At the Cook Museum of Natural Science in downtown Decatur, visitors of all ages learn about the wonders of nature — and not by looking passively at dry, dull, traditional displays. Instead, they enjoy an exciting, hands-on, immersive experience featuring state-of-the-art interactive exhibits. Attendees touch a meteorite.
They climb to the top of Big Tree. They’re mesmerized by moon jellies. They build a volcano and watch it erupt. “Hands-on, immersive experiences engage people through more than listening, reading or watching,” said Joy Harris, the Cook Muse-um’s marketing coordinator.
“When people not only see and hear, but also interact with something, they’re more likely to retain and recall the experience.”
The Cook Museum has drawn nearly 300,000 total visitors since it opened in 2019 and is a perfect Get-away for a Day. Less than 90 minutes from Birmingham, the facility is open seven days a week all summer and offers families the chance to make amazing memories together.
In addition, the museum is driven by a powerful mission. “North America, and Alabama specifically, have amazing biodiversity that Cook Museum wants to showcase so people will be excited and educated about the natural world around them,” she said.
By providing amazing experiences, the Cook Museum hopes to “spark an interest for visitors to explore topics further on their own,” Harris said.
In addition to exhibits, the museum provides extensive educational programming.
A great spot for field trips and group visits, the museum hosted nearly 15,000 students on field trips in 2022.
The museum offers 5-day summer camps for children ages 5-12 on such topics as robotics and zoology. This summer’s theme is “Biomes Bonanza.”
The Aquarist for a Day camps — held year-round — allow kids in grades 4 through 8 to explore careers at the Cook Museum through live animal feedings, behind-the-scenes tours, science classes and dissections of shark and squid.
Homeschool classes for grades K-12 feature a new topic each month. All classes are hands-on, and many seventh- through 12th-grade classes include a dissection of a crab, grasshopper, sea star or sea urchin.
The Cook Museum offers event spaces for meetings, banquets and other events of all sizes, as well as birthday party packages.
Visitors can enjoy the Nature’s Table cafe in the museum lobby for healthy, delicious food with fresh ingredients, such as sandwiches, salads, wraps and protein bowls. Nature's Table also offers catering and boxed meals for events and parties.
Museum memberships offer such benefits as unlimited free general admission for a year, 10% discounts at Nature’s Table and the Museum Store, discounts on birthday party packages and camp registrations and early registration for classes and camps.
Through Labor Day, the Cook Museum is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon-5 p.m.
Admission is $20 for adults ages 15 and over, $15 for children ages 3-14 and $17 for seniors ages 65 and up and military personnel with IDs. Infants ages 2 and younger are admitted free. Group packages are available.
For more information, including upcoming classes, camps and events, call 256-351-4505 or go to cookmuseum.org.
