Cook Museum of Natural Science

Cook Museum of Natural Science Engaging, exciting and educating visitors of all ages about the natural created world around us.
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Packed full of free fun, Doodle Bug Vol. 6 is all about birds and flight! 🦅🦆🐦🐥 This new edition is now available in the ...
06/19/2026

Packed full of free fun, Doodle Bug Vol. 6 is all about birds and flight! 🦅🦆🐦🐥 This new edition is now available in the Museum Store! It has lots of ways to continue the fun and learning at home and online after your visit to the Museum. There is an easy-to-do snack as well as a craft, online jigsaw puzzles, a sing-a-long video, behind-the-scenes information, and more!

Vol. 6 is presented by Decatur Morgan Hospital

Join us for Stories in the Store with special guest author Phoebe Goodwin where she will read her book and invite childr...
06/18/2026

Join us for Stories in the Store with special guest author Phoebe Goodwin where she will read her book and invite children to take an active role in the storytelling. Come early to choose your favorite stool! Story time begins at 10:30 am in the lobby. 📖

The author reading will be followed by a book signing! Books will be available for purchase in the Museum Store at Cook Museum 🖊️

New stories will be read each Tuesday during June & July. Admissions to the Exhibits is not included.

Which one will it be? Explore the Museum Exhibits with a different scavenger hunt each week this summer during the Summe...
06/17/2026

Which one will it be? Explore the Museum Exhibits with a different scavenger hunt each week this summer during the Summer of Mystery Scavenger Hunts on Fridays in June & July. Complete the scavenger hunt and earn a small prize to take home from the Museum Store.

Want a different scavenger hunt? Visit Discovery Hub on the Museum's website. There, you can download one to use digitally or to print at home and bring it to the Museum whenever you like.

June 19 & 26
July 3, 10, 17, 24, & 31
FREE for Members or with General Admission

06/17/2026

Meet one of the coolest residents of the Oceans Tank: the black angelfish! With its sleek, dark coloring and graceful fins, this striking fish proves that sometimes less is more. While many reef fish are known for bright colors, the black angelfish stands out with its elegant look as it glides effortlessly through the water.
Fun fact: Angelfish use their flattened bodies to weave through coral reefs with ease, making them agile swimmers and fascinating to watch in action. The next time you’re exploring the Oceans Tank, see if you can spot this underwater beauty cruising among the coral and other marine life. It just might become your new favorite fish! 💙

Have you seen the black angelfish during a visit to the Cook Museum?

06/16/2026

A green moray eel has been added to the Oceans Tank at the Cook Museum! 🪸

This impressive new resident weighs 18 pounds and measures 4 feet, 4 inches long! It can be seen swimming around the Tank, resting in the hideaway, or burrowing in the sand. 🌊

Come see the eel for yourself! Cook Museum is open 7 days a week during the summer.

🕰 Sunday: Noon - 5 pm
    Monday - Saturday: 9 am - 5 pm
📍133 4th AVE, NE - Decatur, AL 35601
🌐 cookmuseum.org

Have questions about the eel? Let us know in the comments! 👇

Join us for VR Thursdays in June & July to take part in a virtual reality (VR) dissection! The VR dissections, developed...
06/15/2026

Join us for VR Thursdays in June & July to take part in a virtual reality (VR) dissection! The VR dissections, developed by Victory XR and Carolina Biological, utilize Meta VR headsets to provide an individually paced and fully interactive dissection experience. Each dissection experience lasts approximately 30 - 45 minutes.

Three different VR dissections (squid, sea star, or frog) will be offered on select days:
· VR Squid Dissection: June 25 & July 16
· VR Sea Star Dissection: July 2 & July 23
· VR Frog Dissection: June 18, July 9, & July 30

VR dissections at the Cook Museum are now approved for professional development credits for teachers. For more information regarding teacher credits, contact [email protected].

Sessions are sold individually. Admission to the Exhibits is not included. All sales are final, no refunds. Only registered participants are permitted in the classroom. Non-registered adults and children would need to wait outside the classroom.

Guests may register online at cookmuseum.org or in person at the Guest Services desk in the Museum Lobby. If you have any questions, contact the Group Sales department during regular weekday business hours at (256) 898-6312 or email [email protected].

For ages 11 - Adult
$14 (+ tax) per participant, per session
Limited spots available; advance registration recommended.

More Summer Break fun coming your way this week! ☀️
06/14/2026

More Summer Break fun coming your way this week! ☀️

It's Summer Break, and you know what that means: the Museum is open seven days a week! Monday - Saturday from 9 am - 5 p...
06/13/2026

It's Summer Break, and you know what that means: the Museum is open seven days a week! Monday - Saturday from 9 am - 5 pm and Sunday Noon - 5 pm.

Treasure hunters, this one is for you! ⛏️💎 The Mining Sluice is open and ready for summer adventures! 🌞✨Grab a bag, head...
06/12/2026

Treasure hunters, this one is for you! ⛏️💎 The Mining Sluice is open and ready for summer adventures! 🌞✨

Grab a bag, head to the sluice, and sift through the flowing water to uncover hidden treasures like colorful gemstones and other exciting finds. Every bag is a surprise, making each discovery even more fun! It's the perfect hands-on activity for curious kids, aspiring geologists, and anyone who loves a good treasure hunt. 🔍💎

Before planning your mining adventure, remember that the Mining Sluice is weather dependent and may close during inclement weather.

Visitors can explore the Cook Museum at their own pace, with additional sensory-based activities available in the Exhibi...
06/11/2026

Visitors can explore the Cook Museum at their own pace, with additional sensory-based activities available in the Exhibits on Sensory Friendly Days on Sundays, June 14 & July 12 from Noon - 5 pm. For this event, the Museum aims to provide a relaxed environment for individuals with autism and other sensory or communication needs.

In addition to the Quiet Room and noise-reduction headphones that are always available, sounds will be lowered, crowds will be limited, and a designated Sensory Room will be available.

To prepare for your visit, a CMNS Social Story Guide and CMNS Visual Vocabulary are available online. FREE for Members or with General Admission.

Address

133 4th Avenue NE
Decatur, AL
35601

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 12pm - 5pm

Telephone

+12563514505

Website

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