Field Trips, Capital Area Visitor Services and Raleigh Group Visits

Guided tours of the mansion and gardens  must be reserved at least two weeks in advance through Capital Area Visitor Services.  

Spring tours of the gardens will be offered on Wednesdays and Thursdays, March 22–April 27, at 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Wednesday garden tours are designed for children; Thursday garden tours are for adults. Tours last 45 minutes. Tour capacity for this activity is a minimum of 5 people and maximum of 30 people.

Spring tours of the mansion will be offered on Wednesdays and Thursdays, March 15–June 15, at 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 2 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. Tours last 30 minutes. Tour capacity for this activity is a minimum of 15 people and maximum of 50 people

Executive Mansion security requires that a list of names for every individual in each group be submitted to Capital Area Visitor Services at least 72 hours before your tour. 

Know Before You Go: 

• The Executive Mansion is located at 200 N. Blount Street in Raleigh. Please plan to arrive at the front gate of the mansion (near the two flagpoles) about 15 minutes ahead of your tour time. 

• Upon entry, you will be asked for your group’s booking information and required to go through a brief security check. 

• Visitors are encouraged to dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes appropriate for outdoor terrain. 

• There are no public restrooms at the Executive Mansion, and we encourage you to take advantage of the facilities at the NC Museum of History before or after your tour, should you need them. 

• Parking is available in this Visitor Lot for a fee, or metered street parking can be found throughout downtown Raleigh. 

• Visitors are not allowed to wander from the docent-led group and must always stay with the guide. 

• Garden tours will occur rain or shine. 

Virtual Tour of NC Executive Mansion  

Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. 

Guided tours are available 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. in 30-minute increments. 

The Legislative Building is open to the public year-round, except on state holidays. 

Virtual Tour of NC Legislative Building  

Admission is free. 

Guidelines for visiting the NC General Assembly — Legislative Building 

• ARRIVAL AND REGISTRATION. Upon arrival to the General Assembly, please have your students gather in a single-file line behind the visitors and guests sign at the front entrance of the building located on Jones Street. Teachers are responsible for the registration of their groups. Please enter through the door marked appropriately for registration. Parents, adults, and chaperones should not be responsible for any part of registration. Teachers should come to the front desk to register, receive classroom materials, be given specific instructions, and meet their Building Guide. 

• SECURITY AND SCREENING. The Legislative Building now has a NEW security screening procedure in place for all visitors. To ensure the best possible experience, several recommendations will expedite screening. All students, teachers, parents, adults, and chaperones will be required to go through screening upon entry to the building. To accelerate this procedure, we are requesting that students leave all nonessential items, including backpacks, cell phones, etc. (excluding medical items), on their respective buses. We also ask that items not left on the bus, including souvenirs, be left outside with 2 or 3 adults while the tour takes place. Below are prohibited items inside the legislature: 

Prohibited Items Through Screening Process 

• Aerosol containers 

• Electric stun guns, martial arts weapons or devices 

• Knives of any size 

• Mace and pepper spray 

• Guns, replica guns, ammunition, and fireworks 

• Any weapon facsimile 

• Razors and box cutters 

• Pets or animals (guide and assistance animals are permitted) 

• Batons and nightsticks 

• Signs on handsticks 

• Any other item or device that can be considered a dangerous weapon 

The Building Guide will lead the group into the screening area. The Building Guide must be followed by the teacher, then students next, for screening, with parents, adults, and chaperones remaining at the end of the line to be screened last. 

We recommend following the above-listed procedures carefully, as any failure to follow the above guidelines may result in a delay for your group. We greatly appreciate your cooperation with these NEW security measures. We look forward to seeing you at the General Assembly and serving the needs of your group during its upcoming visit to the State Legislative Building! 

Visitors from around the world travel to the North Carolina Museum of History, a Smithsonian Affiliate, to discover fascinating secrets and hidden gems from our state’s past. Located at 5 East Edenton Street in the heart of downtown Raleigh across from the State Capitol, the state history museum, before the COVID-19 pandemic, welcomed more than 465,000 visitors a year, including over 83,000 schoolchildren. You can contact the museum at 919-814-7000. The fax number is 919-733-8655. 

The North Carolina Museum of History is open to the public with some procedures in place to help ensure the safety of staff and visitors. Daily, health, and safety guidelines are being followed and monitored.

 Please continue to follow the museum website and social media (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) for the most up-to-date information. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Admission is FREE. Tickets are NOT required for entry. Hours of operation are as follows:

• Monday–Saturday: 9 a.m.–5 p.m. 

• Sunday: Noon–5 p.m. 

The Museum Shop hours of operation:

• Monday–Saturday: 9 a.m.–5 p.m. 

• Sunday: Noon–5 p.m. 

Nearby the museum is convenient parking, restaurants, and many other family-friendly attractions. 

The museum is closed on New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. 

Before Your Visit to the N.C. Museum of History

To help you plan your visit to the Museum of History, you might find some of these links helpful:

• Pre-Visit Materials
• General Information for Planning a Visit
• Plan Your Family Visit
• Current Exhibits
• History at Home

NCMOH Book Your Tour Today

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh is open Tuesday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., with procedures and plans in place to help ensure the safety of visitors and staff. 

To help make your experience the best it can be, please Know Before You Go. 

When is the best time to visit NCMNS in downtown Raleigh? 

• Tuesday through Friday is a great time to visit. Typically, the museum is less busy, and the only line you may experience is at 10 a.m. prior to the museum opening. 

• We are busiest on Saturday and Sunday. Wait times are usual on weekends. Last entry is at 4:45 p.m. The building closes at 5 p.m. 

Please check this page before visiting, and follow the museum on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for the most up-to-date information. For additional questions, email info@naturalsciences.org or see the FAQs. We look forward to seeing you soon! 

Hours (Downtown Raleigh) 

• Open Tuesday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. 

• Closed Monday 

• Prairie Ridge Hours and Visiting Info. 

• Whiteville Hours and Visiting Info. 

• Contentnea Creek Info. 

Know Before You Go 

• Cloth face coverings are available for purchase in the Museum Store. 

• Enhanced cleaning of the facilities will take place multiple times throughout the day. 

• Hand sanitizer stations are accessible throughout the museum. 

• Water fountains will not be in use. 

• The museum’s daily on-site programming is temporarily postponed. 

• If you are experiencing symptoms of illness, we ask that you postpone your visit. 

Download the Museum's Reopening Map

 Temporarily Closed Area

Areas within the downtown museum that will remain closed during the initial opening period include: 

• Windows on the World (Storytime and Meet the Animals) 

• Living Conservatory (aka “the butterfly room”) 

• Discovery Room 

For more information! 

The State Capitol is now accepting group tour reservations for the 2022–2023 season. See below for more information on group tours. 

Fall and Spring Schedule: September 7, 2022–June 9, 2023 

• Guided tours are offered Tuesday through Friday at 9:30 a.m.,10 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m.,1 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. 

• Tours may be scheduled for a minimum of 10 people and a maximum of 30 people—this includes chaperones. 

• Reservations must be made a minimum of two weeks in advance. All groups must have a reservation and arrive 10 minutes prior to their tour time. Self-guided group tours are not available. 

Summer Schedule: June 13–August 31, 2023 

• Guided tours are offered Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. 

• Tours may be scheduled for a minimum of 10 people and a maximum of 30 people—this includes chaperones. 

• Reservations must be made a minimum of two weeks in advance. All groups must have a reservation and arrive 10 minutes prior to their tour time. Self-guided group tours are not available. 

• These tours should be scheduled for school-age students, college students, and adults.