let us know!
im going in a week
You’ll love it. Curious to see what new exhibits they’ll have . . . Enjoy!