Let me start by saying we’re not big museum people, and typically avoid them when we travel, but the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is different.
For us to be interested in visiting a museum, it has to be something special.
The NC Museum of Natural Science is the Southeast’s largest natural history museum and the most visited museum in North Carolina – and one of the USA’s most respected museums that explores the natural world.
It’s famous for its vast collection of fossils, specimens and geologic collections, as well as their commitment to community outreach and world-class education programs.
If you’re looking for a place where you can learn all about the natural world, in a fun and easy to digest manner, then this is the place to go. Its interactive exhibits make learning a joy, no matter your age.
In this guide, we share everything you need to know about visiting Raleigh’s most premier museum, including what to see and how to visit.
About The NC Museum of Natural Sciences
Raleigh is well known for its quality and quantity of museums (many of which are free), and has often been referred to as the “Smithsonian of the South”.
The entire NC Museum of Natural Sciences complex spans over five campuses, with six facilities.
Some of the campuses are used as educational buildings and some are used for research purposes, so when visiting the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, most people tend to think of the downtown campus.
The campus in downtown Raleigh is where the vast majority of exhibits are kept, as well as the research lab, so we will focus on our enjoyable experience visiting there in this guide.
The main campus in downtown spans two buildings over two city blocks, joined by a pedestrian bridge.
There’s over 4 floors of exhibits that visitors can explore in this natural science museum, featuring live animals, dinosaur and whale skeletons, research centers where you can watch scientists work, walk-through dioramas, microbes and meteorites, human anatomy exhibits, planets, 3D movies and much more.
You will need quality time here. It’s the largest museum of its kind in Southeast USA for a reason! It has TONS of cool things to see and learn about, whether you’re a family like us with young kids, a college student and budding scientist, a group of friends, whoever, there’s something here for everyone!
Permanent Exhibitions at NC Museum of Natural Sciences
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is one of the most popular things to do in Raleigh for several reasons: it’s free, has plentiful exhibits (both permanent and temporary), commitment to research, special events, real live animals – yep, you could say it’s like a mix of a museum and a zoo!
And what we loved is that the information plaques at each exhibit have interesting information but are short and quick to read – parents with kids with short attention spans, you know this helps!
The museum actually has four facilities on three campuses, but we visited the main campus downtown that contains the Nature Exploration Center and Nature Research Center that are connected by a breezeway.
Some of the highlights in each center are below.
Nature Exploration Center
The Nature Exploration Center (NEC) opened in 2000 as the newest home to a natural science collection that dates all the way back to 1879, here you can view exhibits from coastal to prehistoric North Carolina, from the Appalachian Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean, from prehistoric beasts to amazing arthropods.
You can also visit the world’s most complete Acrocanthosaurus dinosaur, the “Terror of the South.”
Coastal North Carolina (first floor)
Here you can take a trip to the beach without leaving Raleigh. Includes exhibits of fish native to North Carolina’s coast and inland waterways, and the many habitats found on the coast, including barrier islands, saltmarshes, maritime forests, and dunes.
Coastal North Carolina Overlook (second floor)
Here you can get up close to a Blue Whale and one of the most impressive whale skeleton collections on display in the US including a rare True’s Beaked Whale and thier signature Sperm Whale named Trouble.
Mountains to the Sea (second floor)
Wander through exhibits displaying North Carolina’s natural habitats from the western mountains, the central Piedmont and the Coastal Plain.
Explore life-like exhibits of trees and see fish and turtles.
Underground North Carolina (second floor)
Who knew that that NC was home to the first gold rush in the US? And that North Carolina is the only state where all four major gemstones have been uncovered – emeralds, rubies, sapphires, and diamonds.
This exhibit features minerals of North Carolina as well as ground, soil, and seismic displays.
Discovery Room (second floor)
This room gets you up close and personal with natural science by touching fossils, feeling bird wings, smelling tropical scents, watching a beehive, and more.
Terror of the South (third floor)
Here you can say hello to Acro, the Acrocanthosaurus — or, as they like to call him the Terror of the South. Learn how Acro hunted his gigantic sauropod prey, and how his septic bite could bring down even the mightiest foes.
Prehistoric North Carolina (third floor)
This exhibit chronicles prehistoric life in the state and throughout the southeastern United States.
Take a trip in a time machine, see prehistoric predators, dive into prehistoric seas, meet their Giant Ground Sloth.
Mountain Cove (third floor)
See plants and animals you know well, along with a few you may never have met before. Be alert for salamanders, spiders, owls, and all things that thrive in our mountain habitats.
Snakes of North Carolina (third floor)
North Carolina boasts nearly 40 species of snakes, most of which are non-venomous and pose no threat to humans and are often beneficial, clearing our backyards of rodents and other pests.
But if you’re scared of snakes, view them here behind the safety of glass.
Arthropod Zoo (fourth floor)
See live and static exhibits of the insects, crustaceans, arachnids and other arthropods in North Carolina.
Nature Research Center
The Nature Research Center (NRC) is an 80,000 sq ft, four-story wing across the street from the Nature Exploration Center that is connected by a breezeway.
The NRC provides hands-on activities and visitor-viewing of scientists working in the four research laboratories. The museum also makes use of distance learning to broadcast lessons and virtual field trips to classrooms around the state.
Living collections include fish, butterflies, reptiles and amphibians. This museum wing’s centerpiece is the SECU Daily Planet, a 70-foot-diameter globe with a three-story theater for live programming and movies on its giant screen.
Living Conservatory (butterfly room)
A recreation of a dry tropical forest with various live plants and animals, including butterflies fluttering overhead and a two-toed sloth.
SECU Daily Planet (first floor)
One of North Carolina’s most iconic landmarks. On the outside, it’s a scaled-down replica of our planet.
On the inside, this three-story theater boasts a 42-foot-tall screen filled with colorful images, videos, and natural science information.
Here you can also participate in presentations by guest speakers and scientists from the Museum’s own research labs. Click here for schedule.
Dueling Dinosaurs Exhibit (first floor)
Located on the first floor of the Natural Research Center is the newest exhibit in the museum, the Dueling Dinosaurs, which opened in 2024. It’s free, but you do need a timed entry ticket from the Visitor Info Center.
The Dueling Dinosaurs is features the skeleton fossils of two extinct dinosaurs — a Tyrannosaur and a Triceratops.
The exhibit reveals everything we know about these two creatures from analyzing the fossils. It dives into how paleontologists can understand so much just by looking at bones – including what colors they might have been and what they ate etc.
There is an interactive area where you can design your own dinosaur using the information you learn from the “lab.”
Investigating Right Whales (first floor)
Here you can meet Stumpy, the Right Whale whose was struck by a ship and died in 2004, then researchers used her bones to show that ships need a speed limit within Right Whale protected habitats. New laws meant that fewer whales would die due to ship strikes.
Exploring the Deep Sea
Take a ride in a submersible thousands of feet below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean and see schools of squid, curious crabs, and fields of milky-white coral.
Learn how scientists collect data and specimens with complex instruments, all without ever getting your feet wet.
Our Changing Ocean (first floor)
This 10,000-gallon aquarium exhibit replicates a hard bottom habitat off the NC coast, complete with many native species. You can meet angelfish, pufferfish, ladyfish and more.
Diversity of Life (second floor)
Learn about how scientists are counting up the diversity of life, where they’re finding new species, and why preserving species is important—to humanity, and to our planet.
Naturalist Center (second floor)
A chance to get your hands on specimens and artifacts including a large collection of real bones, fur, gems, minerals, fossils, and preserved specimens that you can examine closely.
Researching Weather (second floor)
Learn the difference between weather and climate, and how meteorologists predict the future plus more in this interactive exhibit.
Check the current conditions at weather stations across the US and view some of the tools and techniques scientists use to research our atmosphere.
Window on Animal Health (second floor)
Watch their staff of highly-trained vets perform routine and extraordinary procedures on their animals, and using a two-way intercom you can ask questions and get immediate answers.
Ancient Fossils, New Discoveries (third floor)
Meet their T. Rex and learn about the microscopic beginnings of life on our planet during the Ediacaran Period.
See fossils of ancient predators from the Triassic Period, millions of years before dinosaurs evolved, and some of our Ice Age compatriots, mammoths and mastodons.
Unraveling DNA (third floor)
Did you know that there is approximately 6½ feet of DNA packed into every human cell? And it would take you more than 9 years to read aloud every letter in the human genome.
In this exhibit, you will find out how much DNA you share with other species, what makes an animal a “model organism” for research, and how DNA barcoding allows scientists to solve natural history mysteries.
How To Visit the NC Museum of Natural Sciences
The main campus of the NC Museum of Natural Sciences is located in downtown Raleigh on 11 West Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27601.
It’s open from 10.00am – 5.00pm from Tuesday – Sunday.
Other campuses in the NC Museum of Natural Sciences
There are five campuses in the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. The Whiteville campus has an Investigate Lab, where visitors of all ages can take part in science experiments.
There’s also a naturalist center with specimens of animal species, such as butterflies and bear claws. There is a PlaySpace, an outdoor learning center where kids can learn through digging and exploration.
There is also a forest and wildlife walk.
The Prairie Ridge Ecostation is 45 acres of land which is a wet laboratory for research opportunities.
Greenville Campus is a partnership between the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and A Time for Science. It has exhibits, science camps and fairs for children, and e-mentoring programs to for kids. It’s all about STEAM learning in fun ways.
The Contentnea Creek campus is another outdoor education campus which offers astronomy and environmental education, and outdoor recreation.
The opening hours for the other campuses are:
- Whiteville: 10.00am – 4.00pm, Tuesday–Saturday
- Prairie Ridge Ecostation: 9.00am – 4.00pm Tuesday–Saturday
- Greenville: 10.00am – 5.00pm, Tuesday–Saturday
- Contentnea Creek: 10.00am – 5.00pm, Tuesday–Saturday
- For their list of events go to the official website of NC Museum of Natural Sciences.
Get Involved / Volunteering
At this NC science museum, you will find 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 their exciting volunteer opportunities.
- Time Commitment: 2-3 hour shifts 3-4 times per month.
- Weekly operations: Monday thru Friday, 9:00am–5:00pm
- Special events & programming: Saturdays, 9:00am–5:00pm & Sundays, 12:00pm–5:00pm
- Training: On-the-job training in the fields of entomology & invertebrate zoology and live animal husbandry & handling.
- Get more information here.
Final Thoughts
One thing we love about living in Raleigh and Wake County is that it’s not a big tourist destination like some bigger cities, and doesn’t have the big ticket tourist attractions.
In the past, we were homeschooling our two daughters, and were always looking for interesting and more hands-on learning experiences for them. The NC Museum of Natural Sciences provided that and more, and who doesn’t love a FREE attraction (donations are appreciated).
Anyone looking for things to do for families in Raleigh, look no further than this museum!
If you love natural history and sciences, I’m sure you’ll find this science museum fascinating like we did!
And if you ever get the chance to attend an event at the Museum of Natural Sciences, I recommend it. We attend the annual Jingle Ball fundraiser, and it was so much fun dancing and listening to live music with spaces and bars set up in between dinosaurs and hidden in exhibition caves!
Video: North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
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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.