North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is a natural history museum in Raleigh holding over 1.7 million specimens, including amphibians, reptiles, birds, fish, mammals, fossils, plants, and minerals. The collection spans a wide range of objects that show the natural diversity of the region and beyond.

The museum was founded in 1879 when two state collections of geological and agricultural specimens were merged together. This joining of collections formed the starting point for what would grow into the state's natural history institution.

The museum lets visitors watch scientists working in open laboratories, studying topics like climate and how different species interact with their environments. You can see researchers doing their actual work through glass walls as you walk through.

The museum offers guided tours, daily planetarium shows, and educational programs covering environmental science, biology, and geology. Various sections are well-marked, and you should plan several hours to explore the collection properly.

The SECU DinoLab, opening in 2024, displays the Dueling Dinosaurs specimens, representing a major addition to the paleontology collection. These fossils are remarkable among scientists and show a rare scenario from prehistoric times.

Location: Raleigh

Address: West Jones Street

Opening Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-17:00

Phone: +19197079800

Website: https://naturalsciences.org

GPS coordinates: 35.78219,-78.63951

Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:02