Pharaoh's At the Museum

This museum is only a few years old, and it is really sleek and nice inside. The exhibits are presented very nicely, and while the kids will have fun, there is plenty to interest adults, too. The main museum is free, though special exhibits usually charge an admission. We went to see the dinosaur exhibit that's there. It was very interesting and had a high information content to go along with the fossils, casts, models, and videos. Definitely a nice way to spend a weekend afternoon! more

My kids love this museum. They could spend hours in the ""hands-on"" room. They can learn while having fun. The disosaur exhibits and outdoor scenes are amazing! more

The museum is a nice place, but one must question the ethical conduct of its directors in putting on a biased and misleading exhibit, in which the current state of research has been carefully distorted to cater to influential members of the old Dead Sea Scrolls monopoly group, one of whose members (John Strugnell) had a series of famous antisemitic outbursts some fifteen years ago. \r \r In a word, the museum (which, incidentally, is run by the N. C. Department of the Environment) agreed to downplay and conceal the evidence brought to light by Jewish researchers who have rejected the old ""Qumran-Essene"" theory of scroll origins, and to physically exclude them from participating in the lecture series accompanying the exhibit. \r \r See, e.g., University of Chicago historian Norman Golb's editorial, ""Take Claims about DSS with a Grain of Salt"" (it is easily googled). \r \r Since the museum is a state-run institution, the role of government officials in displaying religiously controversial artifacts must also be addressed. Is it appropriate for a N. C. government agency to take sides in an acrimonious scholarly dispute while entertaining people with a religiously oriented exhibit in, of all places, a natural sciences museum?\r \r Is there any accounting of how this exhibit was funded, and of where the profits ($22 per ticket) will be going?\r \r This is, of course, a serious issue that should be carefully examined by the media. Instead, we have silence, viciously implied innuendo about Jewish culture coming from N. C. authorities (including an antisemitic insinuation on the museum's website), mendacious claims about a fabricated ""consensus"" that no longer exists, and a continuing pattern of catering to vested interests. \r \r For further information on this propaganda masquerading as an exhibit, previously dished out to the public in various private ""science"" museums around the country, see, e.g., R. Dworkin's article on ""The Ethics of Exhibition"" (this is also easily googled). more

I could not be more impressed with this museum. I attended the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit, and was quite impressed by both the number of staff members & how knowledgable they were! The exhibit was quite popular, but the staff did a great job of making sure that no one area was too crowded to enjoy the displays. The exhibit itself is thorough & well-planned... a must see!\r I was also impressed with the permanent exhibits, which educated visitors on NC geography & animals. There's also a wonderful dinosaur exhibit that kids love. I thought that most people would be visiting with small children, but I saw a good number of young adults there w/ friends, & they seemed to be fully immersed in the exhibits. This museum is well attended, so go during the week if you can! more

We had our company's fall employee appreciation luncheon at the Museum, and it was the absolute best place to have it! Caffe Luna catered it and we LOVED their shrimp and seafood. GREAT job Caffe Luna! My favorite part of the museum was seeing the cute live seahorses in the coastal section, but it was all great! I could see my office building halfway across Raleigh from inside the glass dome! There was a neat dinosaur exhibit with a walking and moving T-Rex. \r We all loved the coastal section because although it is now fall, the sand beach area and seagrass made us feel as if we were at the beach!\r If you want something different and fun, and totally unique, for your company's party or luncheon, definitely come here! It was great! Pros: Great and unique place to have a luncheon or meeting more

One very cool thing to do at the Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh is to ""rent the museum"" for a corporate party or day meeting. Our company had a day training seminar there following by an evening reception, and it was fantastic! They have a 20 foot waterfall and a huge glass dome overlooking the city.\r Everyone at our company meeting loved taking breaks on the outdoor terrace, seeing the dinosaurs, and exploring the hands-on exhibits......going through the Living Conservatory with live butterflies and hummingbirds was great!\r \r The Museum also holds wedding receptions and legislative receptions there so it is a very cool place for many types of events. Check it out! more

The Museum of Science has been our 5 year old son's favorite place since he was about 18 months old.\r Dinosaurs, insects, snakes....what could be better! Be sure to check times for the story times, meet the animals etc....the staff is great and kids love it! Check out the Discovery Room, especially for preschoolers and toddlers that may find the rest of the Museum ""too much"". Our 2 year old loves it! Unbelievable that such a nice Museum is FREE! PS...we recently had a ""Dino Detective"" birthday party here also, and it was worth every penny! Pros: FREE!; great educational outing; good for birthday parties more

A fantastic museum with something for every age group. Fossils, live fish, reptiles, and a butterfly room, a running waterfall. This is a longtime family favorite. The fact that it is free is just mind-boggling - it would be worth any reasonable admission. Pros: Variety and quality of exhibits Cons: occasional crowds (for good reason) more

My wife,myself, and our 6 yr old child enjoyed the four floor levels of exhibits. We attended a 15 minute childrens show on alligators (live presentor who taught on subject matter and had a baby alligator for everyone to pet) on the third floor that was the highlight of our visit. Tips: Wear confortable shoes and call ahead of time to inquire about third floor Children show times. Come in before four-Some exhibits close at four Pros: Show(3rd floor), Exhibits, Clean bathroom Cons: Museum shop, High prices at cafe, Parking is a chore more

I love this museum ... I've gone so many times and never get bored. There is so much to see, I always notice something I missed on previous visits. I love the coastal, mountain, and butterfly exhibits. The bug exhibit upstairs is great for young kids. The workers/volunteers are all so friendly and helpful. more

It is a great museum with many things you can't find anywhere else in the world. There are things that both adults and children will find interesting. Do your homework before going and you will enjoy it even more but the people there are more then happy to give you info on all the exhibits. Pros: Free, Interesting, Educational Cons: Hard to get downtown, Parking more

went here one day when I was bored.....didn't see enough and planning on going back! Great attraction....and FREE too! more

We ended up stopping by this museum on a rainy Saturday, and I was surprised to see how much fun I had wandering through some of the exhibits. The floorplan is spacious, with high ceilings and enough windows to keep visitors from feeling too closed-in (important when the museum gets crowded). Pros: Free, Good exhibits Cons: Crowded more