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Mississippi Museum of Natural Science
2148 Riverside Drive, 601-354-7303
see an ancient catfish that has lost its scales.
hike the trails that lead to mays lake.
play disk golf in Lefleur’s park.
this is a great place to spend a bored summer day.
or a breezy fall one.
or a chilly winter one.
or a sunny spring one.
The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science in Jackson is an entity that provides science engagement to citizens of Mississippi. Staffed by hard working smarties, a visit to the museum provides one with such valueable tidbits as, Alligators have the same number teeth as Mississippi has counties, thats 82.
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Here’s a museum tip: Buy a membership. I’m not sure what Mr. Steam Jeans and I would do without our family pass to the Museum of Natural Science. When the in-laws are in town, a trip to LeFleur’s maintains our stress levels. The kids love the big-a** catfish, the men love to look at the topographical maps and lie about the one that got away. The women love to catch up on gossip on the walking trail. Also, with a membership, the family gets invites to sneak previews of special exhibits.
--Emily Braden
(Best of Jackson, Best Museum 2007)
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You’re never too old for a field trip to a local museum. One Jackson museum in particular has attracted a crowd: the Museum of Natural Science. Where else can you go to see life-size depictions of giant sloths and T-Rex? The Museum of Natural Science serves both as a locale for family fun and even a memorable date. If showcases of aquariums, snakes and alligators are not enough to impress you, you can explore the museums’ numerous nature walks. Strolling through the backwoods of the museum, you can hardly believe you are in a metropolitan area. Through December, you can enjoy the excellent Hunters of the Sky Exhibit.
--Catherine Schmidt
(Best of Jackson, Best Museum 2006)
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Once again, humans fall short in their long-standing rivalry with nature, as the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science devours the competition. It’s not a tremendous shock, considering the impressive facilities: a 73,000 square-foot building containing a gigantic octagonal sunroom and oh, yes 300 ACRES of nature! If you ask me, it wasn’t a fair fight. Who wouldn’t rather explore the wonders of creation in the bosom of Mother Nature herself than drudge through a stuffy old asbestos-filled (comment not based on any scientific evidence whatsoever) building to stare at collections by those who would attempt with human hand (however brilliant) to mimic the divine?
OK, I admit it. The Mississippi Museum of Art is exquisite, diverse and enlightening. And, the Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center is certainly worth a visit, for the art as well as substantive African-American history. But, I ask you, do either of these facilities contain 20,000-gallon aquariums or ALLIGATORS?!? Binoculars and microscopes and fossils and touch-screen computers? Will they let you smash your face up against the exhibit to see if you can elicit a reaction from the exhibit, itself? I think not.
--Jerusha Bosarge
(Best of Jackson, Best Museum 2004)
