The Nature Exploration Center’s third floor houses several live animals (snakes...eek), bugs, fish, and more.  This is also the floor with my kids favorite dinosaur display.  Families will also enjoy visiting the Windows of the World classroom where daily Animal Storytimes & Meet the Animals take place.

The shining star of the fourth floor is definitely the Living Conservatory, where visitors step into a recreated rainforest as a variety of live butterflies flutter about. Inside the Living Conservatory you will also see a few snakes (again...eeek), a tarantula, AND if you’re lucky you may catch a glimpse of the museum’s resident Sloth in motion.  The Acro Cafe is also located on the fourth floor, if you’re in need of a caffeine fix, quick snack or even a full lunch, there are several menu items available.

Nature Research Center- West Wing

The Nature Research Center can be accessed through its own entrance on Jones Street, or from the walking bridge located on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the Nature Exploration Center. We love the Nature Research Center! In this building, budding scientists have a chance to dive into the world of science research through hands-on investigative labs, use of high-technology equipment, and witnessing REAL scientists at work.

On the Nature Research Center’s first floor the enormous skeleton of Stumpy the whale greets museum visitors.  The Daily Planet Theater, a large aquarium full of live fish and the Daily Planet Café are also on this level.

The second floor provides several opportunities for hands-on investigations inside the Natural World Investigative Lab and the Naturalist Center.  These labs have various hours of operation, and are sometimes closed for private groups or field trips, however, we have been able to explore these areas numerous times.  This lab is also open at various times and days, visit www.naturalsciences.org for a complete up-to-date schedule.

The third floor is perhaps our favorite because it is where the observation labs are located.  Visitors of all ages will be intrigued to witnesses scientists at work through the  floor-to-ceiling-windows, especially when the Paleontologists are actively working on a dinosaur fossil!  We are also big fans of the Micro World Investigate Lab on this floor, where kids learn how to use real scientific instruments, like the pipette and microscopes, at different experiment stations. We have not yet explored the Visual World iLab, but hope to very soon! These labs are also open at various times and days, visit www.naturalsciences.org for a complete up-to-date schedule.

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences offers so many different exhibits and opportunities for learning that it is so easy to have a new experience every single time.

Things to Keep in Mind:

Donations- Admission to the museum is free, but donations are accepted.

Food & Drink- Are only allowed in the museum’s two cafes- Acro Cafe inside of the Nature Exploration Center, and the Daily Planet Cafe in the Nature Research Center.

Parking- Metered street parking is available surrounding the museum, we’ve had the best luck on Edenton Street parking right before 10 AM.  There is also a section of free 2-hour street parking on Blount St. at Edenton Street.  A paid parking lot is located at the corner of Jones and Wilmington Street, and a paid parking deck is also available at the corner of Edenton and McDowell.  

Special Events & Programs- The museums hosts a number of annual events and festivals every year. Keep up with them in our events calendar or visit https://naturalsciences.org/calendar/events/

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