North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

11 West Jones Street, Raleigh, NC

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

11 West Jones Street, Raleigh, NC

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Capacity: 2,300 people

About North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

Looking for a memorable place to host a meeting, corporate party, wedding reception or other special occasion? Imagine conversing among dinosaurs and mingling amid live animals as you enjoy a special evening at the largest natural science museum in the Southeast. Your guests will enjoy relaxing among the Museum’s spectacular exhibits, which include a dramatic two-story waterfall, a scenic mountain cove, a variety of live animals, fascinating whale skeletons and impressive dinosaurs. With a variety of spaces available at the Museum, rental clients can host evening events for up to 2,300 guests.

Event Pricing

Attendees: 0-2700 | Deposit is Required | Pricing is for all event types

More Info

Attendees: 0-2700 | $950 - $5,396 /event
Pricing for all event types

$950 - $5,396

Per Event

More Info

Event Spaces

NEC 1st Floor Exhibit Areas & WRAL Theater

Maximum Capacity: 400
General Event Space

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NEC 1st Floor Exhibit Areas & WRAL Theater

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General Event Space | Maximum Capacity: 400

COASTAL NORTH CAROLINA : While islands move and hurricanes blow, the daily lives of tiny shrimp and great whales go on. Look in on sea creatures from salt marshes to the Atlantic’s great depths. NORTH CAROLINA'S NATURAL TREASURES : Emeralds, Venus flytraps, tiger beetles, giant fossil shark teeth and a scarlet tanager are a few of the state’s natural treasures on display. WRAL AUDITORIUM : A state-of-the-art presentation area with a variety of media amenities. View presentations on a high-definition broadcast system by projector or video. Available in the evening only.

Supported Layouts and Capacities

Banquet - 10 per
Capacity: 220 People

Banquet - 8 per
Capacity: 220 People

Reception
Capacity: 400 People

Theater
Capacity: 250 People

Amenities

Dance Floor
Wireless Internet/Wi-Fi

Features

Atmosphere/Decor: Beautiful, natural coastal environment, live seahorses and coastal animals, sandy beach area with wildlife Access to Lobby, Coastal Carolina, and NC Natural Treasures Catering workroom and kitchen Access to Auditorium requires an additional fee.
Floor Number: 1
Special Features: WRAL Theater Available for additional fees: Newly renovated, state-of-the art high definition projection system, and high-tech digital sound

NEC 2nd Floor Exhibit Areas

Maximum Capacity: 300
General Event Space

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NEC 2nd Floor Exhibit Areas

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General Event Space | Maximum Capacity: 300

COASTAL NORTH CAROLINA OVERLOOK : How close have you been to a Blue Whale? At the Coastal NC Overlook, you can view one of the most impressive whale skeleton collections on display in the US. It includes a massive Blue Whale, a rare True’s Beaked Whale, and our signature Sperm Whale named Trouble. Also on view is Mayflower, the remains of an endangered Right Whale collected in 1874, whose bones have been on public display for more than 100 years. MOUNTAINS TO THE SEA : You’ll forget you’re in the heart of downtown Raleigh as you wander through the Mountains to the Sea dioramas. Trees tower overhead. Fish swim in streams and ponds. A turtle snaps and dives. Which animals are aliveor created by an artist’s hand? That’s for you to figure out as you explore these life-like exhibits. Find habitats like the ones in your own backyard, but enhanced and explained like never before. UNDERGROUND NORTH CAROLINA : Did you know that NC was home to the first gold rush in the US? That ours is the only state where all four major gemstones—emeralds, rubies, sapphires, and diamonds — have been uncovered? In the Underground NC exhibit, view beautiful gems and minerals, including some that are found in few other places in the world. You can also learn more about creatures living underground, how soil is formed, and what makes NC a great state to study geology.

Supported Layouts and Capacities

Banquet - 10 per
Capacity: 120 People

Banquet - 8 per
Capacity: 120 People

Reception
Capacity: 300 People

Amenities

Dance Floor
Wireless Internet/Wi-Fi

Features

Atmosphere/Decor: Beautiful, natural North Carolina environment, live fish and snapping turtle, showcasing NC's natural gemstones and artifacts from the Museum's history. Access to Coastal Carolina Overlook, Mountains to Sea, and Underground North Carolina.
Floor Number: 2

NEC 3rd Floor Exhibit Areas

Maximum Capacity: 350
General Event Space

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NEC 3rd Floor Exhibit Areas

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General Event Space | Maximum Capacity: 350

TERROR OF THE SOUTH : Say hello to Acro, the Acrocanthosaurus — or, as we like to call him, the Terror of the South. In this compelling exhibit, learn how Acro hunted his gigantic sauropod prey, and how his septic bite could bring down even the mightiest foes. PREHISTORIC NORTH CAROLINA : Take a trip in our time machine all the way back to the beginnings of life in North Carolina. See the prehistoric predators that we all know and love, and meet some new friends, like Willo, a Thescelosaurus with remarkably well-preserved tendons. Dive into prehistoric seas in our tunnel through the Eocene Era. Meet our Giant Ground Sloth, a specimen that’s more than 1.5 million years old, discovered near Wilmington, NC. MOUNTAIN COVE : In the secretive mountain coves of NC, you’ll see some plants and animals you know well, along with a few you may never have met before. Some prefer the cover of darkness—either hiding under logs or venturing out only at night. Others are too small or too well camouflaged to catch your eye. Be alert for salamanders, spiders, owls, and all things that thrive in our mountain habitats. SNAKES OF NORTH CAROLINA : Sssssssnakes! They may strike fear into some hearts, but they have a permanent place in ours. NC boasts nearly 40 species of snakes, most of which are non-venomous and pose no threat to humans. In fact, they’re often beneficial, clearing our backyards of rodents and other pest animals. Even if you don’t like snakes in your yard, you can view them here behind the safety of glass.

Supported Layouts and Capacities

Banquet - 10 per
Capacity: 200 People

Reception
Capacity: 350 People

Amenities

Dance Floor
Wireless Internet/Wi-Fi

Features

Atmosphere/Decor: Celebrate surrounded by dinosaurs and the history of North Carolina.
Floor Number: 3

NRC 2nd Floor Exhibit Areas

Maximum Capacity: 200
General Event Space

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NRC 2nd Floor Exhibit Areas

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General Event Space | Maximum Capacity: 200

DIVERSITY OF LIFE : What is biodiversity? How do you tell one species from another? And why does it matter? Learn about how scientists are counting up the diversity of life, where they’re finding new species, and why preserving species is important—to humanity, and to our planet. WINDOW ON ANIMAL HEALTH : Have you ever seen a snake get a checkup? Or watched a sloth get its teeth cleaned? Our Museum has enough small animals to fill a small zoo, and each one requires high-quality veterinary care. At the Window on Animal Health, you can watch as our staff of highly-trained vets perform both routine and extraordinary procedures on our animals. And thanks to a two-way intercom, you can ask questions and get immediate answers. You’ve never been to a vet quite like this before. RESEARCHING WEATHER : What’s the difference between weather and climate? What can trees and ice cores tell us about our past? How do meteorologists predict the future? Learn all this and more in this interactive exhibit. You can check the current conditions at weather stations across the US and view some of the tools and techniques scientists use to research our atmosphere. You can even predict the path of a past hurricane and compare your prediction to that of local meteorologists.

Supported Layouts and Capacities

Banquet - 10 per
Capacity: 60 People

Reception
Capacity: 200 People

Amenities

Dance Floor
Wireless Internet/Wi-Fi

Features

Floor Number: 2

NRC 3rd Floor Exhibit Areas

Maximum Capacity: 200
General Event Space

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NRC 3rd Floor Exhibit Areas

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General Event Space | Maximum Capacity: 200

ANCIENT FOSSILS, NEW DISCOVERIES : Sure, our T. rex is impressive, even though it’s just a juvenile specimen. But paleontology isn’t just about dinosaurs! Here you can learn about the microscopic beginnings of life on our planet during the Ediacaran Period. See fossils of ancient predators from the Triassic Period, millions of years before dinosaurs evolved. And meet some of our Ice Age compatriots, mammoths and mastodons, who rose to dominance after the dinosaurs went extinct. How and why do we study ancient life? You’ll have to see these exhibits to find out! POSTCARDS FROM SPACE : Have you ever touched a stone that traveled through space for millions of years? You can in this exhibit! Learn about how different types of meteorites are classified and studied and what they can tell us about life on Earth. You can see fragments from Mars, pieces of asteroids, and even parts of the Chelyabinsk meteorite that landed in Russia in 2013. PLANET MICRO : Larger-than-life microbe models greet you in this exhibit, a rare opportunity to view life that’s normally too small for our eyes to see. On our planet, microbes outnumber humans by at least a trillion to one, so it’s good to get to know your smallest neighbors. In fact, we’re still learning how many microbes live on and in the human body, and how we rely on them to function. UNRAVELING DNA : Did you know that there is approximately 6½ feet of DNA packed into every human cell? It would take you more than 9 years to read aloud every letter in the human genome. The code is the foundation for all life, a blueprint for how to build proteins and make them work together to create, well, you. In this exhibit, you will find out how much DNA you share with other species, what makes an animal a “model organism” for research, and how DNA barcoding allows scientists to solve natural history mysteries.

Supported Layouts and Capacities

Banquet - 10 per
Capacity: 40 People

Reception
Capacity: 200 People

Amenities

Dance Floor
Wireless Internet/Wi-Fi

Features

Floor Number: 3

NEC 4th Floor Exhibit Areas

Maximum Capacity: 120
General Event Space

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NEC 4th Floor Exhibit Areas

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General Event Space | Maximum Capacity: 120

ARTHROPOD ZOO : What’s an arthropod, you ask? Just the most common type of animal on Earth! You may call them bugs, but we call them fascinating. The arthropod group includes everything from praying mantises to horseshoe crabs, and lots of things in between. Filled with live animals and larger-than-life models, this exhibit is sure to get you buzzing. LIVING CONSERVATORY (BUTTERFLY ROOM) : You’ve heard of rainforests, but have you heard of a tropical dry forest? Come see our recreation of this unique habitat and meet some of its most fascinating inhabitants. As tropical butterflies flutter overhead, get a glimpse of turtles, fish and even a two-toed sloth. These animals like it hot and humid, so you’ll feel like you’re taking a tropical vacation without ever leaving the city.

Supported Layouts and Capacities

Banquet - 10 per
Capacity: 75 People

Reception
Capacity: 120 People

Amenities

Wireless Internet/Wi-Fi

Features

Atmosphere/Decor: Live animals! Glass walls looking into the Living Conservatory! **All rentals on this floor must end at 9PM due to live animals
Floor Number: 4

NRC 1st Floor Exhibit Areas & Daily Planet Theater

General Event Space

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NRC 1st Floor Exhibit Areas & Daily Planet Theater

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General Event Space

INVESTIGATING RIGHT WHALES : Meet Stumpy, the Right Whale whose death made a difference for her species. Right Whales are critically endangered, with fewer than 500 left in the wild. When Stumpy was struck by a ship and died in 2004, researchers used her bones to show that ships need a speed limit within Right Whale protected habitats. New laws meant that fewer whales would die due to ship strikes. SECU DAILY PLANET : On the outside, it’s a scaled-down replica of our planet. But on the inside, the Daily Planet shows all of Earth’s glorious nature in fine detail. This three-story theater boasts a 42-foot-tall screen filled with colorful images, videos, and natural science information, sure to overwhelm your senses. Here you can also participate in presentations by guest speakers and scientists from the Museum’s own research labs

Supported Layouts and Capacities

Amenities

Dance Floor
Wireless Internet/Wi-Fi

Features

Floor Number: 1
Special Features: Daily Planet Theater available as add on for Rentals with additional price.

NRC 4th Floor Exhibit Area

Maximum Capacity: 250
General Event Space

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NRC 4th Floor Exhibit Area

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General Event Space | Maximum Capacity: 250

WILLIAM G. ROSS, JR. ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE CENTER : large conference room space with attached kitchen and catering workroom Space can be broken into 3 smaller conference rooms

Supported Layouts and Capacities

Banquet - 10 per
Capacity: 175 People

Reception
Capacity: 250 People

Amenities

Dance Floor
Wireless Internet/Wi-Fi

Features

Floor Number: 4

Recommendations

Perfect Rehearsal Dinner - An Eventective User from Cary

We wanted an original place to have our rehearsal dinner and a pre-wedding party. We absolutely loved working with Sydney on planning our event. The venue was perfect for hosting our 100 person dinner on the 4th floor being able to look out over the roof top to downtown Raleigh. We then moved to the first floor where we had a band play music in the globe and had 100 more people join us! It was the perfect location for an original dinner that people will never forget!

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Neighborhood

Venue Types

Amenities

ADA/ACA Accessible
Outdoor Function Area
Wireless Internet/Wi-Fi

Features

Max Number of People for an Event: 2300
Number of Event/Function Spaces: 8

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

About North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

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