Mission
Statement
The purpose of the North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences is
to enhance the public’s understanding and appreciation of the natural
environment in ways that emphasize the biodiversity of North Carolina
and the southeastern United States and relate the region to the natural
world as a whole.
Admission | Location | Floor Plans | Hours | Exhibit Hall Happenings | Museum Store | Acro Café | Event Rentals | Birthday Parties | Outreach Programs | Groups | Accessibility | Contact
General Admission is free, although
donations are cheerfully accepted. There is a cover
charge for special
exhibits.
Children 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
11 W. Jones St., Raleigh, NC 27601-1029
919.733.7450 or tollfree 877.4NATSCI
TTY Line for the deaf hearing impaired 919.715.6464
The Museum is located on Bicentennial Plaza
in downtown Raleigh between the Capitol and the Legislature
Building, at the corner of Jones and Salisbury streets.
Maps, Directions & Parking Information Downtown
Map with bus parking info |
For information on hotels and other activities in the Raleigh area, please contact the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau at (919) 834-5900 or (800) 849-8499.
Teachers,
here's where you'll find information on planning
your field trip to the Museum.
Floor plans of the Museum are available in color and grayscale. The PDF versions are recommended for printing; you will need the free Acrobat Reader to view and print them.
Color Floorplan JPG PDF |
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|
Grayscale Floorplan GIF PDF |
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Monday - Saturday, 9 am – 5 pm
Sunday, noon – 5 pm
First Fridays -
On the first Friday of every month (except as noted) the
Museum stays open until 9 pm.
Dates Closed 2008:
Saturday, November 8 - Closing @ 3 pm for Brimley Ball
Thursday, November 22 - Thanksgiving
Monday, December 24 - Christmas Eve
Tuesday, December 25 - Christmas Day
Note: The Discovery Room, Naturalist Center, and Living Conservatory are closed Mondays.
Every day the Museum presents a variety of free programs for the public, often featuring live animals. People of all ages are welcome. For more information on special events, please see the calendar, or call the front desk at 733-7450 for the most up-to-date information.
The Museum Store, operated by Friends of the Museum, offers a wide assortment of books, videos, cassette tapes, gems and jewelry, natural science kits, educational toys and more. The Nature Art Gallery is located on the store mezzanine.
| Hours: | 9 am – 4:45 pm Monday – Saturday |
| noon – 4:45 pm Sunday |
Start your mornings at the Museum.
Acro Café, now serves breakfast Monday through Saturday, 8 – 10 am. Enjoy a leisurely lunch break of delectable soups, sandwiches and hot entrees. Sip a cup of organic, shade-grown coffee and watch the hummingbirds and butterflies in the neighboring fourth floor Living Conservatory. Museum Friends members receive discounts. The Acro
Café can cater special
events at the Museum and can provide special box lunches for groups visiting the Museum. Email
the Acro Café to
make arrangements, or for more information.
| Hours: | 8 am – 4:00 pm Monday – Saturday |
| noon – 4:30 pm Sunday |
Have your event at the Museum! Rent a room, a floor, or the whole Museum. More information
Celebrate a fun-filled, hands-on birthday
party at the Museum complete with live animals, crafts, and
games.
Birthday Party Information
Outreach Programs are an exciting, affordable way to bring the Museum to you. Programs can be geared for any group, from family birthday parties to large-scale community gatherings. En Español
(Click
here for School/Youth Group Registration Information)
All groups of 10 or more (including adults and seniors) must schedule their visit to the Museum by calling the Capital Area Visitors’ Services at (919) 807-7950.
The following services are available:
- Wheelchairs may be checked out at the front desk, free of charge
- ALDs (Assistive Listening Devices) for hard of hearing visitors are available at the front desk for any of the exhibit hall programs
- Public TTY pay phone
- Museum TTY phone number - (919) 715-6464
Persons with disabilities desiring assistive services and other special accommodations should call (919) 733-7450 Ext. 525 (TTY 919-715-6464), Mon.–Fri., 9 am to 5 pm, to discuss accommodations. Requests for interpreters should be made at least 2 weeks prior to the event.
For general questions and information, please call the front desk at (919) 733-7450 or the tollfree number, (877) 4NATSCI, or drop us an email.
For technical questions and suggestions regarding the website, you are encouraged to email the webmaster.
Contact information for specific staff members may be found on the Staff Directory.
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