| Raleigh is a city with many interesting sites for | | | | Museum of Science. This multi-level building is packed |
| families and individuals to explore and visit. A favorite | | | | full of large, open exhibits, topped off with a dome |
| destination for locals and visitors alike is one of | | | | on the top floor which houses "flying" pterodactyls |
| several museums located in Raleigh. Visitors can pick | | | | and large dinosaurs. Each floor offers a different |
| between a museum focused on history, science, art | | | | habitat to view: one floor has an oceanic theme, one |
| or a museum geared towards children. Two popular | | | | a forest setting, and another floor offers a bug |
| museums found in Raleigh are the Museum of History | | | | exhibit complete with many live creepy-crawlies which |
| and the Museum of Natural Science. | | | | elicits many squeals of surprise and distaste from |
| The North Carolina Museum of History is located in | | | | children and adults alike. The museum offers |
| downtown Raleigh in an easy to get to area of town | | | | interactive features like a large rotating earth globe, |
| with plenty of parking, especially on weekends. | | | | but perhaps the most favorite and popular interactive |
| According to the museum's website, the museum | | | | feature is the living conservatory with a butterfly |
| was established in the early 1880s by the publisher of | | | | room. It's delightful to walk through this special room |
| the Raleigh News and Observer and one of his | | | | to see hundreds of butterflies fluttering around |
| associates. They collected artifacts and items that | | | | close-by and once in a while, a lucky visitor will |
| would help preserve and tell the story of the history | | | | experience a butterfly landing on them! Next to the |
| of North Carolina and the state's early beginnings. | | | | conservatory is a cafeteria where you can grab a |
| Eventually all the items were displayed in protective | | | | bite to eat. |
| cases, and visitors were treated to a lesson in North | | | | Both of these museums are free to the public and |
| Carolina history. In 1992, the museum settled into its | | | | offer special exhibits and showings and festivals |
| current Raleigh location after several moves and | | | | including the increasingly popular BugFest at the |
| relocation's within the city. Today visitors can travel | | | | Science Museum which is a tradition for many Raleigh |
| through time and view any one of the many | | | | families to experience, including real bug treats to eat! |
| permanent exhibits featuring items ranging from old | | | | If you're planning on visiting Raleigh or are a Raleigh |
| artifacts like tools and clothing items to modern | | | | resident looking for something fun to do, check out |
| sports like basketball and NASCAR racing. | | | | either the Museum of History or the Museum of |
| Located just across a walkway is the North Carolina | | | | Natural Science. |