Museum of Life and Science in Durham NC is an amazing kids’ museum. This travel guide digs into all the things we love about this awesome North Carolina attraction.
The Museum of Life and Science in Durham (also known as “MLS”) is THE outdoor place to be in Bull City. This 84-acre space is one of the state’s best children’s museums, but great for people of all ages.
The museum’s extensive indoor and outdoor sections make it a fun time of the year, rain or shine. And if you haven’t been yet, join us as we share our favorite things about this go-to spot in Durham.
Here’s how we’ve organized this guide to help you jump around:
- Museum Location Info + Hours
- Important Tips to Improve Your Experience
- Inside the Things We Love about MLS
Read More: Things to Do with Kids in Durham
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Where is the Museum of Life and Science?
Address: 433 W Murray Ave, Durham, NC
Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Closed Mondays
Note: Museum Members can Enter at 9:00 am.
Official Website
The first thing we love about the Museum of Life and Science is its location, tucked away in North Durham just a few miles from I-85 (Exit 176B). The Museum sits across the street from the Bronto Trail.
On this greenway, you’ll find an old dinosaur sculpture from an earlier MLS era. The Bronto Trail is part of a bike network that connects multiple parts of North Durham to Downtown and beyond!
Membership Perks
If you live in Durham or plan to come more than twice a year with your family, membership is absolutely worth the price.
Members can enter the museum an hour early, and you’ll also get special discounts to camps, classes, and super fun after-hours adult-only events!
Read More: The Best Breakfast in Durham and 15+ Essential Restaurants to Start Your Day!
Reciprocity
The Museum of Life and Science is a member of the Association of Zoo & Aquariums. This means that members can show their card at other area museums and zoos across the country and gain free access or discounted rate.
Typically, you’d need to present your physical membership card (if possible) and a valid photo ID that matches the name on the membership.
As members, we get discounted access to the Greensboro Science Center, Asheboro’s NC Zoo, and Kaleideum in Winston-Salem!
Read More: Fun Museums in Greensboro (Kid-Friendly, Contemporary Art, and More!)
Tips
Before we get into the things we love about this museum, we thought it’d be important to share a few tips.
Arrive Early
First, I’d recommend arriving early, meaning when the museum opens (9:00 for members & 10:00 for non-members). The place starts filling up at around 11:00 and seemingly clears out at around 3:30 or 4:00.
That gives you an hour at the beginning and end of each day to enjoy the museum sans crowds.
Read More: Things to Do in Durham
Prepare for the Outdoors
If you’re spending time outside, bring bug spray. The outdoor exhibits are extremely well maintained but are also a great representation of the outdoors, so prepare accordingly.
Bring a Change of Clothes
Oh, and one last thing, if you’re planning to enjoy outdoor exhibits like Into the Mist or the stream near Hideaway Woods, bring a change of clothes for your little one and yourself, too!
Read More: Hiking Trails in Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill
Things to Do at Museum of Life and Science (aka Things We Love!)
Okay, now it’s time to share our favorite things about this museum.
Daily and Monthly Programs
There are daily programs throughout the year at the museum. For example, you can meet the animal keepers and watch special programs.
One thing we can’t leave it out is “Community Day,” when admission prices are waived for Durham residents. Those dates are listed on the Museum’s Tickets section.
Read More: Free Things to Do in Durham
Indoor Exhibits
The museum’s indoor exhibits have just as much to offer as the outdoors. See if you can find your house from the satellite mapping table in the Aerospace section or get up close with the wildlife of North Carolina.
Either way, something for every age and interest awaits inside.
Play to Learn
Play to Learn is where we found ourselves when first bringing our little one to the Museum of Life and Science. This section has a toddler and a baby exploration area. And in the winter, you can usually find us on the climbing wall.
Aerospace
The museum also has a really fun Aerospace exhibit. Here, you can explore a satellite mapping table, look at displays on loan from the Smithsonian, and climb inside a command module.
It’s great for kids and even space nerds like my husband.
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Carolina Wildlife
One of our favorite indoor exhibits is Carolina Wildlife. You can see a variety of animals local to our state, including alligators, muskrats, and barred owls.
There are more fun indoor exhibits at the Museum of Life and Science to explore. If you’ve been before, do you have a favorite that you’d like to share?
Outdoor Exhibits and Activities
There’s plenty of outdoor space to explore at the Museum of Life and Science! Thankfully, North Carolina has pretty mild winters so we can spend most of the year outside here.
Ellerbe Creek Railway (aka The Train!)
Each day (weather cooperating), the CP Huntington replica train runs through the outdoor nature park and you can hear its whistle throughout most of the day. It’s a 10-minute train ride but our favorite, after testing quite a few throughout North Carolina and beyond.
Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis. However, special programs like the Santa Train and Pumpkin Patch require advanced ticket purchases.
For more information about daily, monthly, and special programs, all you have to do is check the museum’s schedule, which is updated regularly here.
Read More: Pumpkin Patches in North Carolina
Hideaway Woods
One of the most unique features of the Museum of Life and Science is the Hideaway Woods. The treehouse is the main attraction, surrounded by a variety of walkways, slides, and more fun.
Next to the treehouse is a cool stream, perfect to cool off in during hot summer days. With a play zone for kids under three, this section is attractive for everyone.
Dinosaur Trail
Don’t miss getting up close and personal with creatures from the Cretaceous period in the museum’s Dinosaur Trail.
Not only are there life-sized dinos, but future archeologists can dig for 5-to-23 million-year-old marine fossils anywhere from our own Carolina shores.
Read More: The Best Hiking Trails in North Carolina
Catch the Wind
Catch the Wind is a fun collection of outdoor exhibits where you can guide a sailboat, launch vapor rings, and explore in more ways.
Into the Mist
Into the Mist is very popular, especially on hot days.
There are tunnels, landforms, and rocks work with push-button mist fields to simulate humidity and wind working together over small valleys. And if you brought a little one, this is a great spot for them to cool off and enjoy the droplets of water.
Earth Moves
Earth Moves is an awesome exhibit that recreates our changing planet. With a waterfall and plenty of sand and mud, this place is perfect for the kids and adults to get dirty.
Did we already mention the need for a change of clothes? Here’s another reason why you should bring one for everyone!
Butterflies and Insects
Museum of Life and Science’s Magic Wings Butterfly House is one of the largest on the East Coast. Inside, there’s a 35-foot tall glass conservatory, hundreds of tropical butterflies, and 250 species of tropical plants.
Butterflies are released daily by their Lepidopterist and definitely an experience worth witnessing!
The Bayer Insectarium
In the same building, the Bayer Insectarium displays rare and exotic insects from around the world, including The Philippines, Central America and more.
Wildlife
You’ll find plenty of outdoor wildlife at the Museum of Life and Science inside the Explore the Wild section and their Farmyard.
Red Wolves
The museum serves as an ambassador for the Red Wolf Species Survival Program. Red wolves are one of the rarest animals in the world and the SSP gives the museum recommendations to ensure their “long-term diversity and stability.”
Bears
Did you know that the Museum of Life and Science has four bears? And that it doesn’t get cold enough in North Carolina for them to hibernate?
They may sleep for several days during the winter or be a little slower, but unlike other colder parts of the US, bears are more alert.
Lemurs
Museum of Life and Science is also home to seven ring-tailed lemurs. These social animals can put on quite the show as they climb around, balance themselves on ropes, or just hang around and groom themselves.
The Farmyard
Alpaca some snacks for The Farmyard, which is a great way to say hello to traditional farm animals. Here, children (and you) can learn more about what these animals’ daily lives look like.
Two Miniature Hereford cows, donkey, a family of alpacas, pigs, chickens, and even a rabbit or two live here.
Is there a favorite part of the Museum’s outdoor section that stands out to you? Let us know in the comments section!
Food at Life and Science
Whether you pack a lunch or grab a delicious meal from the Sprout Café, spending an entire day at the Museum of Life and Science is definitely possible!
If you’re bringing food from home, make sure it comes in resealable food containers. Parents and adults can stay fueled up with healthy options or enjoy locally roasted coffee from the Elements Coffee Bar.
And if you’re planning a field trip, the Sprout Café can accommodate your group with affordable lunch box options!
Read More: The Best Restaurants in Durham
Camps and Classes
Various science-based programs are offered throughout the year at the Museum of Life and Science, including a Summer Camp, Spring Break Camp, Homeschool Program, and more.
We’re always on the lookout for camps for our little ones, so we’d love to know if you’ve tried a camp at MLS before!
Read More: 7 Wonderful Aquariums in North Carolina and How to Visit them All!
See Why We Love the Museum of Life and Science?
Do you see why we love the Museum of Life and Science now? This place is perfect for any time of year, whether it’s hot and sticky, rainy, or cold.
If you’re there with a little one, this museum provides so many great opportunities for them to interact, learn, and enjoy themselves. And you can join the fun, too!
Have you ever visited Durham’s Museum of Life and Science? What do you think of it? What’s your favorite part? And if you haven’t been yet, what’s the first part you’d like to explore?
More Things to Do in Durham
Beyond the Museum of Life and Science, there are tons of things to do in Durham and our collection of travel guides below will get you started!
Great tips! My kid has been with her school but it’s our first time going on Sunday as a family. This post was timely and informative. Thanks!
Thank you, Leslie! Hope y’all enjoyed your time.