Delaware Museum of Nature & Science
Dinosaurs, the Nature Nook, and a hands-on Discovery Gallery — the best rainy-day museum in NCC for curious kids.
The Quick Version
- • Recently renovated natural history museum with the PaleoZone (Delaware's only permanent dinosaur exhibit), the PNC Grow Up Great Nature Nook for the youngest visitors, the hands-on Bill & Denise Spence Discovery Gallery, and rotating exhibits.
- • Indoor museum — great for any weather. The building is a manageable size for young visitors.
- • Free, easy parking right at the door. One of the easiest logistics experiences of any NCC venue.
- • Plan 90 minutes to 2 hours. Enough depth for repeat visits.
Best Ages
3-12
Plan For
90 minutes - 2 hours
Adults
$15.50 (ages 3+)
Kids
$5.50 (ages 1-2)
What to Expect
DMNHS is a mid-sized natural history museum on Kennett Pike in the Greenville area. It went through a significant renovation and feels fresh and well-maintained. The collection spans paleontology (dinosaur fossils and a full-size replica), Delaware wildlife, live animal exhibits, and hands-on science.
The museum is the right size for young families — big enough to be interesting, small enough that you can see everything without exhaustion. The PNC Grow Up Great Nature Nook is the anchor for the youngest visitors; the Bill & Denise Spence Discovery Gallery is the hands-on space where preschoolers and elementary kids dig into experiential activities. Scheduled live-animal presentations show up most weekends — confirm at the front desk.
It's not a flashy, big-city museum. What it is: a clean, well-run, appropriately-scaled science museum where your preschooler can touch a fossil, watch a turtle, build something, and leave happy in 90 minutes.
Did You Know?
Ask the front desk about the day's live animal presentation when you walk in — a naturalist brings critters out for an up-close look, it's free with admission, and it's the easiest thing to miss if you don't ask.
Who It's Best For
Preschoolers love the Nature Nook and the hands-on Discovery Gallery. Elementary kids engage with the PaleoZone fossils, the Global Journey and Regional Journey ecosystem galleries, and scheduled animal presentations. Kids under 3 can enjoy the Nature Nook but won't get much from the rest. Tweens find enough here for a solid visit.
Highlights
PaleoZone
Ages 3+Delaware's only permanent dinosaur exhibit. Skeletons of Dryptosaurus, the flying Nyctosaur, and the aquatic giant Mosasaur. Kids who are in a dinosaur phase will need to be pulled away.
PNC Grow Up Great Nature Nook
Ages 0-5Dedicated space for the youngest visitors with hands-on activities and daily story-time programs. Hours can be tighter than the rest of the museum — Fri–Mon 9:30–4, Tue–Thu 10–3:30.
Bill & Denise Spence Discovery Gallery
Ages 2-10Hands-on experiential space that builds on concepts introduced throughout the museum. Where preschoolers and elementary kids dig in for the longest stretch.
Live Animal Presentations
All agesScheduled programs where a naturalist brings live animals out for an up-close look. Run most weekends — confirm the day's schedule at the front desk on arrival.
Global & Regional Journey Galleries
Ages 5+Ecosystem walks through world habitats (oceans, Arctic tundra, African savanna, rainforests) and Delaware's own (forests, dunes, salt marshes, Delaware Bay). Mounted specimens and interactive elements; pairs well with what kids see on local nature walks.
What to Skip with Little Ones
- • Rushing through — the museum rewards slow, curious exploration over a quick walkthrough.
- • The reading-heavy informational panels. Little kids engage through the visuals and touchables, not the text.
Logistics
Admission
Adults
$15.50 (ages 3+)
Kids
$5.50 (ages 1-2)
Under
Under 1 free
5% cash discount available. Members free. Open 9:30 AM – 4 PM; Nature Nook (the toddler space) runs Fri-Mon 9:30-4, Tue-Thu 10-3:30. Visitors under 16 must be with an adult.
Membership tip: Family membership is good value if you visit quarterly — it's the kind of museum kids want to revisit.
Getting There
Parking
Free. Large lot directly in front of the building. You park, you walk 30 seconds, you're inside. It's one of the easiest venue experiences in the area.
Entrance
Main entrance from the parking lot. Front desk is right inside — friendly staff, quick admission.
Parent Logistics
Fully accessible single-floor museum. Strollers work fine throughout. Wide hallways and exhibit spaces. Most families with toddlers use the stroller as a base and let kids walk between exhibits.
Clean restrooms near the entrance and in the back of the museum.
Available in the restrooms.
Indoor venue — not applicable.
Food & Snacks
The Rest, Relax, & Recharge Cafe (added 2024+) serves prepackaged sandwiches, salads, snacks, coffee, and beverages. There's also a bottle warmer for parents with infants.
Snack strategy: The on-site cafe is fine for a quick refuel, but the selection is limited — pack snacks too if you're staying past lunch. For a real meal afterward, the Greenville area has options: Buckley's Tavern (family-friendly pub, 5 minutes away), or head down Kennett Pike toward Centerville or Wilmington.
Pro Tips
- ✓ Ask at the front desk about the day's live animal presentation schedule — these are short, engaging, and free with admission.
- ✓ The gift shop is well-curated with nature-themed toys and books. Reasonably priced for a museum shop.
- ✓ This is one of the best 'emergency plan' museums in the area. Easy parking, quick in-and-out, and reliably entertaining for under-7s.
- ✓ Check the rotating exhibit before you visit — some temporary exhibits are exceptionally good for kids.
- ✓ Combine with Winterthur (10-minute drive) for a full day: museum in the morning, Enchanted Woods in the afternoon.
When to Go
Best Time to Visit
Weekday mornings are quiet. Saturday mornings are busier but manageable. The museum doesn't get overwhelmingly crowded.
Seasonal Notes
Open year-round with consistent indoor exhibits. Special programming during school breaks. The rotating exhibit gallery changes 2-3 times per year — check what's on.
Rainy Day?
Excellent rainy-day option. The entire museum is indoor, parking is right at the door, and you can be inside within 2 minutes of leaving your car. This is a top-3 rainy-day venue in NCC.
While You're in the Area
Winterthur is 10 minutes north on Kennett Pike. Hagley is 10 minutes south. Buckley's Tavern in Centerville is a solid family lunch spot. Delaware Art Museum is a 10-minute drive toward Wilmington.
Upcoming Events
Verified against the venue’s official info.
Last reviewed May 20, 2026. Prices re-checked May 20, 2026. Confirm anything dated (admission, hours, special events) on the venue’s own site before you drive.
Sources: delmns.org