North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
Location within North Carolina
Established 1879
Location Raleigh, North Carolina
Coordinates 35°46′56″N 78°38′22″W / 35.782186°N 78.639422°W / 35.782186; -78.639422
Type Natural history museum
Director Dr. Emlyn Koster
Website naturalsciences.org

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (NCSM) is located in Raleigh, North Carolina. This museum is the oldest established museum in North Carolina and the largest museum of its kind in the Southeast. It has about 1.2 million visitors annually.[1][2] As of 2013, it was the state's most popular museum or historic destination among visitors.[3]

The museum's campus consists of four facets: the Nature Exploration Center (NEC; formerly the "Main Building") and the Nature Research Center on Jones Street in Downtown Raleigh, the Prairie Ridge Ecostation satellite facility and outdoor classroom in northwest Raleigh near William B. Umstead State Park, and the North Carolina Museum of Forestry located in Whiteville, North Carolina.

The museum is a division of the state Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.[4]

Nature Exploration Center - exhibits

First floor

Nature Exploration Center (NEC) front entrance

Second floor

Third floor

Dinosaur displays at North Carolina Museum of Natural Science

Fourth floor

Special exhibits gallery

Rainforest Adventure[5] is on exhibit April 26, 2014 - September 1, 2014. Created by Minotaur Mazes, visitors are invited to explore an interactive maze featuring the sights and sounds of a tropical rainforest.

Nature Research Center - exhibits

Iconic globe is a 3-story multimedia theater on the museum interior

The Nature Research Center (NRC) is an 80,000 sq ft (7,400 m2), four-story wing next to the Nature Exploration Center, across Salisbury Street, connected by a breezeway named the Betsy M. Bennett Bridge to Discovery.[6][7] The $54 million addition allows visitors to play a hands-on role in new research. The April 20, 2012 opening lasted 24 hours and drew 70,000 visitors.[8]

In addition to hands-on activities and visitor viewing of scientists working in the NRC's four research laboratories, the museum makes use of distance learning to broadcast lessons and virtual field trips to classrooms around the state.[9][10]

First floor

Nature Research Center

Second floor

Third floor

Investigate labs

The Nature Research Center's three investigate labs are open-to-the-public hands-on educational spaces.

Second floor

Third floor

Research labs

The Nature Research Center's four research labs are part of the museum's Research and Collections department. These spaces (normally reserved for behind-the-scenes work) have transparent glass walls through which the public can observe firsthand as research scientists do their work. This area is home to 90 foot by 10 foot LCD sculpture Patterned by Nature.

Second floor

Third floor

Prairie Ridge Ecostation

Prairie Ridge Ecostation (45 acres (180,000 m2)) is a satellite facility and outdoor classroom located 6 miles (9.7 km) from the museum's downtown Raleigh locations. It includes Piedmont prairie, forest, ponds, a stream and sustainable building features integrated with a wildlife-friendly landscape.[17]

Prairie Ridge furthers the museum's mission of enhancing public understanding and appreciation of the natural environment by providing an outdoor learning space while acting as a model for renewable and sustainable energy.

The facility opened a Nature PlaySpace Saturday, September 28, 2013.[18]

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences at Whiteville

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences at Whiteville, formerly known as the North Carolina Museum of Forestry, is a satellite facility of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences located in Whiteville, North Carolina. Its mission is to celebrate the natural history and cultural heritage of North Carolina's forests through interpretive exhibits, educational programming and the preservation of natural and man-made materials that demonstrate the ongoing relationship of forests and people.

Displays and interactive exhibits include an outdoor Tree Trail and Fossil Dig Pit, and the museum offers educational program experiences and special events.

References

  1. "NC Museum of Natural Sciences is state's top draw". Associated Press (Associated Press). 2013-03-04. Retrieved 2013-08-16.
  2. William S. Powell; Jay Mazzocchi (associate), eds. (2006). Encyclopedia of North Carolina. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press. ISBN 0807830712.
  3. "NC Museum of Natural Sciences is state's top draw". WRAL.
  4. "Our Nature Programs". N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. State of North Carolina. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  5. "Rainforest Adventure". Minotaur Mazes. Retrieved 2014-03-24.
  6. Nature Research Center Fact Sheet. North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.
  7. "Tar Heel of the Year: Betsy Bennett transforms state science museum". News & Observer. The News & Observer Publishing Co. 2012-01-01. Retrieved 2013-08-22.
  8. Opening of Nature Research Center draws 70,000 visitors - News - NewsObserver.com
  9. Raleigh’s new ‘rock star’ head scientists - Nature Research Center - NewsObserver.com
  10. Teachers throughout N.C. can plug into museum’s work - Nature Research Center - NewsObserver.com
  11. Stradling, Richard (2011-08-29). "Science museum's latest marvel taking form in Raleigh". News & Observer. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  12. Schreiber, Laurie (February 2012). "Right Whale Mother and Fetus Skeletons Reconstructed". Fishermen's Voice. Retrieved 2013-10-09.
  13. "Vessel collisions and cetaceans: What happens when they don’t miss the boat" (PDF). Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society website. p. 4.
  14. Gast, Phil (2010-09-01). "North Carolina emerald: Big, green and very rare". cnn.com. Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  15. Stancill, Jane (2012-03-16). "N.C. gems to shine at museum". News & Observer. The News & Observer Publishing Co. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  16. Stone, Cheryn (2013-03-17). "NC Museum of Natural Sciences exhibit gives students a glimpse into veterinary medicine". News 14 Carolina. TWEAN Newschannel of Raleigh, L.L.C. dba. Retrieved 2013-10-10.
  17. "Park Review: Prairie Ridge Ecostation". WRAL. Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc. 2010-09-23. Retrieved 2013-07-12.
  18. "NC natural sciences museum builds ‘backyard’ in West Raleigh". News & Observer. The News & Observer Publishing Co. 2013-09-26. Retrieved 2013-10-17.

External links

Coordinates: 35°46′56″N 78°38′22″W / 35.7821858°N 78.6394221°W / 35.7821858; -78.6394221

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