On the Fourth Floor, enter a recreated dry tropical forest in the Living Conservatory. Smell the aroma of live vanilla plants as you watch live ruby-throated hummingbirds and monarch butterflies zip and flutter about. Compare and contrast exotic tropical species with our own native animals, such as the elegant pine barrens tree frog.

Right outside the Living Conservatory you can enjoy a light meal or refreshment in the Acro Café, filled with natural light from the skylights.

Did you know that butterflies, barnacles, spiders, lobsters and millipedes are related? In the Arthropod Zoo you can take a close-up view of these living creatures and find out about the important role they play in our global web of life.

If you have ever been curious about something you discovered in the wild, visit the Naturalist Center. Follow your interest by using our 3-dimensional library of study collections.

In 2000 the North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences began its 121^st year of service to the state and its citizens.

This action-packed facility, with its distinctive and elegant corner dome, will serve as a landmark for the capital. At night the dome lights up like a beacon, symbolizing the Museum's role as a leader in education, scientific literacy, and stewardship of our remarkable natural heritage.

Take a sneak peek behind the scenes and see how the new Museum exhibits took shape over the months before the grand opening:

Sneak Peek Gallery

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