NC Museum Of Natural Sciences Tops North Carolina Historic Attractions Survey

MATTHEWS, N.C., March 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second time in three years, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh again ranks as the State's most visited historic attraction.

The Museum led the survey in 2012 fueled by the opening of the innovative Nature Research Center.

For 2014 the NC Museum of Natural Sciences reported 973,738 visitors. Fort Fisher in Kure Beach was the second most visited attraction, with 748,664 guests.

"Maximizing the attendance level of the Museum is a balancing act of offering experiences that are both meaningful and popular," said Emlyn Koster, PhD., Director of the Museum.

He added that "Comparative surveys of mission-similar museums across the US show that the NC Museum of Natural Sciences is among the most intensively used on a per square foot and staffing level basis."

Dr. Koster said, "Propelled by our mission to illuminate the interdependence of nature and humanity, it is indeed pleasing that our menu of engaging exhibits and special weekend events probing 'what we know' and 'how we know' plus our featured experiences in theaters and choices of touring exhibits, have the outcome of us being the State's most visited museum."

The 2014 survey is the 11^th annual ranking compiled by Carolina Publishing and Associates. Biltmore, the largest private home in America, led nine of the past rankings. The Asheville attraction no longer reports attendance totals, and are not included in the survey.

The North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro ranked third in the annual survey with 743,774 visitors. Rounding out the top five were Charlotte's Discovery Place with 709,937 and Fort Macon State Park in Atlantic Beach with 702,192 guests.

Among the 30 most visited attractions, 11 are located in North Carolina's coastal region. Five are in the mountains and 14 are in the State's heartland.

Carolina Publishing and Associates, based in Matthews, publishes Carolina Field Trips Magazine and the Carolina Heritage Guide.

SOURCE Carolina Publishing & Associates