Home > Your Personal Side > City Guides > Durham > Attractions > Museum of Life and Science

Museum of Life and Science

Photo Credit: Bruce R. Feeley and Durham CVB

Certain places are so mind-boggling that visitors of all ages are amazed at the wonders that surround them. Such a place is the Museum of Life and Science, a 78-acre technology center that makes science come alive—and makes it fun.

A popular exhibit is the "Magic Wings Butterfly House," the largest butterfly conservatory east of the Mississippi. It is home to 1,000 exotic butterflies from Asia, Africa, and Central and South America, all of which live in a simulated tropical rainforest within the 5,000-square-foot glass conservatory. Educational displays in the Butterfly House chronicle the various life stages of butterflies. If you find insects fascinating, you'll enjoy watching more of them at the Insectarium, located at Magic Wings Butterfly House. You'll see a variety of insects from around the world, including giant walking sticks, death's head roaches, and a giant farm of harvester ants.

Take a ride on the Ellerbee Creek Railway (which runs every 30 minutes in the morning, every hour in the afternoon until 4 p.m.) and you might get an up-close look at some wildlife. Learn about aerospace technology as you climb into an Apollo command module test vehicle. Check out the weather exhibit, where you can experience what it would be like to be inside a tornado.

At the Science Arcade you can play with interactive displays as you learn about physics. The museum also features a large number of live animal exhibits, as well as interactive exhibits that encourage discovery of natural habitats, technology, geology, and archaeology.

Location
The Museum of Life and Science is located at 433 Murray Avenue. Driving directions are available at the MLS Web site.

Hours of operation
The museum is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; and on Sunday, noon–5 p.m. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.

Admission

Adults	$8.50
Seniors	$7.50
Military with valid ID	$7.50
Ages 3-12	$6.00
Children under 2	Free

Durham County residents are given free admission every Monday after 1 p.m.

Contact information
Call (919) 220-5429.

Disabled access
The Museum of Life and Science provides access for disabled visitors.

Additional information

• Special events—such as Wolf Awareness Week, or World Rainforest Week—are regularly scheduled. Call (919) 220-5429 for event information.
• Tickets for the Ellerbee Creek Railway are an additional $1.50 per person.
• Caterpillar Café, located in the Visitor Court, is a serve-yourself food concession that offers kid-friendly food like hamburgers, pizza, sandwiches, and snacks, as well as a variety of hot and cold beverages.
• Visit the Museum of Life and Science Web site.

Please note
Cost, hours of operation, or other information about this attraction is subject to change without notice. We suggest you confirm with the attraction prior to your visit.