NC Museum of Natural Sciences Again Leads North Carolina Museums and Historic Attractions Survey

MATTHEWS, N.C., March 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- For the third year in a row, Raleigh's North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences again ranks as the State's most visited historic attraction according to the Carolina Publishing and Associates annual survey.

The Museum also led the survey in 2012. 

During 2016 the Museum reported 937,341 visitors. Fort Fisher State Historic Site in Kure Beach ranked as the second most visited attraction with 830,136 visitors.

"The NC Museum of Natural Sciences views the external relevance of its mission to illuminate the interdependence of nature and humanity as the outcome of interconnected meaningfulness goals and popularity goals. Each museum has its unique, brand-driven, balancing point between these factors," said Emlyn Koster, PhD, Director.

The 2016 survey is the 13^th annual ranking. Biltmore, located in Asheville, no longer reports attendance totals, and are not included in the survey.

Fort Macon State Park in Atlantic Beach ranked third in the annual survey with 802,706 visitors. Rounding out the top five were the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro with 799,159 and Charlotte's Discovery Place with 724,634.  The following is a list of the remaining top 30 museums and attractions.

6. Marble Kids Museum, Raleigh, 675,890. 7.  NC Museum of Life and Science, Durham, 554,391. 8. NC Museum of History (Raleigh, Elizabeth City, Old Fort), 545,319. 9. North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, 503,777 and 10. North Carolina Arboretum, Asheville, 500,851.   

11. North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, Kure Beach, 472,471. 12. Wright Brothers National Memorial, Kill Devil Hills, 461,382. 13. Greensboro Science Center, Greensboro, 411,258. 14. North Carolina Aquarium, Pine Knoll Shores, 386,472. 15. NC Maritime Museums (Beaufort, Hatteras, Southport), 325,747. 16. Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, Manteo, 292, 367. 17. Grandfather Mountain, Linville, 290,036. 18. Chimney Rock State Park, Chimney Rock, 236,659. 19. Old Salem Museums and Gardens, Winston-Salem, 225,115 and 20. Tryon Palace, New Bern, 221,644.

21. Battleship North Carolina, Wilmington, 218,445. 22. North Carolina Aquarium Roanoke Island, Manteo, 187,000. 23. Jennette's Pier, Nags Head, 185,743. 24. Linville Caverns, Marion, 178,923. 25. Cherokee Cultural Attractions, Cherokee, 174,623. 26. NASCAR Hall of Fame, Charlotte, 170,500. 27. Morehead Planetarium, Chapel Hill, 162,250. 28. Historic Bethabara Park, Winston Salem, 146,087. 29. Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, Belmont, 132,599 and 30. The Mint Museums, Charlotte, 132,435.

In addition to the annual survey, Carolina Publishing and Associates publishes Carolina Field Trips Magazine and the Carolina Heritage Guide.

SOURCE Carolina Publishing & Associates