What Do You Need To Know Before A Visit To The Museum Of Natural Sciences
Before you can plan a visit to this museum, you’ll need to learn more about when they’re open, how much it costs, and other minor details that can impact your day.
The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday on most weeks. During holiday weeks, it’s worth it to contact them or take a look at their website to see if these days change.
Their hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., but again, always double-check that they don’t have a special event or other circumstance that may cause them to close early. They have special events on various days of the week, so you’ll always want to check their website for this information as well to see if this is happening on a day you plan to visit.
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences cost is totally free, so you can visit with your entire family to see all of these wonderful attractions! If you’re looking for free museums in Raleigh, NC to visit, this should be at the very top of your list.
The museum is located at 11 West Jones St. in downtown Raleigh if you want to visit their main campus. You can also contact them at 919-707-9800 with any other visitor questions.
It’s important to note that during the COVID-19 pandemic, face masks are required in all indoor areas for patrons over the age of 5, regardless of their vaccination status.
North Carolina Museum Of Natural Sciences At Greenville
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences at Greenville, formerly known as A Time For Science , is a satellite facility of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences located in Greenville, North Carolina. It and the Grifton Nature and Science Center were acquired through a partnership between NCMNS and ATFS. The center was renovated with new exhibits being added, and reopened in September 2021. The Museum at Greenville is largely based on the Raleigh facility, but with more exhibits focusing on subjects relevant to northeastern North Carolina such as pirates and pollinators, and will also include resources from East Carolina University.
Beginnings Of North Carolina’s Museum Of Natural Sciences
Back when this museum opened its doors, it mostly showcased agricultural products until it was purchased by two English brothers. One brother had a passion for science and the other a passion for nature.
The brother that was more passionate about science collected purely for science, not for display, but he still aided his brother in developing a wonderful museum.
As time passed, the brothers were able to gain more and more traction, as well as exhibits to put on display, so that they could create a museum that focused on the natural world around them.
Today, the museum is obviously a host to much more information on science and nature that we didn’t have access to back in the 1800s. Now, you’ll find that this is a great place to visit whether you’re touring the city or if you’ve lived here for years!
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Get Involved / Volunteering
At this NC science museum there are volunteering, internships, memberships and additional opportunities available.
You can spend time working with LIVE invertebrates in the Arthropod Zoo! They are looking for people interested in the natural sciences and public interaction for thier exciting volunteer opportunities.
- Time Commitment: 2-3 hour shifts 3-4 times per month.
- Weekly operations: Monday thru Friday, 9:00am5:00pm
- Special events & programming: Saturdays, 9:00am5:00pm & Sundays, 12:00pm5:00pm
- Training: On-the-job training in the fields of entomology & invertebrate zoology and live animal husbandry & handling.
Have you been to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh yet? Or let us know what are your favorite museums in Raleigh in the comments below.
How To Reach North Carolina Museum Of Natural Sciences
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- North Carolina Museum Of Natural Sciences Address: 11 W Jones St, Raleigh, NC 27601, United States
- North Carolina Museum Of Natural Sciences Contact Number: +1-9197079800
- North Carolina Museum Of Natural Sciences Timing: 09:00 am – 05:00 pm
- Best time to visit North Carolina Museum Of Natural Sciences: 09:00 am – 02:00 pm
- Time required to visit North Carolina Museum Of Natural Sciences: 03:00 Hrs
- Try the best online travel planner to plan your travel itinerary!
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Weather Forecast For North Carolina Museum Of Natural Sciences Raleigh North Carolina
Traveling to North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, North Carolina?Here is your 6-day weather forecast in the area.Whether it is a warm weather destinations or cold climate dont forget to consider weather, while you pack your bags for this trip.Start your day when the sunrises at 11:35 AM and dont miss the sunset at 11:15 PM.Todays winds are traveling south-southwest at a speed of 14 MPH.The temperature feels like 72 with a humidity level of 63.Cloud coverage is 45 percent with 13.4 percent visibility.Todays UV index is 6 make sure to prepare properly.Make sure to plan your travel itinerary to match your travel weather forecast to make the most of your vacation with Reservations.com.
North Carolina Museum Of Natural Sciences
Welcome to an extraordinary resource! North Carolinas most visited museum with one of the States most iconic landmarksthe SECU Daily Planet.
The NC Museum of Natural Sciences is the largest institution of its kind in the South East and one of the nations most amazing museums about the natural world.
This Museum asks four basic questions about the natural scienceswhat do we know? how do we know? whats happening now? how can you participate? -with an integrated suite of onsite, offsite, online and outdoor experiences.
The NC Museum of Natural Sciences is a high-performing nexus of research, collections, living collections, exhibitions and digital media, school and lifelong education, community engagement, and a regional network – each fueled by great expertise and a diversifying portfolio of public, earned and contributed funds.
Progress is forged by maximizing the dividends on a remarkable history of public and private sector investments with a growing array of partnerships.
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Visit The North Carolina Museum Of Natural Sciences Today
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is one of the most popular attractions in the state because it offers an experience unlike anything else you can get in the region. If you’re interested in science and nature, this is the museum for you.
All of the knowledge you gain is likely going to make you hungry for more!
Is North Carolina Museum Of Natural Sciences Just For Kids
Although this museum does have a lot to offer for children and families, it’s still very adult-friendly. You’ll find plenty of exhibits and activities that are full of informative science and nature-related facts that children and adults will both enjoy.
In addition to this, the museum does have a Science Cafe, which is held on Thursday evenings. This is more of an adults-only event because it is much more scientific and features experts that will come to discuss various topics, such as evolution, snake venom, and meteorites.
There are also other events that pop up from time to time that the museum has age filters for, so you can learn more about that here. That way, if you’re only interested in events that you can bring your children to , you can double-check who is allowed to come.
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North Carolina Museum Of Natural Sciences Choose Downtown Raleigh For A Unique Wedding Experience
Make your wedding as unique as the two of you with a downtown Raleigh event at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, the largest natural science museum in the southeast! Why a museum? The word is out that museums are one of the new favorite spaces for wedding couples around the U.S. Couples love the modern look and open architecture as a backdrop to their own festivities.
This downtown Raleigh museum wedding venue is one of the most recognizable local sites with its massive globe at the entry. It also offers some fabulous one-of-a-kind spaces for your wedding day. Every floor has a unique opportunity for exploration and fun. Guests will enjoy relaxing with the view of a dramatic two-story waterfall, a scenic mountain cove, a variety of live animals, fascinating whale skeletons and impressive dinosaurs. There are enticing exhibits from a 10,000-gallon aquarium with native fish, gem collections and land of the dinosaurs within four floors of museum spaces.
Not only is the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences a great place to have a rehearsal dinner or wedding but it is also walking distance to some of Downtown Raleighs hottest bars and restaurants as well as plenty of hotels for out of town guests. Your event will support the museum in on-going research projects like the Dueling Dinosaurs and other educational programs, which is important to our State.
Enlist All Of Nature On Your Team
From the deep seas to outer space, youll see the most amazing and amusing displays while playing this out-of-the-box group game. Intriguing clues will lead you through this natural-history museum as you search for answers to entertaining questions about dinosaurs, snakes, ground sloths, poison dart frogs, 1904 Worlds Fair specimens, carnivorous Venus flytraps, and more. See for yourself how weve dazzled groups at science museums throughout the country with these types of whirlwind tours since 1999.
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Prairie Ridge Ecostation Raleigh
Prairie Ridge furthers the Museum’s mission of enhancing public understanding and appreciation of the natural environment by providing an outdoor learning space while acting as a model for renewable and sustainable energy.
Prairie Ridge HoursTuesdaySaturday: 9am4pm
Prairie Ridge Ecostation, located at 1671 Gold Star Drive in Raleigh, is closed on some state holidays. Hours vary, so check the museum’s website for details.
We encourage you to visit our 45 acres of Piedmont prairie, forest, ponds, a stream and sustainable classroom features integrated with a wildlife-friendly landscape.
How Popular Is The North Carolina Museum Of Natural Sciences
For the past five years in a row, this museum has been the most popularly visited historic attraction in the state of North Carolina. Over 1,000,000 visitors were recorded in 2018.
People like this museum because it is almost like a mix between a museum and a zoo with all of the activities available. You have plenty of opportunities to learn and explore while here, no matter what type of nature or science interests you might have.
On the popular travel review website TripAdvisor, visitors are also reporting enjoying their visits to the museum immensely. One reviewer stated that the museum was so big, they could spend a whole day exploring everything it has to offer. Another reviewer talked about how everyone in their family was interested in something the whole day, no matter what age they were.
As you can see, this is a great museum for almost anyone to check out when they are in the Raleigh area. You’ll get to experience science, nature, and even a little history in a whole new way!
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North Carolina Museum Of Natural Sciences At Greenville And Contentnea Creek
The NC Museum of Natural Sciences at Greenville will open in 2021 with new, exceptional exhibits, mind-opening programs and educational events that reflect the relevant needs of audiences in northeastern North Carolina. The NC Museum of Natural Sciences at Contentnea Creek is a 400-acre outdoor learning center in Grifton that features hiking and paddling trails through a variety of habitats, as well as an observatory and a planetarium.
Greenville: 729 Dickinson Avenue, Greenville Phone: 252.364.2862
Contentnea Creek: 949 Contentnea Lane, Grifton Phone: 252.364.2862
Museums In Raleigh Nc
Raleigh, N.C., is often dubbed the “Smithsonian of the South,” based on an abundance of high-quality, free museums, historic attractions and educational institutions. You’ll better understand what that means the instant you’re warmly welcomed by our smart, savvy locals who have created and proudly carried on a number of unique visitor experiences that define the heritage and culture of our blossoming Southern metropolis.
Discover rich history and science through captivating, state-of-the-art exhibits in Raleigh at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, recognizable by its three-story multimedia globe named the Daily Planet, and the North Carolina Museum of History, which brings our state’s diverse history alive with an expansive permanent collection admission is free at both museums!
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~things To Do And See In Raleigh~
- Golf ClubsNorth Carolina is one of the best states for golf. With many regulation courses open to the public, long courses and short, modest and hazard-lined fairways and evenGolf Clubs
- Theme ParksRaleigh, N.C., is an energizing destination for a full family trip. With a mix of parks, arcades and sports family fun activities are always availableTheme Parks
- A brewery that launched in an airplane hangar. North Carolina’s first woman-owned brewery.Tours
- Carolina Ballet is one of Americas premier arts organizations.Carolina Ballet
- North Carolina Museum of ArtThe North Carolina Museum of Art serves the people of North Carolina and all visitors as a premier destination for compelling encounters with artNorth Carolina Museum of Art
- North Carolina Museum of Natural SciencesWelcome to an extraordinary resource! North Carolinas most visited museum with one of the States most iconic landmarksNorth Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
- Shopping
Unique Event Spaces And Downtown Raleigh Views
One of the museums hottest event space features is the amazing Acro Dome on the third level of the Nature Exploration Center. Couples can get married, host cocktail hour or dance beneath the domes brilliant view of the sky.
Or start your celebration on the first floor in the Coastal Carolina Hallway event space where you can say I do in front of 100 of your friends and family. Afterward, invite guests up to the third floor for dancing amongst the dinosaurs. Yes, you heard us right. This Prehistoric North Carolina-themed event space features a giant ground sloth, brontosaurus and a host of other prehistoric wedding crashers. Above all, your guests will be wow-ed by the the Acro Dome ceiling.
For larger weddings, the WRAL Theater on the first floor can host up to 275 guests. This is no ordinary auditorium. It includes a state-of-the-art presentation area with a variety of media amenities. Say I do on stage in front of all of your friends and family.
On the second level of the Nature Exploration Center, couples can transform the Hidden Gems exhibit into a speak-easy or a chic dance floor. As a working research facility, the Nature Research Center wing of the museum has a plethora of event spaces and specimens. The lobby on the first floor and adjacent floors can be used for events. Party in the paleontology lab on the third floor, which can be rented for additional fees.
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Visit The Largest Natural History Museum In The Southeast
A trip to Raleigh provides a unique opportunity to experience one of the Southeasts most valuable cultural resources and one of the nations most amazing museums about the natural world. The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is the states most-visited museum, and its high standards are reflected in its affiliation with the Smithsonian Institution.
If you love museums and are fascinated with the natural world around you, this is one spot you simply cant miss. The museum includes four floors of exhibits in its Nature Exploration Center and Nature Research Centersome including live animalsplus gift shops and cafes serving up delicious food. All exhibits can easily be explored through various self-guided tours.
More Things To Do Dining And Shopping
The museum brings in exciting and popular, temporary exhibits that are swapped out every three to six months. Past exhibits have featured Extreme Mammals, the biggest, smallest and most amazing mammals of all time Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, showcasing 200 artifacts recovered from the wreck site and Animal Grossology, described as a scientific look at natures slime-making, vomit-munching and dookie-loving creatures. See what’s currently at the museum, here.
Sit back and watch a movie in the WRAL 3D Theater, featuring all sorts of educational films like Conquest of the Skies 3D, Dinosaurs Alive! 3D, Museum Alive 3D and Flight of the Butterflies 3D. All of the films are about 30 minutes and are appropriate for most ages. See the current line-up and schedule, here.
Dining options on location include two cafes, one being the popular Daily Planet Cafe, with fresh and local food. You can also shop the two museum storeslocated in both the Nature Research Center and the Nature Exploration Centerfor a wide assortment of books, videos, CDs, natural science kits, minerals, jewelry, educational toys and more.
Admission is free, although a purchased ticket is required for most featured exhibitions and films in the WRAL 3D Theater.
Get more details, including museum hours, here.
After exploring the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, head over to the North Carolina Museum of History, right across the street .
Header photo via the museum all other photos, Karen Swain
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About North Carolina Museum Of Natural Sciences
NC Museum of Natural Sciences is a historic wedding venue located in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. They pride themselves on being the largest natural history museum in the Southeast. Your guests will experience a dramatic two-story waterfall, a beautiful mountain cove, live animals, whale skeletons and amazing dinosaurs at this one-of-a-kind venue. North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences allows you to support important exhibits, research and educational programs as you host your wedding at their unique location.
Facilities and Capacity
Couples can accommodate up to 2,250 guests at this spacious venue. They offer five floors on their Nature Exploration Center and four floors on their Nature Research Center for both intimate ceremonies and grand receptions. Their second floor Featured Exhibition Gallery in their main building is a lofty space that can accommodate up to 625 guests. Your loved ones will enjoy the Mountains to the Sea exhibit as you dance the night away. On the fourth floor of the Nature Research Center, you can rent out the spacious William G. Ross Jr. Environmental Conference Center. This expansive space is perfect for lavish affairs. It features custom-made reclaimed wood, three projectors and a catering kitchen. It can easily be divided for smaller weddings, and boasts an outdoor rooftop terrace.
Services Offered
- In-house caterer
- Wheelchair accessible
Cuisine
- Mediterranean Chicken
- Shrimp and Bacon Mac N Cheese
- Atlantic Salmon
