Virginia Museum of Natural History — Attraction in Martinsville

When I was younger( say 5-6), my Grannyma started taking me to the museum because I absolutely LOVED dinosaurs, rocks, and playing with the different stations they had set up. There was (and still is )always plenty of stuff to look at and plenty of things to do! She helped nurture that passion with continued visits and dinosaur books she would buy me. Now, at the age of 34,I'm trying to teach my child the wonders of the world , history and the beauties of nature just like she passed down to me with the help of the museum! He has found some amazing things digging around in the ground and I'm so thankful!! It's rare to see a 12 year old boy being so interested and passionate about nature! Also, it teaches the kids (and adults) about things without it being boring! Therefore, you enjoy what your doing and interacting with and it's more likely to stick in your head for years!He has so many rocks that he can't even bring em inside anymore. Instead, he makes lil rock circles at the edge of the woods. He loves to mine and dig for fossils and gems, as well as hunting for unique oddities and antiques( another reason to check this place out)! This museum is AWESOME, especially after the move and renovation. We love going to the dinosaur exhibits as well as the many other events! It's a timeless place and has been around for as long as I can recall! I bet just about everyone in Henry County, VA and Martinsville have been there at least ONCE in their lives ! Also, you can sometimes find discounted rates for purchase on the Groupon app for discounts on certain events. In conclusion, this place literally ROCKS !! They have such diverse displays ...mounted/posed zoo animals, fossils, Dinosaurs, interactive and hands on learning exhibits, different bugs and animals with accompanying info about them, info about historical items/events, and family fun days, etc. I have never left disappointed because they constantly change things up ;)I will keep going for as long...

One of my favorite places in Martinsville! $10 per person may seem expensive and may not be affordable for some families, but families who have a SNAP card get in FREE. All you need to do is go to the front desk and speak to the friendly attendent. It takes only a moment, and you are on your way. More people should know about this.

My ONLY complaint is the hours. Otherwise I would give 5 stars. Closing at 4pm means that the older kids getting out of school won't have time to join their families there on weekdays. 9am to 6pm would make much more sense. Now on the myriad of positives:

I read the lower reviews that talk about the museum being small, but I don't think so at all. If you come from a big city with a huge museum, I guess I understand. But considering this museum is here in Martinsville, it's a fantastic experience with lots to do, if science and natural history are your thing. It is definitely my thing. I have been obsessed with the natural sciences since early childhood. So for me, this is better than Disney World.

And best of all, my kids love it. They actually take the time to examine all the various exhibits; reading the information, pointing out the features of the fossils, skeletons, and mineral formatons, etc. And we very much enjoy the interactive exhibits, and stem activities they have now, such as fossil puzzles, matching bones to animals, etc.

Also, we love the little gift shop. Folks have complained that it is more for kids than adult, but ummm... adults can like fun gifts too. The loose gemstones are great, the plushies are adorable, they have pretty jewelry, and all sorts of things. Just because we grow up into adulthood doesn't mean we no longer like or want those things. People just decide it's immature. Not at all. Nature is magical, wonderful, and infinitely interesting. And this place brings all sorts of wonderous natural elements from the past and present into...

We absolutely loved our visit to the Virginia Museum of Natural History! It was such a fun and educational experience for the whole family. They currently have a dinosaur exhibit, and my kids were beyond excited seeing actual fossils up close was like a dream come true for them. It was so cool to watch their faces light up as they explored and asked questions.

Throughout the museum, there were smaller exhibits too including ones about ocean life, animals, and even ants. Each section was thoughtfully put together and easy for kids to engage with. But hands down, my children’s favorite part (besides the dinosaurs) was the play area designed like a pirate ship. They spent a good chunk of time pretending to sail the seas, and I loved that it gave them space to play and burn off some energy.

The whole museum is laid out beautifully, and the building itself is very clean and welcoming. I really appreciated how family-friendly it was. We’re already looking forward to coming back for future exhibits this is definitely a place...