Roger Williams Park Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Natural history museum and planetarium in Providence, United States.
The Roger Williams Park Museum of Natural History and Planetarium is a natural history museum with planetarium in Providence, displaying exhibits of taxidermied animals, minerals, and other specimens representing the region's biodiversity. The facility combines two different learning spaces within a single building.
The museum was founded in 1896 and expanded with a northern wing in 1914, while the planetarium dome was added in 1953. These expansions show how the facility grew its collection and learning offerings over many decades.
The museum displays collections reflecting Rhode Island's natural world, while the planetarium directs attention upward to the stars. Visitors can explore both the earth and the cosmos here, discovering how the two connect.
The museum is open on most days, and visitors should check hours before arriving to confirm both areas are available. The location sits within Roger Williams Park, making it easily accessible for those wanting to spend time outdoors nearby.
The planetarium dome was developed under Maribelle Cormack's direction, an astronomy education pioneer who gave this region a public space for exploring the night sky. Her legacy shapes how people discover the stars above Providence to this day.
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