North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences Reviews

I never knew the museum had a butterfly exhibit with a sloth and turtles. It is definitely worth going to (not a large room but go see the sloth).

Huge museum and completely free! If this is the only museum of natural science that is closest to you then yes I would highly recommend this one. It’s four floors and two different buildings as well. The other building has a lot of labs in it for students which I thought was cool. You could see them researching through the glass. There’s a lot of information in this museum. If you read everything it will take you all day. I do like the snakes that they have. I was surprised to see an actual animal alive in this museum because majority of the museum is obviously from stuff that’s not alive, like the extinct dinosaurs, really cool and a really awesome giant sloth skeleton. I don’t know if I’ve seen that anywhere! And I travel a lot. If you have kids, this is a must. They do also have a café in here in case anyone gets hungry.

We spent a nice Saturday morning here. Nothing super exciting but there were interesting exhibits. The area about the coastline was probably the most informative.

This is such a great museum and it's free! I spent hours here with my toddler. The children's play area is especially fun for littles.

The NCMNS is an exciting experience. This museum with 7 different sections is the largest of its kind in the Southeast. Most of the dioramas and exhibits are focused on the natural wonders in and around North Carolina. There are escalators, elevators and bridge walkways that make getting around very easy. Covid restrictions have caused some changes like sanitation stations at each floor, one way traffic flow in parts of the museum and the closure of the interactive activities including the butterfly room. Still there is much to see. Tip: On street parking can be challenging during the work week, but there is an excellent parking garage just a block away on West Edenton Street.

This is way to send a day with the family and explore the past and the present. I would recommend for family day outing

Visiting Raleigh, North Carolina, we were taken to this museum as a “something to do.” With 4 teenagers in tow, this could have been a tough afternoon. It was great! The museum, taking up three floors, across two buildings connected by a skyway, displayed a thorough, well organized and esthetic collection depicting North Carolina’s natural history. Especially interesting to me was the paleontology-related section, where we watched the actual painstaking process of separating dinosaur egg fossils from the surround rock in which they were embedded. Based on the number of plaster-encased specimens stacked on the shelves of that lab, they will be working there for some time. Several other active labs dealing in other aspects of scientific research were also available to observe, not to mention several whale skeletons suspended from the ceiling. An impressive place. Free admission, but. Donations are accepted and I’m sure, appreciated. If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend a visit.

We love going with the older kids. They have so many interesting experiences exploring the natural sciences. all the staff/volunteers are so helpful and friendly they enhance the experience. We always eat in the cafeteria and it's so convenient to fill up the kids so we can keep going.

I love going to this museum - even when I don't have the littles with me!! If its a nice day out, the outdoor exhibits are a great way t get some fresh air!! The indoor exhibits are interactive and fun - and of, course I love the animals!!

The sheer variety of exhibits, from the colossal T. rex to the mesmerizing dioramas of local ecosystems, kept me captivated for hours. It's not just about static displays; there are live animals, interactive displays, and knowledgeable staff who are passionate about their subjects. But what really stands out is the impressive commitment to education and conservation. It's not just a museum; it's a place that sparks your curiosity and love for the natural world.

This museum is beautifully done. We went on a Saturday while visiting Duke for a college visit. It's close and a great place to spend time with brainy kids. We saw a great lecture on math and physics from a local college professor, and I particularly enjoyed the gemstones and crystals exhibits. The best part? For the entire family, it was all free, thanks to the state of North Carolina.

I always had a good time there. The general exhibition is great enough. Usually the special exhibition is for children and does not worth any extra of you money.

We only get to see our grand child 2-3 times a year. We live in Maryland. The wife and I took Erik to the museum to see the Pterodactyls, you know the Dinosaurs........he wanted to see them, YEAH!........NO interest at all. Then we went to the butterfly exhibit and he was hooked. So was my wife and I and I was especially thankful/impressed that I could use the camera.
I got hooked on the architecture of both this place and the city and as a photographer got a few shots in the "box".
A very friendly and interesting place. Thank you!
I will send some photographs (from a REAL camera) ;-)

The NC Museum of Natural Sciences is by far THE best museum my kid and I have ever been to. The museum is spread over 2 buildings - 4 floors of exhibits in one building, and 3 floors of hands on and interactive exhibits in a separate second building. The 2nd and 3rd floors of the buildings are connected by a sky walk. We spent 5 whole days at the museum, (that's right, 5 whole days!). All of the exhibits are curated exceptionally, and amazingly well, but the dinosaur exhibits really take the cake! One of the dinosaur exhibits actually spans 2 floors in height and is a recreation of a scene with complete life size dinosaur models. In the 2nd building, there are various labs where kids can do hands-on experiments with real lab equipment. The lab admins are very friendly and helpful in answering questions and assisting kids and adults alike. There is also a tech lab and a Naturalist Center where you can touch and learn with plant and animal specimens. You can safely watch and bee colony at work, and experience a small tropical butterfly garden on the fourth floor. You can also see scientists working in the labs in this building, and read up on their research. This can be real inspiring for little kids, and gives them a window into the real work of a scientist. At the time of our visit, we watched scientists removing fossils from plaster, and an astronomer at work in her lab. There are also these little pop-up stations, with young, energetic volunteers who engage kids with experiments, critters, or science and environment topics. If you are not a reading or hands on kind of person, then there is all day screening of science documentaries in the Daily Planet theater, which by itself is an amazing feature of the museum. They also have a cafeteria in both buildings with lots of food options (vegetarian incl).
At the end of the day, don't forget that a family membership to this museum gets your entire family on the ASTC Passport program for reciprocity admission to other museums in the country. On the whole, the museum is a must see for everyone, regardless of age or science interest. It is something I plan on doing again.

Our grandson who is five years old continues to love this place. The butterfly exhibit, the train ride, and the farm animals are all great exhibits.

I was in North Carolina for a wedding. My friends and I had some time before needing to go to the airport. We decided to visit this museum. We are all so glad we did! We all enjoyed the information we received throughout our visit. There was something for everyone! Fossils, whales,dinosaurs,natural ecology. Highly recommend!

This place is awesome.. I could get lost in the things to learn here.. very educational and just good fun.. two buildings two gifts shops and two great cafes.. can’t believe I’ve never been here and will definitely be back. Also right at the history museum. Very clean and also very friendly staff and they all give you tons of information. Just all around great place.

This is one of our favorite places to take the kids in Raleigh when we visit. So much to see and lots of interactive parts as well. It is free admission, so that is always a plus as well. We like the dinosaurs, the whale bones and the butterflies as well.

There are 4 floors and two buildings, but you can stay inside the whole time while passing between the buildings.

I took my daughter here when she was in elementary school. We went to the science lab and actually did a DNA test! I am sure you can't have a better experience at a museum. History museum is down a block or two

Enjoyed the museum with my grandson! The exhibits were informative and drew the attention of children with the animals and their surroundings.

I wish they had a "good" rating. I rated it very good for one reason - it is free to get in. Coming from the Science museum in Chicago the NC is very small and limited hands on attractions. BUT what I was VERY disappointed in was paying $16.00 per person for the private viewing room of The Deep exhibit. What a waste of money!!! I was so excited to check it out and even took some time off work while I was in town. Only to discover it was 1 room. Filled with a "few" props. The only thing of any interest was the few short movies they had running on a loop. It was NOT worth that money at all. $5.00 at best. Very disappointing.

Extraordinary collection of exhibits at an extraordinary price- free! There is something of interest for all ages and plenty of hands-on experiences to keep the younger explorers entertained. There are places to buy a snack or a meal, gift shops and special events. Well worth visiting more than once!

This museum has so much to see, and the exhibits are always fresh, with lots of interactive displays. The latest addition is "Dueling Dinosaurs," a very complete set of fossils of a tyrannosaur and a triceratops, which carry "dueling" theories about what happened. As always, the multimedia presentation that goes along with it is top quality. While you're here, stop at the Daily Planet (reviewed separately) for some lunch, and then check out the WRAL 3-D theatre.

My first time there I took my 4-year-old grandson. We both loved it. Great exhibits both live and diorama. We had a ball. Later on just my husband and I went and we both enjoyed the variety of things. I am looking forward to taking the grandkids again!

This a great museum for kids and families. So much to see. Great food options with allergen foods labeled.

It was an interesting place, a lot of reading. Many things were stuffed or fake substitutes. We didn't get to see everything, so we would go back for second look.

What an absolute gem!! The walkway outside is filled with local plants and herbs on North Carolina. Inside has so many amazing displays. The staff was very friendly and helpful. A must see in Raleigh.

What an excellent museum. We were there only a few hours, but will make a point of allowing at least a half of a day more when we return to Raleigh. This museum was bright and new with interesting exhibits. We only scratched the surface. Exhibits were informative and visually inviting. We had a wonderful time and would recommend a visit to Raleigh and this museum is a must see.

This is a great museum. We thoroughly enjoyed browsing the North Carolina regional exhibits. They were well done, and fostered a lot of conversation. No matter what your age, there is something in this museum to enjoy. Also, stop by the gift shop. It had many cute items at reasonable prices.

My youngest son and I visited the Museum last week and it was wonderful. So interesting! Something exciting around every turn! We especially loved how it showed the different natural habitats across North Carolina. Also loved the giant honeybee exhibit!!

Absolutely incredible museum!! My husband and I have been to many museums over the years and this has to rank among the best!! Four floors of wonderful exhibits, with so much to see and learn! We talked to several staff members and they were all very friendly and helpful. This museum is great for all ages and it’s FREE! Definitely a must-see while in Raleigh!

The four floors of exhibitions deserves a full day visit if you have the endurance. Exhibits tell fascinating stories about flora and fauna of NC from the mountains to the coast. The special exhibit on the Blue Whale is worth the fee. The 3D T-Rex movie is also entertaining. There’s a sister building that is the Research center that is equally entertaining – but we ran out of time to see it. The facility is extraordinary – what an asset for the State.

This museum has definitely improved a lot over the past several years. The information contained in the museum is both of interest for adults as well as youth, making it a good place to visit for families as well.

They also have some really nice events from time to time.

Lots to see and experience! Both kids & adults enjoy this place. There are mutiple levels to explore.

My husband and I made a quick stop here - we didn't have much time but were able to tour the museum quickly and learned a lot about North Carolina and the diversity of the state!

I loved the musuem. tons of interesting and exciting things to experience and learn. I love being able to see the history of the NC area

Its OK for adults better for children. Some displays are pretty dated and need to be cleaned! Others are nice and informing.

I did not think my 8 year d daughter would be interested but she was! She loved it and wanted to read all the exhibits! There are some very good fossils and ecosystems! Recommended for ages 6-12.

You are never too old to enjoy a museum. There is always something new to learn. New exhibits were on display

Wish they had spent as much on exhibits as they did that wonderfull globe. The most interesting particular exhibit you can't enter with butterflys, birds and a sloth.

Enjoyable visit, I can’t believe it’s free, parking fees were reasonable in the lot beside the museum. We spent about 1 1/2 hours here.

Great place to visit. Take your time. So much to see, read and interact with. A definite place to go with kids. Best of all: It’s free!!!

I have lived in North Carolina my whole life, and Raleigh is one of my favorite places in the world. I have been visiting this museum since I was a kid, and no matter how many times I go, it still is amazing. I recently just went, now as a college student, with a group of friends. None of them had ever been before, and I insisted that they go with me. They were all amazed by the giant globe when we first walked to the entrance, but they were even more excited once we got inside. The dinosaur exhibits are a personal favorite, and it makes you feel like you are being transported back in time. Being an anthropology and paleontology nerd, the museums collection of specimens in their display room was fascinating. The T-rex skeleton is also a favorite. What makes it even better is that it is all free! Not only that, once you finish at this museum, head right across a courtyard to the History museum, which is also free! They have a really cool exhibit for Sports in North Carolina. They also have to-scale Wright Flyers and two Nascars.

If you want a day to nerd out on science stuff, this is the #1 place in NC to do so. This museum is free with lots of exhibits and a lot of excellent information about NC and science in general. There's also a nice cafe on the 4th floor when you want to take a break. Overall, an awesome experience! Tip: Visit the Living Conservatory on the 4th floor; also, visit on the weekend when street parking in all of downtown is free!

We visited on a busy weekend when the museum was full of families with children. Lots of interesting, hands-on exhibits.

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Science is a wonderful place to take your kids. There is an elaborate variety of exhibits geared toward children's education and interaction with nature. It is interesting for adults as well, but be advised. If you go, the Museum is going to be full of children and it is difficult for adults without children to experience the exhibits.
The Museum features special exhibits, for instance Genghis Kahn, for which you are required to buy tickets. These exhibits are less crowded because you are given a specific time for viewing, and therefore you are able to study the exhibit without much interruption.

My children are finally old enough to enjoy and appreciate this wonderful (and free) museum. We will definately have to take advantage of it this summer, but last August was our first visit and we enjoyed the bones and the different habitats, but the butterfly and sloth garden was the highlight. The sloth came down and ate while we were in there and we had numerous butterflies land on us-wow! Such a great museum in downtown Raleigh

Need at least 2-3 hours. 4 story high the kids love it butterflies case was closed it’s free no lines easy parking free also

My family frequents the museum several times a year & we're never disappointed. Plenty of room for everyone to explore, tons of exhibits & excellent learning opportunities. And please visit their annual BugFest event if you have the opportunity! Would definitely recommend this for anyone with kids

After being to a couple dozen state history museums, I can say that this is one of the best. It is a well maintained building and free admission. It has a very in depth history of North Carolina displayed in an inviting way.

Attended a wedding here it and what a fascinating place. There is so much to see on every floor. Everything is no realistic with all the different species of North Carolina coast and wilderness.

this museum reminds me of DC and I think it is one of the best ones in Raleigh to spend it all day the butterfly section is unbelievable and all the variety of other creatures and animals.

We took our son here while visiting Raleigh North Carolina because it was a very cold day and there wasn’t much to do outside. We were so surprised at how nice this museum was especially since it was free! It had dinosaurs and animals of all kinds dead and alive LOL. They had plenty of fish tanks and snakes in exhibits as well which was really cool! They even have an indoor butterfly garden that you can walk around and see the butterflies face to face. The café they have inside called the daily planet actually has a great menu and fresh food for breakfast and lunch. I would definitely recommend this place one in the Raleigh. It’s a Hidden affordable gem that allows for educational fun for you and your family.

Good place for kids and adults interested in biology and earth science. Lots of cool displays. It tends to be crowded during holidays because it is good and is free!!!!

Walked through here on a recent stay in Raleigh. It is free. They do have a donation box which is nice. Worth a visit while in Raleigh. Learn about the ecosystem in OBX.

Spent a few hours here and thoroughly enjoyed our time. Saw 3 Monets! Large Rodin sculpture collection. 1 O’Keefe and interesting Jewish artifacts collection. Free admission! Easily accessible.

We visited today with my son and my granddaughter. My granddaughter is 6 years old and loved it. She was so excited about all the exhibits. There are many live exhibits with fish, amphibians, and snakes. There are rooms that you can watch scientists working. There rooms with hands on exhibits for different ages of children. Enough to do to keep you busy for hours. They have a good prehistoric exhibits some with original skeletons.

Another beautiful, FREE museum in North Carolina! We spent about 2 hours here on a weekday. Lots of activities/exhibits for children. Clean and well maintained facility and the rest rooms were spotless! Worth a visit when in the area. We are so accustomed to paying entrance fees (NYC) that it was a real treat to find free museums while in Raleigh!

This museum has FREE ADMISSION and a small fee for parking of no more than $2.00 for a maximum of 2 hours. We took advantage of the charge station right in front of the museum for our electric car which was awesome. I believe there are 4 floors in this building. There is so much to see on each floor and they make each and every exhibit so very interesting to watch and see. There are show times through out the day regarding exhibits as well. There is a nice restaurant inside and gift shop there too. There are other buildings this museum has. A lot to see and do for all ages!

We have been going to the Science Museum for many years. Always a wonderful experience. We have taken our granddaughters many times as they have grown. Wonderful events

free and filled with leaning. clean and bright and well maintained. I used a free wheelchair and found it easy to get around.

My husband loved the museum. It was very well done he particularly liked all the live animal experiences and the whale bones.

Whenever my 8 year old granddaughter visits she always requests a visit to the museum. There is something here for everyone. It is fun and informative. Be sure to check out the schedule for the movie times as well. The films are well done and add to your visit.

I went here with my 13 year old niece who has ADHD and usually cannot focus for longer than a few minutes. She ran around the place taking pictures, listening to the audios. We were there for a few hours and I was absolutely amazed it held her attention for that long.

I was visiting a friend in Raleigh so my husband took a Lyft do downtown to visit the science museum. He loved it and wants to go back.

We really appreciate that Raleigh has a variety of free museums for the public to enjoy. There is parking on the street, or in parking lots. We went on a Sunday and it was really crowded. It made it hard to look at a lot of things and so we sort of rushed through the museum. This is a lot bigger than it looks, multiple stories and 2 buildings connected by bridge ways. It looked like they had some neat dinosaur exhibits, but you had to get timed admissions to enter so we missed seeing that. They also had some imax shows that you could pay for. Nice way to spend a bit of time in the city on a rainy day, but would be more enjoyable when not so busy.

Free museum with lots of exploring to do. A great place to bring your teens and young children. Connects two museums together with four floors, definitely won't run out of things to see

This Museum is AMAZING! We went during St. Patricks Weekend and they had live reptiles in the lobby, it was very neat! All the exhibits and displays are fantastic and well-kept. At least the ones we were able to see. We did not get through the whole thing. We definitely will be back again.

We spent multiple rainy Sundays here, we love this museum so many different sections, they have a butterfly exhibit,a sloth exhibit, dinosaurs, fossils,Arthropods and many other things highly recommend this museum the best in the state

The kids had a wonderful time but I enjoyed the museum the most! Finding things I knew nothing about was great! I truly liked the self-guided tours! Plan to go again real soon

We thought that this museum would be more geared to kids and families but it is truly for everyone. Intricate displays that were very interesting and realistic. Learned a lot and enjoyed ourselves.

Took the kids here (ranging from 18 mos old to 18 years old) this weekend and they all had a great time. Museum entry is free and there are 4 floors of exhibits. The escalator made accessing each floor easy even with a young child and the exhibits (mostly animals and some rocks/ore) were fun enough for her to enjoy as well. Worth a trip if you’re looking for something cheap and easy.

Visited for birthday party for four year old. Very large and quite extensive displays. Birthday theme was dinosaurs and class was very good with live creatures and a good presenter. Museum is quite extensive, so plan on taking time to see and take in the whole experience.

I visit this museum because I love dinosaurs. The museum provide unique specimen which can not be found elsewhere.

We visited the dinosaurs and the displays of modern NC environments, but then crossed over the bridge to the area with the research labs and a whole new series of exhibits. Wonderful.

This was a real treat as I was marveled with the things that were exposed. My kids enjoyed it so much. I think I will be coming back soon again as we missed a little bit of it.

Very interesting museum for adults and for kids. We had only littel time as we came from South Carolina and unfortunately the museum opens very late on Sundays. But what we saw was impressive. Next time we will plan more time on this beautiful museum. Of course you have to see the huge dinosaur.

Viewing from its main exhibition floor, one would think that this museum is more like a "high-tech museum". The 2nd and 3rd floors are basically research labs. Some of the labs are open to the general public...However, if your little kids want to see a dissection of a bug, or model of earth moon and planets, or a thin section of a common rock, or an enlarged cell of a tree leaf, she or he may get a little disappointed...

This museum seems putting visitors between hyper high-tech and pre-AI (Artificial Intelligent).

We had family in town for the holidays and I wanted to get everyone out of the house for a bit. This was a great option. It’s free and has something for all ages. Great way to spend a few hours especially when it’s chilly and you don’t want to be outside.

Great place for a day trip for adults and children. Nice restaurant for lunch. Kids enjoy the weather advisors screens. Enjoy all the animals and and most of the displays appropriate for age.

Donation entry. Excellent and innovative specimen room. Pick up some bones or am animal pelt ant lay it on the interactive table and up pops loads of info that you can drill into further. Really great resource for kids and adults alike.
Interesting looking through the glass lab walls to see what the ant researchers or paleantolegists etc are up to. Butterfly room fab.
Nice cafe too

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is the best free family museum we have ever been to. The selection and size of the facility will blow you away. If you are there on business for the capital and don't have kids, just walk through it on a break, you will not be disappointed.

This was good. Better than expected. And the general area is free.
We enjoyed the special exhibit that is $10 as well. Give it a try if you are within fairly easy driving distance.

The best thing about this museum is that it is free! The exhibits are breath-taking. You can tell a lot of effort went into making this an amazing experience for adults and children. The dinosaur exhibits would be my favorite. The fossils are larger than life and make you feel like a drop in their ocean. I would definitely return.

It was a beautiful day in Raleigh and we extended our time downtown to see a few more sights. The museum was well designed, featured so many different exhibits, and was free! The Science of Star Wars was a fun show in the Daily Planet Theatre.

We had out-of-town guests so we took them. We had previously gone so we knew they'd enjoy it and they did. There is so much to look at and do, it fills an entire afternoon. We will go again.

Visited for the first time and enjoyed our time there. Nice hands on opportunities in the labs and interesting displays.

We were in Raleigh for a conference and one of the networking events was held at this museum. It turned out to be a great venue for the event. Lots of interesting exhibits to hold everyone's interest during the evening. Would definitely recommend for this type of event or just a visit with family.

In town to visit my brother and spend several hours browsing through exhibits in each of NC's regions - Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal - after walking all morning at Umstead State Park. Many lifelike animal exhibits displayed in natural habitats for easy viewing with informative signage. Especially loved the life sized whale skeletons suspended over First Floor Coastal area, which you could view well from the upper floor. Since we didn't go to the beach this year because of Florence, it was nice to have a virtual view. We parked 3 minute walk away at Visitor Lot 1, 140 E Jones St, $2 an hour. We went to dinner after at City BBQ.

The people in charge of organizing summer camp trips were Awesome! They provided me with many options for my Summer camp. All we had to pay for was the 3-D movie on sharks which my students greatly enjoyed! Once we arrived the staff greeted us and told us exactly what to do. They also provided a place for us to keep our lunches. What a wonderful, friendly and informative staff! We had an awesome time and will definitely return next summer!!

Visited here in May 2019 with 2 adults and 3 kids aged 6, 4, and 1. We started with lunch in the cafeteria which was delicious and relatively well priced. This museum is right downtown near the government buildings and, with admission being free, saw that some of the government employees eat there as well. So, this is more than just a concession stand. There are two separate buildings connected by elevated walkways, and each building has 3 floors of activities ranging from science to art to the environment, weather, and history. We spend 3.5 hours here but could have spent 5 hours, easy. All the exhibits were extremely well done and provided and interesting and fun time, especially since it was about 95 degrees outside. On a Friday, parking at a street meter was very cheap and I found a spot right around the corner from the entrance. If you are in town for more than one day, I would recommend going to the other North Carolina museums located on the next block over. I wanted to see them but we didn't have time. The museum is free and it is first rate - They could charge $10 a person and it would be a steal.

Very nice museum, lots of exhibits and interactive things to do. Free admission and the parking is free downtown on the weekends, near other attractions, so very affordable for families. The Daily Planet cafe on the nature research side 1st floor has great selection and seating area.

This was an amazing experience and well worth going. This can be a family or couple activity. This is one of the best museums I have ever been in, and the waterfall alone is spectacular. We did this on a Sunday and covered every floor. The exhibits are well thought out, and the mix between living creatures in aquariums and faux as well as taxidermied is a great idea.

Love this museum!! The exhibits change all the time so there's always a reason to go and something for all ages! You can go with the kids or you can go on a grown up date. There's even a cafe that offers really great food, coffee, tea and pastry's.

Great place to view a wide host of natural science wonders, particularly those relative to North Carolina, and to witness live research happening. Very friendly and inviting with something for all ages. The Daily Planet Cafe is outstanding, too!

Just like everyone said here this place is really, really good. Perfect for a cold, rainy day. I loved the live snakes and the whale skeletons.

There’s something for everyone here! Great life size dinosaurs, skeletons, all sorts of critters to look at. Not too big so easily accessible for elderly or young children so there’s not too much walking. We loved the butterfly house that includes a live sloth! The great white mouth with real teeth is also impressive. Great opportunity for kids to see animals they may have never seen before.

It not the old fashioned type of museum. It does have exhibits in glass cases. But it also has workshops, lectures, laboratories and a cafe, So there are many reasons to visit, and learn in an enjoyable setting. Thursday evenings (perhaps most of them) there is a lecture in the cafe at dinner time - so we can go and have a reasonably nice cafe dinner and then hear a lecture which ends with Q&A. Pick the topic(s) you like and have a great evening.

I greatly enjoyed my visit and there is so much to see and absorb its incredible! Great trip for a family or anyone really who’s interested!

I am not going to take much away from this place. Unlike my past trips to places like The Field Museum in Chicago, the entry here is free and they are actually well staffed with many things going on every week. That being said, I wanna get over the bad stuff quickly. The flow of the museum is a bit weird. It's not exactly an easy museum to navigate as is, but with some stairways only going up and the elevators being down (second time over the year I've went during a busy event day and they had only 1 working elevator which is the only way of getting to the floors) the flow of the entire place is off just from the foot traffic side. I think the museum could do with a renovation and moving around some aspects of the exhibits. The entry is welcoming but oddly barren of potential exhibits as they have a huge area just filled in with random animals in clear jars. The Panther in the center is such a great focal point and would be great to have some of the other fossil or extinct animals around it instead.

That all being said, this place is a wonderful spot for a family, especially if you have young kids, to spend time at. You get free admission which means if your kids want a souvenir or to go to one of the shows, you pay for it and still come out spending less than some museums entry cost. The signage isn't great, but there are fun things to see all over. I am giving it four stars for three reasons, the cost, the staff, and the event planning. Those three things put it over a 3 star rating I'd normally give. I would honestly rather they charge, say, $15 per adult, kids are free under 15 or something, and use that ticket cost to renovate and upgrade. The reason places like the Field Museum are so elite is because of the money they get from the door fees and the government funding. That funding only gets you so far and, while free is always amazing, I think the benefits to upgrading a wonderful place like this during a time where the city around it is expanding, would do wonders for this property. I got ideas if anyone at the museum wants to hear them! 😄

Please visit this place, as museums are amazing places for the future knowledge seekers, and for the adults who love looking at our past for views of the future.

Great adventure for all ages. There is plenty there to interest everyone. I have four grandchildren ages 5 to 13, and they all enjoy this museum.

Excellent activity to do as a family, beautiful museum with a lot to learn about animals, dinosaurs, plants... and much more. It's a free activity! Highly recommended, all the staff very friendly, passing on their knowledge.

A great museum in downtown Raleigh, can't believe it's free. Lots of displays, nice gift shop too. Huge museum, we didn't see it all.

This place is great! We went on our first trip to raleigh and went with to the museum with friends. First of all the place is free! So why not. There is a parking garage attached to it that doesnt make you pay on the weekends. The is so much for the kids to touch and see and learn and we didnt even do all the floors. One thing not to miss is the science experiments. The professor did an amazing job at keeping the kids interested and showing them science can be fun. We saw circuits, hot air balloons and explosions. This place is a great place to spend some time

The wonder is evident here. We saw a dig, an live Turtle operation and a live presentation to a group. Research is really happening here where you can come and see. Yes the wonder of the world is here.

I was visiting relatives with two small children (7 and 4), and figured this would be a fun museum to explore. We were not disappointed.

We visited on a Saturday, parking in a public lot nearby (parking is free in the city on weekends). No matter what day you go, general admission is also free. Even with a few exhibits closed, there's a lot to see on the four floors, so give yourself plenty of time, at least 1-2 hours.

The museum has many exhibits devoted to the flora and fauna of North Carolina, including species that have gone extinct. There are displays with live animals (bugs, reptiles, fish, lizards) scattered throughout. There are fossils of both dinosaurs and prehistoric mammals (I still can't get over the size of the giant ground sloth). Best viewed from the second floor are actual whale skeletons (four species on display). One exhibit I appreciated was the women of science, showcasing women across various disciplines and their contributions.

If you find yourself in Raleigh, with or without kids, take time to visit the museum!

Wonderful fun learning adventure for all ages. Stay for an hour or all day! Great lunch spot too. Best visiting Times are during the week.

For the most part the staff are pleasant! A nice place to visit once, take the grand kids or friends!

This was a great use of a few hours with a small child. There were a number of well-done exhibits, deep sea, dinosaurs, human anatomy, planets. It was free to visit. The exhibits were interesting to me as an adult as well as my 5-year old. Unfortunately, young children do not always keep maintaining a high-level engagement so we only lasted about 2 hours. At periodic intervals, a worker did a science experiment in the atrium, the one that occurred while we were there was based on meteorology and barometric pressure. My daughter loved it.

Has a lot to see, bring your walking shoes. We thought the staff was very friendly and helpful. Love that it is free.

This site was very convenient to the Archives; within walking distance. It was a little confusing upon entering. But you order, pay and then get your meal. Good menu, reasonable rates.

The museum is a fun family experience. The exhibits were hands on. It was engaging for my young elementary student and my middle school student. There was a lot to explore but exhibits structured in a way to feel close, intimate and easy to explore. Dinosaur exhibit and 3d movies are a must! Cafe on first floor had good food.

It's a great natural science museum, especially for the 3 to 10 age range. The additional wing adds some educational strengths.

This was a super informative museum that showed a lot about the animals that inhabit North Carolina. There are quite a few different exhibits, all more interesting then the last. You can’t beat a free museum!

You will not be able to do it all, so you will be back! So many experiences to be had and much to see and learn.

Good museum to bring your kids to learn. Borderline excellent, plenty of hand on activities for the kids to learn from as well as workshops to enrich their knowledge.

Great play date with the Grand Children 3 and 5 years old . Lots of options to peak the kids interest. They learn while feeling like they are playing. Great Day.

Fun fact most of Chapel Hill, NC is closed on Mondays. So, I went to Raleigh for the day instead, bigger city figured something to do. I came across this museum of Natural Sciences. It was Free, who doesn't want to go to a museum that is FREE. Two sections to this museum, you need to walk the walkway on the second floor to go between them. The museum has a total of four floor with only access between buildings on the second (they are working on the 3rd floor access currently). Going to a museum I think bones and statues, this museum has those things but it also has living organisms in there as well. You can see living snakes from garden snakes to copperheads and rattlesnakes. Sea horses, turtles, and different bugs too. Yes all alive. It was like a mix of a museum and a zoo. The plaques are full of information but not boring to read and fairly short. There is a really cool dinosaur called the Acrocanthosaurus and I was watching workers discover a new breed of dinosaur. How cool is that. I recommend this museum to anyone wanting to learn in a fun way.

Four of us visited here on 9/16/21. We started with a tour of the outside area and art displays and then spent a couple of hours touring the inside. It is a very cool museum and well worth visiting. You did need to wear masks and social distance inside.

There is plenty to do for all. This is a great family attraction. There are several floors and each one is different.

We went to the science museum on a Saturday. A lot of reading and interesting facts and information. We went to the 3D about Great White Sharks it was ok but not worth the 5.00 per adult for 20 minuets of video you could see similar video on shark week.

Just a nice, casual visit to the museum with my little girl. We leisurely strolled through the exhibit halls and enjoyed learning about and experiencing the various natural science displays. She's very curious and really enjoys science - her favorites being biology, botany, and space exploration. I like taking her to the museum to spark her interests and broaden her knowledge. I'm glad we live near by and can utilize this resource when our time and budget allows. It's a fun and easy way to help children appreciate the sciences.

We have visited this museum many times since my son was in elementary school. As a college student, he volunteered at the museum and showed me sections I had never really noticed before. I really enjoyed a special exhibit on race. Admission is free and parking is easy on weekends.

My son, my friend's son and I enjoyed our visit!!!! It is wonderful!!! It is easy to get to and worth visiting

I enjoyed many of the exhibits in the museum. The exhibits depict various areas of NC from the coast to the mountains and show problems each are faced with. I appreciate the effort to bring conservation awareness; but, I felt like I had walked into the world of Al Gore.
I also am a biblical creationist and noticed that the science center has 100% adopted and hammers the theory of evolution as hardcore proven facts! I'm not a flat earther, dino denier nor do I handle snakes (although the snake exhibit was interesting). I just find it preposterous that your telling me factually what happened millions of years ago when it's all speculation. Other than the liberal indoctrination I enjoyed the museum.

This museum is a real jewel. The museum has areas to explore and interact with the exhibits. It is a great learning experience. It is a wonderful place to have fun and learn. It is a great family outing for all ages. This museum is free admission. Wonderful place to spend the day with the kids or grand kids. It is fun for all ages.

We have been to this museum several times. Sometimes we go as a family, and sometimes I just take the kids. Every time, we find something that is interesting that we didn't see before. We look at fossils, different ecosystems in our state, live animals, and oh the butterflies! The staff is knowledge and friendly. Always a fun day out!

We really enjoyed this museum and we’re surprised it was free! We loved all of the animals and enjoyed learning about North Carolina. I’m glad we purchased tickets for the 3D Dinosaur movie too-it explains the history of dinosaurs.

This place is quite a treasure. And they do such a good job focusing on NC specific species, rocks, etc. Displays are very good. Children/touch area is excellent. Best of all it's free.
We found street parking within a block on the day we went.
Definitely worth a stop, even if you don't have kids. Lots to see here.

Hands down, one of the best science museums I’ve been to. The hands on Naturalist center was a huge hit with our thirteen year old. Great dioramas featuring the flora and fauna of North Carolina. The science museum and neighboring NC History Museum could easily take two days of exploration.

This is a very good museum highlighting all of the science related aspects of North Carolina. It is so large that we did not even see the whole thing. And it is free as well!

The N.C. Museum of Natural Science is a treasure. I enjoy the many exhibits. Special events are also great. I attended Bug Fest last month and enjoyed the many educational displays outside of the museum and the chance to sample some tasty dishes. The lemon ant ice cream was my favorite. The food in the museum's restaurant is also tasty and doesn't have any bugs in it.

Good place to visit with kids where they can see and experiment with different aspects of animals and science. They also have a 3D theater with rotating movies/documentaries.

This is part of the Smithsonian and it's free to go here. The museum is very clean, laid out nicely and we learned a lot. I highly recommend going here if you have the time.

Another amazing FREE (supported by your donations) museum in Raleigh, NC. There are two buildings at the science museum. One contains many of the traditional science center exhibits, like dinosaur bones and displays depicting the area’s local wildlife habitats.

A second, newer building includes programs on genetics, evolution, astronomy and paleontology. This newer building also offers visitors the opportunity to watch scientists and lab technicians doing actual research and preservation work in glass-walled labs. At certain times, visitors are also allowed to enter some of the labs and get up close with the scientists and their work. Great way to get kids interested in STEM careers!

super displays and special events. not to be missed. all ages will have a wonderful time there. My favorite: Bug Fest!

This is a great museum, filled with a lot great exhibits and information. The first great thing is that admission if free.There is so much to see and do in this museum. Plan at least half a day to explore this place.

Such a great place for all ages!!! Every time we visit we see new things we have not seen before and all of the classes are great! The lab and animal rooms on 2nd floor are so interesting we could spend hours in both!

While in Raleigh for a hockey game, we decided to kill some time at the museum. Entrance is FREE, and it's a lovely way to spend a few hours with lots of interactive exhibits. Really enjoyed the butterfly enclosure which also featured a sloth (although he was sleeping and wasn't really visible).

Had time to kill before a rehearsal dinner so we walked to the Museum. There was no admission fee. Everything was nicely laid out and interesting. Our only disappointment was the Sloth exhibit was closed.

This museum was so much fun with my family. Everyone enjoyed it. I say defiantly go. You won't be disappointed.

Large science museum spanning parts of two city blocks. The 'lab' sections are awesome for more in-depth play and study but they have limited hours. We spent an hour just in the specimen/microscope room alone.

First time visiting Raleigh and decided to check out the museum. They had excellent exhibits, a really neat research area, and kudos to the presenter that did the hands-on weather presentation, it was very well done!

The kids had a great time visiting the museum. Saw lots of interesting things and recognized things they had learned about in school.

A fun and informative museum! Interactive and fun for all ages. Especially love the movie area and the children's area where you can touch all the natural things and animals.

10/10 would recommend! Bring the whole family, huge museum! Get there early and be ready to be there all day!

We went to the museum with a 13 years old girl and she loved it. There are lots of great labs with hands on activities. We were there for 2 hours and the museum closed at 5 but we could have spent one more hour. Be careful to come before 4 pm because lots of the activities end at 4. The staff was very helpful, knowledgeable, and nice.

Raleigh is so fortunate to have such an excellent museum. We live close and go often. It's fun for the whole family. Try to catch some of their guest speakers. They have been incredibly interesting!!

Everyone should go here at least once. There is a lot to see and learn. It is very well set up and a great experience.

Even the building itself is cool! The gigantic Earth right in front is an eye-catcher, and the overall architecture of the area is very nice.
Walking into the museum is like walking into another time period, it's amazing right from the beginning. Kids (and adults) will be captivated by the skeletal exhibits hanging from the ceiling. There are also plenty of educational exhibits to teach people more about North Carolina and what flora and fauna exist here. There is no shortage of things to see and learn about. It is an amazing, day long trip that is well-worth the visit. It has multiple levels (there is an escalator), a very nice gift shop, and two cafes (one on the first floor and one on the fourth floor). As one would expect, the food and drink are more expensive, but not much more than any other cafe. Menus and prices can be found on the museum's website. There are permanent exhibits as well as featured ones that change periodically.
There is a living conservatory that has butterflies, tropical plants, and a two-toed sloth. There are also other living animals, which include: reptiles, amphibians, fish, invertebrates, and arthropods(spiders, insects, crustaceans).
There are also events that happen throughout each month (check the website for lists and dates).

Like I said, this museum is a day-long adventure, perhaps multiple days if you really want to stop, take your time, and look at everything in-depth.

Some people say that many of the exhibits are kid-centered, but that's just not accurate. If you are an adult who loves learning, nature, history, and science, then there is plenty for you to enjoy as well.

The good news is, the N.C. History Museum is right across from this museum and both have free admission, so you can get 2 for 1 without having to travel far to do it.
There are also interactive exhibits for the kids so they have a hands-on area.

There are numerous parking decks and parking areas, some are free, some are paid. Go to the website, click on Visit at the top, then click on Directions & Parking.

I had to pick a visit date, but I am local to the area (permanent home location), so I have been many times. I visited with family, but we are all adults. However, I have seen many kids there and they all seem to enjoy themselves.

I have come here many times and each time it amazes me all the science their is.
I would definitely come again!

Walk through the doors and be prepared for engagement through both traditional displays as well as modern and interactive exhibits. You'll only need your wallet if you decide to treat yourself to food (which is incredible by the way!), drink, or gifts. Museum admission is FREE! Yes FREE!!!
Staff are extremely friendly and knowledgable and the building is clean, and VERY welcoming throughout all exhibits.

I went with my two teenage daughters and we spent hours!
There are two buildings each with several floors. The layout and attention to detail is amazing.
In the Discovery room you can pick up and touch just about everything (bones, furs, etc). There is a butterfly room and plenty of interactive activities to keep people from all ages entertained and informed. The whale and dinosaur skeletons are immense.
One thing I would NOT recommend is the "3D" movies. While the museum is free, the 20 minute 3D movies are really just fancy documentaries of things you can see from home (while saving the 5 dollars a head for the tickets) and the 3D effects are with glasses and are hardly worth the effort of wearing them. It was the only part that disappointed us.
The rest was FANTASTIC.

Make sure to give a good donation since otherwise you're kind of cheating this most excellent museum. My kids, 9 and 12 years old, would have spent days here. It's really top notch! My kids really liked putting on lab coats and doing real science the best -- extracting DNA, testing PH levels, DNA sequencing, etc. I was most impressed with the whale skeletons. Wow!

The kids loved it. 10, 6 & 4 all thought it was great. Free entrance with parking nearby. We then walked to the market for lunch.

I just moved here since jan and Ive already been there 2 times. Great museum Very informative easy walking

This museum is free. It is a great day trip to visit with 5 and older children. Must see the butterfly exhibit.

This museum is wonderful, it is 3 levels of information and great exhibits, and it is Free! The exhibits include fish, whales, dinosaurs, solar system, too much to name. We spent 3 hours there, and barely made it through before closing. North Carolina should be proud of this museum, it is a must see if in Raleigh.

Visited with my family over the Labor Day Holiday and we had such a blast. We all love science and were super excited to come. There is an IMAX but we didn't partake in that, we wanting to look at everything else. Every exhibit was informative, there were Labs open for kids to do "experiments" of their own. The butterfly conservatory was small but awesome! Wish we could have seen the Two Toed Soth but he was up high sleeping. The food we ate at the food area was AMAZING! We were all surprised at how good it was. We want to come back and visit the other museums that is around this one.

I could not recommend this more. It’s enormous - far bigger than it looks from the outside- with exhibit after exhibit that our kids loved. There was a ton of interactive stuff for kids and all the exhibits were interesting and very well done. We had a great time and couldn’t believe it was funded only by donations

We absolutely love the NC Museum of Natural Science. The exhibits are always fun to see and they have enough live animal exhibits that you can visit over and over and never get bored. There is no fee to enter the museum, but they do have 3d movies for an extra fee. Please try and leave a donation if you do go though. The gift shop also has some pretty cool things for adults and kids alike. They recently opened a whole second building that is connected by a walkway over the road, adding probably another hour or more that you can spend here. There is a cafe upstairs in the original building for food and drink as well.

The NC snakes are definitely my personal favorites here!

I watched this place being built, on a block from my downtown apartment, and when first opened, couldn’t believe another treasure in downtown Raleigh. Regardless of age, educational background, gender, there WILL be something there for you to enjoy. Parents with children of all ages will find time spent there a wonderful family experience.

We took out two grandsons and walked their legs-off. There is plenty to see, feel, and do. The exhibits range from prehistoric to robotics.

Parking is the only draw-back.

We're told this is one of the best museums in NC and after our second visit we agree.

First off, no entrance fee! A complete whale skeleton greets you as you walk in, and an underwater submersible experience, and a domed area featuring museum lecturers (our expert quizzed our group on fun facts: "What's the longest living shark?")

The second floor offers interactive experiments in a classroom setting, one experiment incorporating the coolest microscopes ever. Plan for 30-45 minutes there. Regrettably, we lacked time both visits tour the touch-and-feel exhibit across the hall. Next visit, for sure.

An over-the-street cooridor connects the two museum buildings, with a highlight in the second building being a small butterfly enclosure - the perfect escape on a dreary day.

This museum is well-lighted, easy to navigate, and offers helpful volunteers who answer spur-of-the-moment questions. Available, affordable on-street parking in downtown Raleigh.

I'll take my overnight/weekend visitors here every chance I get!

It is a nice place to spend few hours exploring the sciences.
I enjoyed a lot the butterfly room and all the scientific part with the experts

Better visit with children (age 6-12)

There are two buildings with 4 stories each with tons of things to do and see. Plus the best part is that it is free! We went today and couldn’t do everything there was to do. We took 3 boys ages 4,5,and 9 and they all had a blast and wanted to do more! We will definitely be back to do more!!
You should definitely take your whole family for hours of entertainment.
It has a butterfly enclosure with gorgeous live butterflies that fly around you.

We went on a rainy Sunday and this museum didn't disappoint. Really friendly staff, clean facility, reasonable snack prices, and super cool exhibits. Our 4 year old loved the toddler sized viewing angles for most of the displays as well as the interactive room. I liked the whale skeletons.

The only downside was waiting for parking in the free lot and no T-rex fossils. But I would definitely go again.

This museum was really a great find! It had sooooo much to see! Also there were so many interactive exhibits, but unfortunately due to COVID those exhibits were closed along with the conservatory. You could actually see paleontologists working on fossils while we were there!! According to the staff, “the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in central Raleigh is the largest institution of its kind in the Southeastern United States.” The dinosaurs were my favorites!!

During my first trip to Raleigh over the weekend we made a pit stop here before leaving and it did not disappoint. I definitely recommend checking it out and its also FREE. Very educational and learned some fun facts.

I enjoy my visits to this museum, i love to learn, and this place facilitates that.

the dinosaur,and butterflies exhibit is my favorite

We went here as a group and this museum is very well done. Lots of interesting presentations here and we had a nice visit! They even have some "hands-on" experiences for you. I plan to go back here next time I am in town. Very well done!

I love Science museums. This one's pretty good. Multi level and is free for everyone. Great for kids and families. Half a day is enough if you just want to look and not read everything. :). Otherwise, you can spread it out and spend more time inside (free AC in North Carolina!).

Visited on a Sunday. Free parking at the lot next door. Museum is pretty large, took well over an hour and I didn't take time to look at everything. Several very interesting items inside. Very enjoyable time. Lots of kids and families. Neighbor to NC History Museum. No charge to get in/free entrance.

We enjoyed all the exhibits -- well we didn't see every one but you could spend many hours here. The dinosaurs displayed were awesome and loved those hanging from the ceiling.

The butterflies were fun but sloth was asleep as it is 20-22 hours per day.
So much to see and the floors hard on the feet of seniors.

Museum boasts a collection of both living and dead east coast floral, fauna, and creatures. Has many hands-on exhibits for children. Probably one of the better fossil exhibits in the American south.

This museum is fantastic! We live in a major metropolitan city with access to some very nice museums and the NC Museum of Natural Science is the real deal! And it’s FREE! The museum is curated with artistry that fosters curiosity. It is interactive, visually stunning, and spacious. There is something for everyone, even grumpy teens.

As Natural Science Museums go this museum gives you both the science behind the exhibits and the exhibits themselves. There are two separate buildings connected by a bridge. One building houses the Nature Research Center and the other building has the Nature Exploration Center. Admission is free (donations are accepted), but a museum map will cost you a $1. Each building has four floors. The Research Center holds the labratories and show the research techniques for the exhibits next door. Many of the labs are hands-on and interactive. The Nature Center houses a science and nature film theater (admission required), diorama's of the natural habits and animals of the costal plains, high mountains and areas in between, as well as explorers past and present who contributed to this museum, skeletons of whales, dinosaurs, giant sloths, mice and lots more. Many live reptiles, bugs and a butterfly conservatory are exhibited here too. If you're an active participant, you can spend the day here. Parking is free on the weekends otherwise at least $2 an hour. There is a cafe in each of the building with both having an extensive menu. The staff is friendly and helpful with any questions. This is a great museum for young and old.

This museum is one of the best science and nature museums in the southeast. This review is specifically about a special exhibit they are featuring until March, 2022. Exquisite Creatures is an artistic display of creatures collected from around the world. Beautiful displayed of butterflies, beetles, birds, turtles and much more. All creatures died of natural causes or collected from natural deaths at zoos and private collectors. If you like nature this is an exhibit you must see.

This is a place I always bring out of town guests with kids. It has a lot of interactive things for the kids to play and learn

My family and I have visited this huge science museum before and returned for another great visit. We visited for 2 days (2 visits) on our recent trip to Raleigh. IT is such a big place with so many things to see and plenty of hands on activities for the kids. IT IS FREE !!! Parking is not bad around the area (paid parking and we just pay for the day), There are 2 restaurants at the museum and we tried both of them and they are both great. Well worth a visit even for a day with your children but we recommend 2 days if you are able.

I have three kids, 10, 7, and 6, and the three of them enjoyed and learned a lot in this museum.
Make sure to visit the nature lab. They have a very nice collection, and the science lab was very enjoyable for my ten years old.

Didn't know what we were wandering into, and was absolutely blown away by this museum. The detail and cleanliness was on par!

Explored this wonderful museum with a 5 year old. Very friendly and helpful staff. Exhibitions were hands on and educational as well as fun. Admission is free and weekend parking is convenient as well as friend.

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences has a great exterior and an even better interior and exhibits. I learned more about North Carolina and its natural environment than I thought was possible. We thoroughly enjoyed the numerous, varied and informative exhibits

Found this museum when we were rained out of our planned activities. Perfect little museum, very modern with 4 floors to explore all free! They, at the time of our visit, were hosting a James Cameron exhibition and 3D show. The shows are $6 and the exhibit $12. If you visit on the weekend then street parking is also free. Definitely recommend a visit if you're in Raleigh.

4 floors of amazing displays. Very easy to navigate, engaging, educational and fun. Greatly recommend!

Wow, what a fantastic free place to visit. If you go on Sunday, the parking garage was free too - so easy from beginning to end. In comparison to museums in my area, this one was interesting, floor to floor. So much thought was put into the planning of the spaces as well as making it interactive for tactile people. The butterfly exhibit didn't disappoint with so many butterflies, turtles, and even a sloth (but he was sleeping in his box). Overall, it was amazing and I highly recommend it.

Truly exceptional museum. The people of North Carolina have created an absolute gem and they offer it to the public for FREE (donations accepted) - even those from out of state. The exhibits are extensive, very well-done, and of interest to all ages. The adjoining research center is quite a treat as well.

From the friendly staff to the pedestrian bridge leading the the newer building to the globe that is really a theater, this is a great museum for visitors of all ages, and, spoiler alert, it is going to continue to upgrade its dinosaur collection in a serious way!

I always come here when I'm in the region. A completely free museum even with special exhibitions. Lots to do and you're sweet for a while. Highly recommended.

The museum is beautifully laid out and with so much detail and depth in description. There are many different types of activities and exhibits to explore and learn from. There is technical staff working on Sunday that are available to talk to you about their work which is very helpful. The museum is free and only ask for donations. Please donate as it’s worth it. Loved the museum.

We toured here with a group of college kids. Really interesting introduction to the North Carolina ecosystem and geology. Excellent exhibits. The flow isn’t always the best. There isn’t a clear path through many of the exhibit floors. Sometimes I felt like a salmon swimming up stream.

An amazing must-visit for anyone who finds themselves in the Triangle Area, the NC Museum of Nat. Sciences is free for all (same as the History Museum directly across).

Exhibits are well explained and laid out - however good portions of the museum were closed during the time of my visit (assume due to COVID), and the large Acrocanthosaurus skeleton in the museum is actually currently in storage(understandably due to pyrite disease), however the one on display not being genuine was a bummer.

Within the museum is also a half known as the nature research center, where you can peek into actual labratories and which features more of the "science" side of things.

There is parking right across from the museum - $2/hr.

Great place and we had fun but the kids scrambling about running into us was onerous. I suppose it goes with the territory.

This museum is very complete. You could find from dinosaurs to DNA studies. Good option to visit earlier during the day because it will take you a long time to cover everything.

We absolutely love it here & can easily spend an entire day. We've taken our daughter (now 12) 3 to 4 times just in the last year. Highly recommended.

The greeting was friendly and we were given a map of the exhibits. The exhibition tells the history of North Carolina in an interesting and engaging way right up to modern day. There are interactive areas where you can be engaged In the history. It’s colourful and attractive with lots of artifacts and pictures as well as a short movie to watch. There is audio for many of the displays. It was an enjoyable way of spending a couple of hours.

A great place to spend a few hours or all day looking at all of the awesome exhibits. Best of all it's free but we like to drop a $20 in the donation unit.

The natural science museum is a very fun outing with the family. There is so much to see and explore. They have many different galleries with topics such as the ocean, the mountains, weather, DNA, your health, dinosaurs, animals, and much more. There is truly something for everyone. Out of the free museums in Raleigh, this is my favorite.

This is a great museum. There is so much to see while visiting. I took my children several years ago and they loved it. I just recently went back for weekend day trip and it was still as enjoyable as the first time.

My husband and I spent a few hours one rainy October day. I was not expecting how huge this museum is...two large buildings! We saw as much as we could in the time we had available. Lots for children to do!

I wasn't sure what to expect but this attraction came up on multiple searches so I thought I'd give it a try. I was there on a business trip and had a free day to look around town. It was very large so you should allocate a couple hours to walk this museum. its very informative and great for kids. There is just about something for everyone so no one should be left out if you visit there. Best of all.....it FREE!!!!

The museum is huge! You could spend the entire day exploring and the staff is very friendly. There was a lot of information on everything there and I appreciate that they also talk about conservation and climate change. 11/10

There was lots of things to see for adults and children. Don't forget your camera. The staff was helpful and It was affordable. they take donations. They have some exbits you have to pay for but most are free. Parking is hard to find. This is a good place for field trips for schools or senior groups or church groups.

Great place to come with kids & free! We love the butterflies and 3d movies! You do pay for movies. There is a food option but it is not very good.

The ladies at the front desk were friendly and nice. My girlfriend asked about photography because she knows that I am a photographer and they said that photography is encouraged, so I went and got my professional camera.
Parking was free at the time and I was easily able to find a spot because I have a handicap placard.
The only downside was one exhibit related to micro-organisms did not have the magnifying glasses required to view them. People obviously walked away with them so that exhibit was useless for us.

Really nice way to spend some time. Enjoyed the dinosaur exhibits the most. Impressive.
The gift shop is really nice and I spent lots in it, have Christmas covered! The staff in there were very friendly and helpful.

Very nice museum, open on Sundays, free and easy to get to.
We spent few hours there with our 5 years old child who really enjoyed the visit.
The 3D movie is somewhat old, it would certainly need a renovation.

Great natural history museum, and free on top of that (except for specific exhibits or the theater, but those are reasonable). Plenty to see and to do, especially dinosaurs, so perfect place to spend an half-day with kids.

This museum is much better than I expected - informative exhibits with good interaction and engagement. This place is ideal for families with kids 6 yrs - 15 yrs old (to get the most value out of the educational pieces) and will be a solid half day activity.

For FREE this was an amazing experience with many cool facts and opportunities. Some of the exhibits could be updated but I understand some of them being staples geared toured the states permant natural science (and for the younger crowd) I wanted to but way too much at the gift shops but was able to hold myself back. One thing I wasn't expecting was that I really liked the smoothie and service I got at the Daily Planet cafe. We didn't even have to pay for parking because we used one I'd the free decks a little walk away.

This was my first visit to the museum, and I was thrilled with the building, artifacts, exhibits, and--most impressively--the large number of hands-on activities for children and adults alike. The Naturalists Center provides a wide variety of items for inspection, manipulation, investigation and study. If I lived closer to this museum, I would make numerous visits until I had finally examined each item in the Naturalists Center, experimented in the Natural World Investigate Lab, and gone through each of the other wonderful exhibits in this fine museum.

This was the largest and most creative science museum we have ever seen. And admission is free!
The museum is housed in 2 buildings connected by open bridges on floors 2 and 3. It is visually exciting, using large displays, colors, TV monitors, and lights. There are many special features, among them a living conservatory room with butterflies flying about; a hands-on naturalist center with animal and other specimens to touch and feel; a full sized dinosaur skeleton with a replica of what the dinosaur looked like in real life; research labs scattered throughout the museum; a lab that introduced us to 3D printing. And there is much, much more! All in all, a must visit when in Raleigh/Durham!

This is such a fun place to visit! Be sure you see the butterflies! And the cafeteria there by the butterflies is really a good deal. We enjoyed the sandwiches.

Always like going to this museum. They updated it a whole bunch since the last time I went, but it’s always wonderful in here.

Interactive and fascinating museum. You Nevers get bored and keep learning as the different floors deal with different themes and are independent. Make sure you visit the 2nd building across the walkway.

Have been here many times and it never gets old. It's free to get in, lots to see and great to get out of the heat in summer or cold in winter.

Free museum but still very good quality.
Several themed floors, very well presented and accessible for the little ones.

Very well planned museum and the layout is fantastic. I can't believe this is a free activity. The 3D movie was nice (about 30 minutes). I would say this is an afternoon long activity and is well worth the visit.

From the massive dinosaur skeletons that made me feel like a kid again to the interactive exhibits that had me learning while having fun, this place had it all. The highlight for me was definitely the live animal displays – getting up close with some local critters was a wild experience! Plus, it's free admission, so you really can't beat that. Whether you're a science geek or just looking for a fun day out, this museum is a must-visit in Raleigh!

To really get the full feel of this museum give yourself a few hours! Interesting to learn about the N.C. ecosystems and quite a few live critters too! It wasn’t the cleanest or the most up to date as far as display interactivity but it’s a great museum. I wish I got to go into the nature labs but they were closed for some reason. Free and right downtown!

I recently visited, and it blew my mind. The museum's exhibits are not just informative but also incredibly engaging. And the best part? It's free! Yep, you heard me right. You can explore all this amazingness without spending a dime. So, if you're ever in North Carolina, do yourself a favor and check out this museum. You won't regret it!

The NC Museum of Natural Sciences is a great place to take kids who will love the exhibits and will get educated at the same time. This is a first class museum.

First thing was view the dinosaur exhibit. That was at the top of our Grandchildren’s list. The living conservatory kept their interest while looking for butterflies and the sloth. There were so many exhibits and animals, bugs, amphibians, etc to keep them occupied. Everything was organized well for all ages to enjoy. It would be easy to spend a whole day there. We also went to the WRAL 3D theater which was also a great experience.

This North Carolina gem is a great example of both local science and global studies. With exhibitions about the local coast and NC piedmont, you can watch scientists impact our future in real time.

Global features like a global warming interactive computers and dinosaurs for all ages are very well done.

And it’s free.

Located in Downtown Raleigh, parking available. This ranked everyone's favorite. Admission is free, with a voluntary donation box near the exit. There's a mixture of everything here. Mini 15 min. presentations occur frequently in the lobby; I ate fried meal worms! Tasty. Makeshift mines to explore, to full-scale, authentic whale skeletons. Several floors with elevators/stairs. There is a good souvenir shop, with various unique items at reasonable prices. Call ahead or visit their website, for hours, special presentations, etc. A 5 star museum, please donate even a small amount; places like this usually charge a fat fee. Have fun, all ages.

We really enjoyed this museum, loved the science experiments the teens got to do. The butterfly 🦋 exhibit was beautiful. Loved all the bones of prehistoric animals. This is a must stop for families.

We were here a few months ago and had a great time with my 5 year old. She loved it. It's free and a great way to spend a few hours. It's also educational.

Went here today for astronomy days. Had a blast lots of different people setup for the event. My 5 year old loved to make his bottle rocket and launch it there. Been here many times. Highly recommend it.

The Museum of Natural Sciences will surprise you in many ways, This Museum is
has exhibits that not only you can see but will give you the history. The docents are knowable and visiting this Museum is an experience, not just a tourist attraction. Going back many times you will never see all that it has to offer

I am SO happy that we stopped in while in town on business. We needed an activity to entertain our toddler. I expected it to hold her Internet for an hour or two at the most, but we were there for six hours and could have stayed longer. The exhibits are beautiful, entertaining and creative. We loved the toddler room, where we got to sit and explore and rest a little bit.

We attended one of their programs where my daughter got to pet a snake and beetles, see mice and tarantulas - she was thrilled!

The cafe food was good, and priced as expected. It was a lot of fun to sit outside the butterfly room while we ate and watch them flutter around.

This museum is a true gem. It will be on our to-do list everything time we visit the Raleigh area.

What a great museum it is! It has 7 whole floors to explore, plus a 3D theater that offers a variety of shows. There is sooo much to see there! My favorite were insects- giant grasshoppers and Madagascar hissing cockroaches. There is a good collection of snakes, too.
This museum is donation based, you can pay as much as you wish, 3D theaters cost a little extra.
I would definitely recommend this museum to anyone when in Raleigh.

This was an absolutely fantastic museum. Spectacular images and information that is exciting and educational. This place seems to go on and on, so wear your walking shoes. A hands on museum where you can touch critters (not alive) dinosaur eggs (faux) and bones. Around every corner you can find treasures even for adults. The downstairs café was delicious food and beverages for reasonable prices. Upstairs I had to pay $2.71 for a bottle of water which was a little frustrating. A great place to take family for a fun and free experience. Donations are accepted. A cute little gift shop downstairs. Parking may be an issue since it is downtown. We were there on a Sunday and arrived early.

Parking is free on weekends in the adjacent covered parking garage. If you exit from the rear of the parking garage, caddy-corner from the entrance/exit where you get your ticket and pay your fee, there is a 30-50 foot walk outdoors between the garage and a back door to the museum. This would save you from having to walk around the entire block to the main entrance of the museum.

My favorite exhibits were the 20-minute Earthflight film about birds, the butterfly exhibit (4th floor of the Nature Exploration Center) and the meteorites (in the Nature Research Center).

This museum is too big to see everything in one visit, so pick and choose and pay $1 for a museum map. The exhibits I liked were in both of the buildings, so we used the indoor bridge connecting the two buildings on the 2nd floor to go back and forth.

Great place to learn more about NC flora, fauna, history, geology,etc. I was visiting Raleigh for a wedding and decided to visit on a free rainy afternoonwith with my husband, adult son, & brother-in-law. We all loved it. Can hardly wait to take my grandkids.

It is such a large place to explore. There is no admission charge. Our favorite thing was the butterfly house. We ate lunch in the cafe next to it so we could watch the butterflies while we ate. You could definitely spend a few hours here.

Amazing huge museum with valuable learning opportunities at every turn. Free admission. Plan to spend a day to see it all. Bring children, something for all ages.

I’ve been to the museum several times and it is awesome. The themed adult nights are truly exceptional! The one near Halloween was Stranger Things themed. Costumes are welcomed and encouraged, which was alot of fun. Each floor of the museum had different learning/activity stations that went with the theme. Even the mixed drinks and a special menu in the cafe were Stranger Things themed. The Duffer brothers, that created Stranger Things is from Durham and alot of local things have influence on the show or are mentioned. Throughout the museum were info cards that gave information about some of those things (such as the Eno River and Cornwallis Rd). That was fun to read about. I highly recommend Adult Nights at the museum!

There are 4 floors of exhibits. There is something for all ages. You can spend a whole day but you need at least half a day. There is a café to eat here. It's amazing its free. Great for families, individuals or couples.

Spent a few hours here on a Saturday morning while passing through town. The museum is very well done and FREE! I couldn’t believe it! Kids explored whales and an under the sea simulator. They also spent quite a bit of time exploring the science lab, conducting experiments and testing hypothesis. The dinosaur exhibit is impressive as well. We sat in an animal encounter class and had lunch at the cafe before leaving. So much to see and do, it could easily be a multi day experience.

This is an extremely well done museum-recently renovated. It is designed perfectly and truly kid-friendly, with lots of hands-on exhibits. I was there on a rainy day and it was mobbed of course, but it's great for any day you want to get the kids out of the house. Or without kids! Lots of other great things to do nearby.

I wish this interactive museum was near my home. I would have taken my children here every week! The staff is extremely helpful and informative. Really enjoyable museum- don’t miss the Naturalist center ( handle real specimens) and the butterfly garden.

I underestimated how nice it was! The first level did not have many new and fun things, plus I did not like the pictures of things instead of actual things, but the upper levels were incredible! We were impressed by their organization and collections in the upper levels. Don't miss the exploration labs on second and third floors of the building with the ball. They were quite impressive! There was enough to be impressed by in the upper levels of both buildings. The building with the ball in front was the best one in my opinion. The other building had some nice whale skeletons. There is an open bridge to cross from one building to the other on the third floor. Very nice one for a sunny day. The bridge on the second floor is covered (in case it is raining). Nice trip for families.

Also has 2 eating spots! I felt like the main one " The Planet" was better prices and more options !

On a business trip, my wife and I stopped in here for a quick look and ended up staying for almost 5 hours! The place is huge. (2 buildings - one with 4 floors and the other with 3.) A great variety of high quality exhibits, all with no entry fee. (We donated a dollar for the nice map of the museum.) Delicious food at the onsite restaurant! We did pay $5 to see Earthflight 3D in the theater, but it was well worth the money. Excellent museum. Would highly recommend a visit to anyone in the area!

My son does not like Museums. He did like the activities on this one and the room with the taxedermized animals. People here were great taking time to explain things and engage the children. They have a good small collection and lots of explanations on the environment and what is happening with it .
I have a biology science major and found the visit good even though it is not a huge place as the one in NY it is worth a visit and it is free

Really great experience with this museum. Lot of interesting stuff and specially great if you go with kids.

We enjoy taking our grandkids to the Natural Sciences Museum just as we did our kids when they were growing up. There are many hands on exhibits which we all loved.

Really nice little cafe at the top with many unique and interesting exhibits. I really enjoyed the different models and live animals and insects. Would be good for children and families.

Really enjoyed this museum and all it offers. Video elements, hands on exhibits, architecture, the whole bit. Perhaps most impressive is all of the research they are doing on site in the content areas represented within the museum.

Very cool place where you have the opportunity to learn while having fun. The exhibits provide just the right information that keeps you engaged and moving along. Even the younger ones will enjoy their visit. The staff is friendly and welcoming.

Huge museum with something for everyone. Well done displays. Truly educational. Interesting watching people work on fossils.

We were pleasantly surprised when we learned this museum was free! We were visiting for the weekend and it was recommended for us to go since its huge (4 floors) and so fun. We definitely would love to go back next time we're in town, my favorite part was the butterfly exhibit! But overall so many cool things to see. Highly recommend you see for yourself!

The NC Museum of Natural Sciences is a great holiday trip for kids of all ages. Really a top notch place and NC is lucky to have such a great location in downtown Raleigh

The admission is free. There are 3D movies during the weekdays. On Sunday, from 1am, each hour there is a 3D movie(tickets need to be bought). I watched three movies and it was fun! It is a good place to educate children. They have giant dinasoar skeletons.

It wasn't as exciting as I thought it was going to be. I think it is more for the kids because they had many places that you could go and interact and do experiments. I really wanted to see the butterflies but found out too late that it closed at 3 pm. I wish they had it posted and also tell you on the internet site so I could have planned better.

Amazing place for kids of all ages. So much to learn! You cannot cover everything in one day. Lots of bathrooms. Nice cafe. Very friendly staff

We spent 4 hours here including lunch at the cafe and were entertained the whole time. Wonderful, clean and fun. I would definitely recommend for families with young kids mine were 5&6

We had a bunch of smaller kids with us, so we had tried to go the Marbles Kid's Museum. However, you need a reservation to get into Marbles and when we arrived, Marbles was fully booked, unfortunately. So, we walked around and found this museum.

The Museum of Natural Sciences is nice. There are lots of displays of dinosaurs as well as displays of currently-alive animals in their natural habitat. We saw the movie in the theater about animals in the wild. The movie was just OK, nothing special (and the theater, for some reason, was not air conditioned).

Overall, a good, but not great, natural science museum.

We were passing through town and visited this museum specifically to see the "Exquisite Creatures" exhibit which was amazing!! Definitely recommend seeing it before it closes in a couple weeks. After we toured the special exhibit, we meandered through the remainder of the museum. It's well-done and would certainly appeal to children and families. We especially enjoyed the dinosaur section!

I visited this museum twice. First time I got to see the whole museum and was interesting to see all their exhibitions. What really got my attention was the live animals and the butterflies observatory (which was closed when I got there the first time, hence the second visit).

What a nice visit and free! Everyone should visit the Raleigh museums. Lots to see and learn. We will return when we can have a Birthday party for the grandchildren at the museum.

Stopped in to check it out one Sunday morning before we catching a show at PNC.

This is a 4.7 on Google, and #1 thing to do in Raleigh for a reason.

First off – it’s massive. Second – it’s VERY interactive.
Third – it’s FREE. Yes, Free!

The displays are modern and engaging. The displays range from a trees root system to dinosaur eggs being excavated. So much to see in two buildings! One is three stories of fun, and the other is four. Lots of room, even when there are a bunch of people inside beating the rain, or the oppressive heat!

The museum stores are small, but decent. There is a “food court” up by the butterfly display.

Parking: Street – metered except on weekends.
For kids: Yes – of all ages.

Would recommend: OMG – Yes!!
Would re-patronize: Trying to figure out when we can go again.

We brought our grandson here one very cold day, looking for some fun inside. We were very pleasantly surprised not only by the museum itself but by the research center across the walking bridge. It was a busy day with school field trips filling the place, but the staff members made a special effort to give private access to those of us not with groups. The personalized attention was wonderful! Across the walking bridge was the research center, filled with labs in which children could do hands-on experiments! We had a great time and will return again.

An amazing museum for all ages to enjoy and learn! We are visiting from out of state, and this was the number one thing we wanted to do while in Raleigh. It did not disappoint. I took with me my 3 boys, ages 8, 13, and 16. We all were so impressed by how well-done this museum is, the staff is great, and all the hands-on exhibits are wonderful. What a treasure in this state!

We had a great time at the museum this weekend. Staff was nice and helpful. Hand sanitizer was throughout the museum which was great. Lots to neat things to see and do. Due to Covid, the number of people allowed in is limited which was actually very nice. We were able to take our time and see everything.

Free admission! (with a suggested donation - special exhibits are an extra cost). We visited the museum on a Sunday at around 1:45. Seems like museums are not a popular weekend activity around here, because it wasn't too crowded. Or maybe I'm just used to NYC crowds every where I go. But I am definitely not complaining about a crowd-free museum. We went through the exhibits pretty quickly (maybe about an hour and a half) since we've visited before, but it was just an activity to do with our nieces and nephew (they've also been here numerous times). There were some things that we skipped or breezed through, so you could easily spend 2-3 hours here. The museum is bigger than it looks. There is plenty of seating/restrooms everywhere, which was very convenient because you won't really need to double back.

Great family activity!

This place is amazing. My last visit was in about 2017/2018 prior to the Sir Paul McCartney concert. We stopped in on a fluke, and were floored. Vowed to bring the kids someday.
Well, fast forward 8 or so years – and I took my eldest. At first – he (teen) was trying to be too cool’ and not entertained. But after exploring and touring – he started to enjoy it, and was even point out things to me.
With kids under 10 – I recommend the full day, as there’s a ton to see and do – and two buildings!

Parking: Street meters, or paid lot nearby.
Staff: Helpful
Cost: FREE

Would recommend: Highly
Would re-patronize: Possibly. I’ve been twice now.

So many kids clamoring made our time not quite as delightful. What an interesting variety of learning opportunities that had conservation and respect for the planet as a denominator.

My visit to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences was a wonderful blend of education and entertainment. The exhibits were engaging and beautifully curated, offering something for everyone--from prehistoric fossils and dazzling gems to interactive science displays and live animal habitats.

The museum is spacious and well-organized, making it easy to explore at your own pace. I especially appreciated how hands-on and family-friendly many of the exhibits were, encouraging curiosity and learning in a fun way. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable, adding to the welcoming atmosphere.

A must-see destination in Raleigh!

A great museum lots of dioramas and interactive things to do There's no admittance fee They only accept donations Also There's lots of hands on activities In special areas For adults and kids alike were you become the scientists We planned on staying 2 or 3 hours and we stayed all day They have two cafes if you'd like coffee or some food Just a really nice and educational museum

This downtown Raleigh museum is loaded with exhibits of prehistoric extinct animals and modern era animals. They offer a butterfly garden. There's a nice cafeteria style restaurant as well. Convenient parking is right across the street.

Went there after hours for an opening reception. Food and wine was great! Very upscale and high end; perfect! The new additions to the museum were spectacular. I had not been in a while before this visit. Convenient parking nearby. Parking is free after 5 pm.

There were so many fun NC based science attractions at this museum. We enough the multi-level attractions and the numerous live animals on display. There is something for everyone here.

We were able to talk to some scientists while we were here about a hobby we really enjoy and they were show-casing (3D printing). It was neat to talk to the scientists about what they were doing and compare that to our at-home work.

There were many families with young children there which was nice to see and there is enough space that it didn't feel too crowded to enjoy.

I especially enjoyed the hallway that highlights female scientists and engenieers.

Museum is perfect for all ages. It is larger than expected so wear good walking shoes. My 7 yr old grandson loved it

We arrived here mid afternoon and walked straight in. It was a Tuesday in May and pretty quiet. We went straight to the Information Desk to ask what they would recommend seeing. They helpfully suggested going straight up to the 4th floor where the "Living Conservatory" area would be closing shortly and then slowly make our way back down to the ground floor. We took this advice and just managed to be one of the last visitors allowed to walk through the small but interesting Living Conservatory. This is based on a Central American tropical dry forest filled with living plants and animals. The best bits here were all the live, exotic butterflies that were quite happy to catch a lift on the visitors, in the vain attempt to escape here. In fact before leaving this area you walked through two sets of doors with mirrors to ensure against escapees. Apparently there are also turtles, tarantulas, snakes and even a two-toed sloth here. We saw the latter but he/she was fast asleep high up in the branches.

Having left this are we proceeded to make our slow way down. Indeed there are 4 floors packed with information about all the flora and fauna to be found in the North Carolina – land (above and below) and sea. This included informative areas on minerals and rocks, notably emeralds and an intriguing dinosaur area with the main highlight being the huge fossil skeleton of the Acrocanthosaurus – high spined lizard!

I liked the section which showed the workshop of Herbert Hutchinson Brimley, the British born director under whose stewardship over 60 years, the museum had flourished.

The whole, museum was incredibly well done. Throughout, thought had also been given to children focused exhibits with interesting interactive Q & A displays to help bring everything to life more.

We could have spent longer here and there was certainly far too much on display to take all in in one afternoon visit. And all the main parts of this museum are free to enter. Excellent.

My children and I love this place! It is a great place to get away for free and for the weekend when you are trying to find something quick and free to do to entertain the youngin's ;-)

It is amazing to have this gem in downtown Raleigh. The children love the hands on experiences, like using the microscopes and working the experiments. Nice gift shop, and I appreciate you don’t have to walk through it to exit or get to the restaurant!

Highly recommend for adults and kids! There was so much to see and we liked there was a lot of North Carolina specific facts and artifacts. The muesem was free and way bigger than expected. We spent hours here and are going to return to see what we missed. They had a lot of interactive features too that we enjoyed.

We love the free parking right around the corner in a multi-level covered parking structure. Next best big thing is that it's free admission also on Sunday. There are a lot of large dinosaurs on display that are fantastic to have your picture taken with. there really is a lot to say I believe it's for floors and two buildings that are attached by a walkway and it's easy to get around.
If and when you get hungry there's a restaurant on the first floor with outdoor seating or if you get stuck on the top floor there's a nice snack bar.

This museum is full of exhibits which will easily entertain you for several hours so allow plenty of time. Many are also dedicated to kids so feel free to bring the whole family.
The best thing is that it's all free unless you get into special areas like the 3D movies which really aren't worth the money.
There is street parking and lots and parking building nearby so that part is also convenient. Just come with comfortable shoes and enjoy!!!

Easy to navigate, great exhibits, very informative and FREE! Highly recommend for adults and families with children.

My family and my son's family went to the Science Museum, not only is it free admission (though donations are certainly welcome) but we absolutely enjoyed ourselves for over 3 hours and really didn't see all that was offered, it was definitely a memorable experience with all the displays professionally done. Even my granddaughter who was 3 years old enjoyed her time walking in and about all the exhibits. I would highly recommend the visit to the museum you certainly won't be disappointed, It's a Wonderful attraction in Raleigh.

So many things to do and see. Kids from 5 to 95 will enjoy this. Displays are very interesting and educational. Fun!

Made a stop while visiting family. The kids enjoyed the interactive exhibits. I was able to get in on it as well. There was an entire section on weather forecasting. I'm a self confessed weather geek, so it was right up my alley. Great spot for people of all ages.

Spending one day in Raleigh and trying to maximize our time was an interesting challenge for two 50 year olds For the morning we choose the Museum of Natural History. It was delightful and informative about many different topics and not just for children. We could have stayed there all day. The age of different items and examples of life size whale bones and dinosaurs was amazing. A perfect way to spend our morning and it was FREE!

This is a great place for kids or adults to learn and enjoy themselves. I have been many times and am always fascinated. Go as often as you can.

This museum is a nice way to spend a few hours. There are some outstanding exhibits, the butterfly room was great and had a resident sloth! Quite a few exhibits were specific to North Carolina history which I found interesting and informative. Lots of fun especially for a free museum.

Great place to go with anybody visiting the capital of North Carolina. Only advise is try to plan your visit inf you can because there are great evsnts that are on a time achedule

This is a great museum. It has many great exhibits. Even our teenager enjoyed it. Our favorite was the dinosaur floor. We were disappointed that the butterfly room was closed. The Cafe was a bit over priced.

This place is a decent size. good for kids and adults alike. interesting exhibits and labs to learn and discover about science! the place was big enough where we went there twice! especially that it is free to the public! weekends have free parking in the area which is a plus. great to do thing while in Raleigh.

truly an amazing museum which highlights flora, fauna and life in north caroulina- not to be missed by children (and parents)

Soo much to see and do ... from watching scientists in action to shows in the theater area to eating in the cafe [yummy!]. Several floors so you can pick an area to spend your time enjoying or see a little of it all. Worth the time to see it all! My grown children and I still go when they are in town and it seems we see/learn new things each trip.

my teenage grand kids were amazed by all there was to do here. We spent several hours here and loved every minute of it. There was so many interesting exhibits andan awesome gift shop here. Its a must see!!!!!

We went on a Friday afternoon- and had about 2 hours. My daughter (3) and I made it through the entire 1st building-- missed the butterflies and sloth b/c we got there too late- but we were able to view some butterflies through the windows.

We loved to dinosaurs and I thought the areas exhibits were great. We followed some other family over the bridge to the other side and was amazed at the size of the entire museum. You will need lots of time if you plan to go to both.

We visited with 2 adults, and spent the whole day. There are 2 separate buildings in the same museum connected by a bridge with a few different levels/floors in each. A big focus in the dinosaur area. There's even a 3-D movie, There's a part showing dinosaurs fighting. There's a place where kids were building their own dinosaur. Besides that highlights include labs for kids, information on the various geology in North Carolina, historical artifacts, and a play area for young kids. They have a good place inside for lunch. It's free - so go for it!

Very cool little museum. Loved the dinosaur exhibit. As well as the whale one, which is viewed from the 2nd floor, over a space that I walked thru but never noticed the whales RIGHT ABOVE MY HEAD. LoL. Fabulous.

If you have time while in Raleigh, this FREE museum is well worth a visit.

This museum is affiliated with the Smithsonian, so adjust your expectations accordingly and know that it will deliver. It consists of two buildings that are connected by a sky bridge and takes visitors on an exploration of science, particularly life science and wildlife biology. You’ll see dinosaur and whale skeletons along with a large variety of taxidermy animals. They’ve got live animals too...fish, snakes, frogs, butterflies, a sloth, etc. Their goal is to highlight the natural environment found in NC, including fossils. It’s hands-on and good for kids, teens and adults. The Meet the Animals program is well done. The 3D theater is reasonably priced ($3-5 per person). Impressive staff members with a deep knowledge of science. Definitely worth a visit, and worth a day trip for NC folks living in other areas besides Raleigh. All NC residents should visit and be proud to have this in our state.

Great place and something for everyone to learn and enjoy. Attentive staff, and great location to spend the day.

Went solo as a science interested adult, it was a fun hour or two! The whale skeletons are incredible. Some other unique things like the dinosaur stuff and the paleontology lab on site. Super cool place. Would recommend. Kids of all ages were there and seemed to enjoy it too.