ACCESSIBILITY

Building Accommodations

Entrance to NCMNS Raleigh, Prairie Ridge, Whiteville, and Greenville/Contentnea Creek is free. There are costs for 3D Movies, Special (Traveling) Exhibits, and some programming.

Restrooms with accessible stalls are located on every floor; they are along the south interior wall in the Nature Exploration Center, and the southwest interior corner of the Nature Research Center.

Single-Use Restrooms are located on the first floors of the Nature Exploration Center (northwest corner) and Nature Research Center (southeast corner).

Baby Changing Stations are located in all public and single-use restrooms in the Nature Exploration Center. In the Nature Research Center, they are located on the first, second, and third floor women's public restrooms and first floor men's public restroom.

Our Quiet Space / Nursing Room / Universal Changing Table is located on the first floor of the Nature Exploration Center, in the back of the Coastal Hall. There is no sink in the Nursing Room; there is a sink and toilet in the single-use restroom across from the Nursing Room. Our Universal Changing Table is a fixed height table without a mechanical transfer lift, and the dimensions are H: 21" W: 32" L: 74".

Guests Who Are Neurodivergent

The Sensory Map identifies sensory-friendly spaces within the Nature Exploration Center and Nature Research Center.
Sensory Map (PDF)

Social Narratives detail what to expect when visiting the Museum. They are available in both English and Spanish.

• Visiting the Museum Guide (PDF)
• Visiting the Museum, Younger Guide (PDF)
• Guía del museo para principiantes (PDF)
• Guía de museo (PDF)

Noise-Cancelling Headphones and Sensory Friendly Bags are available to checkout for free at both Information Desks.

Our Quiet Space/Nursing Room/Universal Changing Table is located on the first floor of the Nature Exploration Center, in the northwest corner. It has an armchair and is a small space that fits an individual or a small family unit.

Sensory-Friendly Events are held monthly in the Dueling Dinosaurs exhibit for guests to enjoy a quieter atmosphere. For more information about these events, please see our Events Calendar.

Guests Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision

Guided Tactile Tours are available for free to small groups visiting the Nature Exploration Center. Registration for tours is required at least a week prior to desired date.

Sighted Guides are available; please make requests no less than a week in advance by emailing Accessibility@NaturalSciences.org.

Tactile models are located throughout our exhibits, and hands-on spaces such as our Investigate Lab, VisLab, Naturalist Center, and Discovery Room have tactile specimens and activities.

Guests Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Sign Language Interpretation for live presentations or programs is available upon request. Please make requests no less than two weeks in advance by emailing Accessibility@NaturalSciences.org.

Live captioning is available for all virtual programs, presentations, and classes upon request. Please email Accessibility@NaturalSciences.org at least one week in advance with requests.

Assistive Listening Devices are available upon request for guests attending live presentations or programs at the Nature Exploration Center and Nature Research Center. Please email Accessibility@NaturalSciences.org to reserve devices, and they will be placed at the Nature Exploration Center Information Desk for your use.

Physical prints of Movie Transcripts are available for showings in the WRAL 3D Theater from the Box Office. Open Captioning Devices are available for some movies and can be requested at the Box Office.

Guests with Limited Mobility

Wheelchairs are available for free at the Nature Exploration Center and Nature Research Center Information Desks. Please note that we only have manual transport wheelchairs available; we do not have electric or scooter options.

Automatic Doors are located at the entrances to the Nature Exploration Center and Nature Research Center. There are automatic doors on the second-floor bridge that connects the two buildings. Guests are cautioned there are currently no automatic doors on the third-floor bridge that connects the two buildings.

Elevators operate between each level of the Nature Exploration Center (interior southeast corner) and Nature Research Center (interior west wall).

Stairs are available in both buildings. The Nature Research Center stairs are located behind the Information Desk, closer to the entrance doors. The Nature Exploration Center stairs are located on Stairwell D, on the northeast corner of the building.

Escalators operate between each level of the Nature Exploration Center. There are no escalators in the Nature Research Center.

Accessible Seating is available in the SECU Daily Planet Theater and WRAL 3D Theater for visitors using scooters or wheelchairs.

Accessible Restrooms Stalls are located in all public restrooms on every floor of the Nature Exploration Center and Nature Research Center.

Service Animals

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences welcomes service animals as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): a dog or miniature horse (or one in training) that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. Due to the presence of the Museum's animals, areas such as the Living Conservatory and Windows on the World are considered sensitive and require extra caution for service animals. Pets, emotional support animals, comfort animals, or species other than a dog or miniature horse are not considered service animals under the ADA and are not allowed in the Museum.

Greenville and Contentnea Creek

Stairs lead up to the main entrance. The elevator for entry is located on the right side of the building, facing the parking lot. There is a large white sign on the door saying, "Need A Lift?" This door opens directly to the elevator.

Each restroom has one large accessible stall with handrails. There are no single-use restrooms. A baby changing table is in the Discovery Forest.

Sensory Friendly Bags are available for checkout at the welcome desk.

Voice amplifier speakers are available for museum educator-led programs; let the museum educator know if you would like them to use a voice amplifier during your program.

Prairie Ridge Ecostation

All facilities at Prairie Ridge are outdoors. With adequate notice (minimum two weeks in advance of visit), staff will make reasonable accommodations in all programs to enable participation by an individual with a disability.

With adequate prior notification, Prairie Ridge staff will make every reasonable effort to accommodate individuals with mobility impairments wishing to use the trails.

Any “other power-driven mobility device” that an individual wishes to use must not cause damage to the trail surface and must be able to be safely operated for the volume of visitation currently at Prairie Ridge. For more information please contact PrairieRidge@NaturalSciences.org at 919.707.8888.