Located on Fayetteville Street in the heart of downtown Raleigh are 2 museums. They are both "must-see" for North Carolina citizens and anyone traveling near Raleigh.

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences has a number of landmark signature exhibts. The 2-story, half-block long "Coastal Carolina" exhibit on the first floor is a starting point for most visits. On the ceiling of the gallery are the suspended skeletons of whales. The "Mountains to the Sea" exhibit is the highlight on the second floor, showing the wildlife and habitats found across North Carolina. On the third floor is the "Terror of the South" exhibit, which reenacts a dinosaur battle. The "Naturalist Center" on the fourth floor gives visitors a chance to get up close and personal with butterflies. Several traveling exhibits are regularly featured. Check their website often for the current and coming exhibits.

Within walking distance is the North Carolina Museum Of History. The museum portrays the role of North Carolina in the wars that have claimed the lives of her citizens, as well as the events that have formed our heritage.