The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is Raleigh's most popular attraction for several reasons: it's free, its cafe features a menu of tasty and reasonably priced items and it contains plentiful exhibits that recent visitors say interest travelers of all ages. The museum teaches visitors about North Carolina through exhibits like "Coastal North Carolina," which features everything from whale skeletons to seahorse bioramas and the "Living Conservatory," which flutters with butterflies. There is also a wing of the museum dedicated to nature research, and this is where visitors can embrace their inner scientist in "Investigate Labs" or simply watch scientists work in the "Windows on Research" areas. Recent visitors "ooh" and "ahh" over the diverse displays and the free admission. One TripAdvisor user was also quite impressed by the museum staff: "I stopped in to ask for someone to answer some questions about preying mantis', these 2 ladies answered my questions and then some." There is no fee for general admission to the museum, though there is a small charge for its special exhibits and 3-D movies. The hours of operation for the Nature Exploration Center are as follows: Monday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On the first Friday of each month, the main building is open for extended hours until 9 p.m. On Sundays, the museum is open from noon until 5 p.m. The adjoining Nature Research Center has the same hours of operation, except on Thursdays, when it's open until 9 p.m. You'll find the building in the heart of downtown Raleigh, adjacent to the North Carolina State Capitol building. For more information, visit the website for the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh was the first museum to ever be established in North Carolina, and it is the largest natural science museum on the Southeast. The museum is made up of four components: the Nature Exploration Center, the Nature Research Center, the Prairie Ridge Ecostation, and the North Carolina Museum of Forestry. The Exploration Center and the Research Center are the most popular with visitors; together, they offer seven floors of interactive exhibits that the whole family can enjoy. General admission is free, but donations are gladly accepted. Things to Do in Raleigh

By exploring the state's geography, prehistoric past, geology, plants, and animals, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences helps over a million visitors a year learn about the natural world. The museum has four floors of displays, live animals, and hands-on activities. At the Nature Research Center, you can watch scientists working at research labs through floor-to-ceiling glass walls. Researchers also give regular presentations at the center's three-story, multimedia space, which is also used to show spectacular scenes from nature. Use our Raleigh travel planner to visit North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences on your trip to Raleigh, and learn what else travelers and our writers recommend seeing nearby.

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is the oldest museum in North Carolina and the largest of its kind in the whole of Southeast US. The museum basically consists of four institutions – the Nature Exploration Center, Nature Research Center, Prairie Ridge Ecostation satellite facility and the North Carolina Museum of Forestry. The Museum has an extensive collection of dinosaurs, shark and whale skeletons, animals and birds, special exhibitions and many more wonderful attractions that have made it North Carolina’s most popular museum. The facility also has extremely knowledgeable scientists and researchers who are easily accessible and would be happy to answer any question you or your kid might have. There is also a Daily Planet cafe and the ACRO Cafe on the premises which serve some wonderful food to fuel your further quest for exploration.

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is located in Raleigh, North Carolina as the oldest established museum in North Carolina and the largest museum of its kind in the Southeastern United States. With about 1.2 million visitors annually, as of 2013 it was the state's most popular museum or historic destination among visitors. The North Carolina State Museum was created in 1879, by combining two existing state-owned collections of geologic and agricultural specimens. The museum was originally housed in the Briggs building on Fayetteville Street. The museum's collections, outreach and education programs, and status grew over the next 60 years. The collection now contains more than 1.7 million specimens of amphibians, reptiles, birds, fish, mammals, invertebrates, invertebrate and vertebrate fossils, plants, geology, and meteorites. No matter what your age, there is something in this museum to enjoy. The admission is free. Opening hours: Monday–Saturday: 9am–5pm; Sunday: noon–5pm

Whale skeletons hang from the ceiling. Butterflies flutter past your shoulder. Emerald tree boas make you shiver. And be warned: if you arrive after 10am on a school day, swarms of elementary-school children rampage all over the place. Skywalks lead to a glossy extension, the Nature Research Center, where you can watch scientists at work on their projects.