I can remember as a child being so excited to see the green dome of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences when we drove into downtown Raleigh. Seeing the dome meant we would soon be at the museum that I loved so very much. My family took many field trips to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Many of the exhibits I saw as a child are still there today. Those include the entire first floor and most of the second floor. I loved seeing the shark jaw with it’s large teeth, the whale skeletons that seemed to be swimming above me, and the forest that resembled the many ecosystems found here in North Carolina. I highly suggest stopping by this wonderful museum if you find yourself in or around Raleigh, NC. The museum is free for everyone and does a wonderful job of teaching and celebrating the world of nature found in North Carolina.
1. Discovery Room
Location: Second Floor
The Discovery Room is by far Sybil’s favorite part of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Open Tuesday-Sunday from 10:30am-12:30pm and then reopening at 1pm-3pm for family time.
In this wonderful room there are many different kid friendly areas. There are play areas such as themed discovery boxes, nature themed dress up, binoculars at the window, a high powered magnifier, touch and feel animal skins, books, a toddler area and moon-sand to learn topography.
The Discovery Room volunteers are beyond helpful and knowledgeable. They were so good with my girls and the many kids who were bouncing around the room from one activity to another.
2. Prehistoric North Carolina (Dinosaur Exhibit)
Location: Third Floor
The third floor houses the “Dinosaur Area” as Sybil calls it. This exhibit explores prehistoric predators along with skeletons of the Thescelosaurus and the Ground Sloth (this skeleton was discovered near Wilmington, NC), an underwater set up that feels eerily real with ocean predators and of course the Acro skeleton located in the green dome I spoke of earlier. Sybil and I found reading about the differences between the T-Rex and the Acro especially interesting as I had never hear of an Acro before.
3. Nature’s Explorers
Location: Second Floor
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences began in 1879 and is the oldest in the state. The exhibit Nature’s Explorers displays many past exhibits some of which go back all the way to the St. Louis World Fair in 1904. You can see how early scientist preserved animals for display at the museum along with many of those early preservations including an Ocean Sunfish from 1937.
4. Anthropod Zoo
Location: Fourth Floor
I can remember as a kid when the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences added the Anthropod Zoo. It was so interesting to see everything that felt so micro in real life blown up in proportion. It felt as if the bees high above me would buzz away. Watching Sybil explore the Anthropod Zoo brought back those feelings I had when I was her age. Feelings of wonder and exploration, of imagination and even a little fear. The Anthropod Zoo does a beautiful job of exploring the insect world that we have living all around us.
5. Butterfly Room
Location: Fourth Floor
The Butterfly Room is located in conjunction with the Anthropod Zoo. You can watch butterflies create and then escape their chrysalis’ along the side of the Butterfly Room. The humidity of the Butterfly Room feels almost tropical as the butterflies fly about. You can spend as much time in the Butterfly Room as you would like, but it is only open for certain times. We suggest calling ahead to make sure the Butterfly Room is open on your next visit.
6. Underground North Carolina
Location: Second Floor
Learn about what’s under your feet in this exhibit. Starting with the composition of the soil from the coast to the mountains along with learning about all of the beautiful gems that have been found in North Carolina. You will also learn about the United States first gold rush which was right here in North Carolina. Don’t forget to check out the animals that call the underground home as well.
7. Coastal North Carolina Overlook
Location: Second Floor
Seeing the skeleton of the Blue Whale always made me feel small as a child and even looking up at it as an adult I felt rather insignificant. The Coastal Overlook does a wonderful job of showing the beauty of our coast. You can walk through and see the different animals that call our coast home. While the overlook is technically the second floor you can walk through on the first floor and then on the second floor you can look down on the exhibits and also get a closer view of the many ocean skeletons.
8. Researching Weather
Location: Second Floor (Nature Research Center)
Researching Weather is an interactive exhibit where you can learn all about meteorologists and how they can predict the weather. You can try to predict the path of a hurricane and you can also check the current weather at multiple weather stations across the United States.
9. Naturalist Center
Location: Second Floor (Nature Research Center)
In the Naturalist Center you can feel a skunk pelt, see a cardinal skull, look at a taxidermy coyote. You can get a hands on look at nature when you step into the Naturalist Center. There are drawers upon drawers filled with nature from all of North Carolina. Lots of pelts, bones, scat, leaves and wood pieces. The Naturalist Center is for ages 8 and up. Also, I highly suggest calling ahead before visiting to make sure that the Naturalist Center is open.
10. Natural Treasures of North Carolina
Location: First Floor
The Natural Treasures of North Carolina is an exhibit that explores everything from our state bird (Cardinal) and our state flower (Flowering Dogwood) to extinct animal like the Carolina Parakeet. Look up to see a Mountain Lion about to pounce and dolphins swimming through the air. From the coast to the mountains this exhibit does a beautiful job of highlighting the many plants and animals that are native to North Carolina.
The next time you visit Raleigh consider visiting the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Take this guide with you to help you better navigate the four floors and multiple buildings of this beautiful museum. You could easily spend the entire day exploring the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences so we suggest packing snacks and a lunch to enjoy while you’re at the museum. Let us know if you’ve ever been to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and also let us know what your favorite part of the museum is! Happy travels!
If you enjoyed this article you can find others just like it here that explore our state capital of Raleigh.