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Dinosaur Corner

 
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
11 West Jones Street
Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 707-9800
(919) 733-1573 (fax)

Park News

First Fridays of every Month

Park Description

 

Spanning 200,000-square-feet, this facility is not only the Southeast"s largest natural history museum, it"s also the only place in the world where you can see the skeleton of a 110 million-year-old predatory dinosaur, Acrocanthosaurus atokensis. This giant rests alongside exhibits showcasing more than 200 species of live animals, from a two-toed sloth to a hellbender. Other live creatures include crabs and beetles in the Arthropod Zoo, and butterflies in the Living Conservatory. A 2-story waterfall in the Mountains to the Sea exhibit and the hands on Discovery Room are also highlights of this Museum.

The Nature Research Center (NRC) is the 80,000-square-foot wing of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Its goal is to bring research scientists and their work into the public eye, help demystify what can be an intimidating field of study, better prepare science educators and students, and inspire a new generation of young scientists.

The Nature Research Center features research labs where scientists from the Museum, University of North Carolina system schools, the Department of Environment & Natural Resources, or visiting scientists from industry or agency partners conduct their research while visitors observe “science in action” through floor-to-ceiling glass walls.

In addition to the working scientists’ labs, there are also three Investigate Labs designed for visitors. These spaces provide visitors with a set of hands-on activities and research skill-building exercises to guide them through the process of using scientific tools and conducting scientific inquiry. Most experiences here are designed and led by Museum educators, scientists and their graduate students. Working together, these scientists and visitors generate mutual research questions — both will learn from the experience.

 

Hours of Operation: Monday - Saturday, 9 am – 5 pm Sunday, noon – 5 pm Thursday, 9 am -9 pm First Fridays - On the first Friday of every month (except as noted) the Museum stays open until 9 pm. Closed New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. The Discovery Room & the Living Conservatory are closed on Mondays.

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 2006: Sunday, January 1 - New Year's Day. Monday, September 11 - Staff Retreat. Thursday, November 23 - Thanksgiving. Sunday, December 24 - Christmas Eve. Monday, December 25 - Christmas Day.

Note: The Discovery Room, Naturalist Center, and Living Conservatory are closed Mondays.

Fees: No entry fees for this park
Metro Region: Triangle, NC
Park Management: State

Printed Materials
Museum Floor Plan    

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