Raleigh Museums are some of the most popular resources in the city! Raleigh hosts the largest science museum in the southeast. Raleigh museums are some of the highest quality in our region, boasting stunning art collections, interactive exhibits and taking learning into the outdoors as well.
Raleigh Museums: North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is located in downtown Raleigh on West Jones Street. Parking is conveniently located in the lot just east of the museum complex. This stunning collection of exhibits, artifacts, classrooms and interactive learning experiences is showcased over 4 stories and nearly two city blocks of real estate. Additionally, the museum manages the Prairie Ridge Eco-station, a satellite facility located off Edwards Mill Road in West Raleigh. Prairie Ridge Eco-Station is an outdoor classroom, offering opportunities to enhance the public understanding of the natural environment.
The museum is a great place to explore the exhibits, take a class or watch the on-site scientists at work in glass front labs.
The Downtown museum is also home to The Daily Planet Cafe, serving breakfast, lunch, a full coffee bar as well as 8 locally brewed beers on tap.
Raleigh Museums: North Carolina Museum of History
The North Carolina Museum of History is located next door to the Museum of Science on Jones Street. This Raleigh museum houses wonderful exhibits that are free and open to the public. Additionally, the museum hosts annual festivals throughout the year celebrating the different cultures and experiences that have impacted North Carolina throughout history.
Raleigh Museums: North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA)
The North Carolina Museum of Art is located in west Raleigh on Blue Ridge Road. NCMA is FREE and open to the public, but there are rotating exhibits available for an entrance fee. There is an upscale, full-service restaurant on site, as well as a coffee kiosk. If the weather is nice you won’t want to miss the outdoor Art Park, with it’s beautiful vistas, outdoor exhibits and connection to the Raleigh Greenway System.
In the summer, the museum hosts weekly outdoor movies as well as classes and activities for children.
Artspace Raleigh
Artspace is a not for profit visual arts center whose purpose is to help the public engage with local artists. At Artspace you can experience an exhibit, take a class or engage with a local artist.
CAM Raleigh
Contemporary Art Museum of Raleigh is located downtown on Martin Street. CAM offers a wide range of programs for visitors of all ages. Attend an event, such as an urban sketching group. Or attend a guided tour on Sundays at 2pm.
Marbles Kids Museum
Marbles Kids Museum is located in downtown Raleigh on east Hargett Street, across from Moore Square. Marbles is a multi-sensory museum designed for children ages 1-10. Children under 1 are admitted free. All other guests cost $7 for admission.
Marbles exhibits are designed to help children learn about the community around them, art, music, science, and finance through imaginative play.
Marbles IMAX
At Marbles Imax you can enjoy a 3D adventure on North Carolinas only 3D capable GIANT screen. Whether you are looking for powerful nature and science films in 3D or blockbusters like The Avengers, you won’t be disappointed at Marbles IMAX Downtown Raleigh. Check showtimes and ticket prices here.
Yates Mill Museum
Yates Mill Museum is located on the grounds of Yates Mill Park. If you visit when the weather is nice you should definitely check out the walking trails through the park and the historic mill. They sometimes have presentations of how grains were milled without electricity, which is really interesting.
The indoor museum has specimens of the local flora and fauna and some of the machinery used to work the mill. You can also try your hand at grinding some corn with a hand held milling tool.
More Raleigh fun stuff!
Historic Oakview
Historic Oakview is a 19th century historic farmstead located just off of Poole Road and I-440. The grounds are lovely for a sunny day picnic, but there are also several buildings of historical significance worth investigating. The Cotton Gin House tells the story of cotton “from field to fiber.” There is a sharecroppers cabin, furnished as it would have been in the 1940s. And The Plank Kitchen displays an authentic outdoor summer kitchen where historic North Carolinian meals were cooked in the heat of summer.
You can use this cellphone tour to guide you through the exhibits when you visit.
Randleigh Dairy Heritage Museum
Randleigh Dairy Heritage Museum is part of the NC State Veterinary School and offers an agritourism experience for visitors. The museum exhibits walk visitors through the process of how milk gets from the farm to the table.
For safety reason, all visitors must register before visiting. But they make up for that by serving Howling Cow ice cream from to each guest at the of the tour!
