United States
North Carolina (NC)
Raleigh
Things to Do in Raleigh
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh: Hours, Address, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences Reviews: 4.5/5

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North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

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See all things to do
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
4.5
2,312
#3 of 156 things to do in Raleigh
Natural History Museums • Science Museums
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10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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About
The Southeast's largest natural history museum features dinosaurs, whale skeletons, live animals, walk-through dioramas, special exhibits, hands-on science education and accessible scientists. IMLS National Medal Finalist, 2014.
Suggested duration
2-3 hours
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Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
2,312 reviews
Excellent
1,792
Very good
451
Average
59
Poor
8
Terrible
2
FloridaMomOfTeens
Palm City, FL260 contributions
Fantastic Special Exhibit!
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!
Written March 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Ddan7777
Raleigh, NC1,040 contributions
good museum, movie we saw could have been more interesting
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.
Written June 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Daniel L
Apex, NC345 contributions
Amazing free museum, but large attraction is not genuine - and some exhibits closed
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.
Written June 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Peter K
Hurricane, UT708 contributions
Very impressive inside collection and fun place to walk around outside
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.
Written September 28, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Hailey F
1 contribution
AMAZING! Best place in Raleigh!
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.
Written September 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Lynn P
Chanhassen, MN24 contributions
Fun afternoon exploring science!
Family
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.
Written April 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Lynetric R
United States930 contributions
Awesome FREE museum
Couples
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!!
Written May 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Tyke's Travels
Garner, NC260 contributions
Experience Nature
Couples
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.
Written April 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Airen D
Chicago, IL12 contributions
Fascinating and Free !
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.
Written January 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Ken K
Raleigh, NC10 contributions
Great Place for the Family on a Rainy Day!
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.
Written February 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Frequently Asked Questions about North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is open:
  • Tue - Sun 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM