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    Rankin Museum

    5.0 (4 reviews)

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    North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

    North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

    4.7(311 reviews)
    80.0 mi
    $

    The NC Museum of Natural Sciences was the perfect way to spend a very cold, wet, afternoon in…read moreRaleigh. It was a few miles from our AirBNB, so while we had to drive, there's a large parking lot right across the street. I'm not sure if parking is normally free, but it was on this particular Saturday. No one was monitoring the gate or could figure out how to pay, so we didn't. I *think* the sign said it was normally $5 on days they do charge or monitor. VERY reasonable. The museum itself is FREE unless you want to see an IMAX movie, which is reasonably priced. If you're into dinosaurs, plants, geology, or natural science in general, you'll enjoy yourself here, but the museum definitely adds a local flare and incorporates NC history and geography. While the museum is kid-friendly, it is not kid-focused. It is family focused and for all ages. My husband and I are child-free and had a great time. Of course, we are nerds and had science classes together in college. I do think this is a great museum for kids who are school aged and able to read well and ask questions. It is probably not the best option for toddlers or preschoolers when it comes to museums. The museum hosts birthday parties, and a group was there for that- what a fun idea! If you visit, plan to spend a morning or afternoon here- it definitely takes a few hours to see everything but not the full day.

    I've lived in NC for almost 4 years and this was the first time I visited NCMNS! My friend had won…read more4 tickets to the whale exhibit and invited my husband and me to join. We met at 10am right when they opened. We easily found street parking and since it was on a Sunday, it was free to park. The museum is huge! I was so surprised by how large and open it was. All of the staff were friendly and knowledgeable here. We interacted with an employee in the whale exhibit and he was fantastic. The museum is incredibly clean and well maintained. There's so much to see and do. You can easily spend over 2 hours here. I especially loved the geology section, taxidermy/skulls room, and my favorite...the dueling dinosaurs!! It was SO incredible watching paleontologists work on this massive fossil. This part of the museum absolutely made it to be a wonderful experience. This is a great museum and it's free! I donated a little to the museum and also made a few purchases, one being a magnet and another being a beautiful $75 sulfite mineral. This was definitely worth our time and I'm so happy we finally visited!

    Photos
    North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences - Exterior of the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, focused on the SECU Daily Planet, with the NEC to the left and NRC to the right.

    Exterior of the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, focused on the SECU Daily Planet, with the NEC to the left and NRC to the right.

    North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
    North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

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    Museum of Life and Science

    Museum of Life and Science

    4.4(243 reviews)
    82.0 mi

    First time coming here, and I would give 5 stars if not for the exorbitant pricing. Adults costing…read moremore than kids at that, for a kids museum has always rubbed me wrong. But this place is quite expansive with several areas including wildlife, butterfly and insect garden, a train tour that takes 2 laps around (might as well get it for the $6 a ticket), and several outdoor play areas including a tree house and mist/water areas. Place was crowded, but there were still plenty of spaces available at 10:30 in the garage. If I lived closer, I might consider a membership to save costs, but I live too far currently to justify that. The cafe food was mid, and again too expensive. The pricing for me knocks a star off, but if you've never been and are prepared to spend a couple hundred bucks for the day on a family of 4, you'll probably enjoy!

    We spent a day at this location while visiting family in North Carolina. We had a lovely experience…read moreand found the location to be quite expansive. There is a lovely wildlife area, butterfly garden, fun little train tour, an outdoor treehouse, and more. The price was quite high, but I imagine based on the number of staff and the animals that this location is quite expensive to maintain. The little gift shop was also great with lots of children's games, clothing items, toys, and more. If I was in the area I would definitely consider an annual pass. All of the staff were lovely from the train driver to the ticket takers. Fun location!

    Photos
    Museum of Life and Science - Clouds

    Clouds

    Museum of Life and Science
    Museum of Life and Science - Cute animals!

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    Cute animals!

    North Carolina Museum of Art - Michael Richards used his body as this mold for the art. He died when working at his studio at the World Trade Center on September 11th.

    North Carolina Museum of Art

    4.6(359 reviews)
    78.5 mi

    During my weekend visit in Raleigh, I could not waste the opportunity to go to the museum. I don't…read moreever get tired of looking at their fine art collection and exhibits. Numerous people with their friends and family came out this past weekend to also enjoy the greenway and outdoor art. There's also a café and small museum shop inside. We had a great time.

    Summary: 4.0 - Free and art go hand-in-hand here. If you like both, NC MoA is worth your time…read more Free admission to the NCMA to see art and history is a gift. If one doesn't mind the West Building (although new, it felt old to me), the different galleries containing historical art pieces (new and old, and very old) organized by continents are educational and surprisingly full of variety. The East Building (original one) hosts both permanent and limited-time collections. I've enjoyed a car exhibit, but my favorite limited-time exhibit featured Academy Award winner Ruth E. Carter's costumes for the movies "Black Panther", "Selma", "Amistad", and others. Her showcase exhibit was well worth the price of admission. A huge museum park provides miles of trails and places for picnics. If one plans accordingly, a series of trails connects all the way from the museum to downtown Raleigh! MISC Opened in 1956. Has pieces that originate from about 5,000 years ago (but thankfully it doesn't take that long to go through the museum). The museum is accessibility-friendly. A museum store and café are onsite. Tours are available. Outdoor concerts are on hiatus at the time of this review for "facility improvements." Be sure to check the museum's website for updates.

    Photos
    North Carolina Museum of Art - North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh, North Carolina.

    North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh, North Carolina.

    North Carolina Museum of Art
    North Carolina Museum of Art - Wakanda Forever Queen Ramonda

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    Wakanda Forever Queen Ramonda

    Rankin Museum - museums - Updated May 2026

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