Social Story
Museum Information Hours: Monday - Saturday: 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Sunday: Noon - 4:30 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Nature Nook Hours: Tuesday - Saturday: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Sunday: Noon - 3 p.m. The Nature Nook is open Mondays from Memorial Day-Labor Day Directions: The Museum is on Rt. 52 (Kennett Pike) five miles north of downtown Wilmington and two miles from the PA/DE state line. Public Transportation: Accessible via DART Bus #10 800-652-DART dartfirststate.com General Admission: Ages 3-59: $9 Seniors (60+): $8 Ages 1-2: $3 Under 1: FREE Members: FREE *Note: Admission for special events may vary. Please check our event calendar at www.delmnh.org/events for event pricing information.
Inside Map
Outside Map 1. Grizzly Bear 2. Il Porcellino - The Wild Boar 3. White-Tailed Deer 4. Galápagos Tortoise 5. Delaware Rocks! 6. Black Bear 7. Triceratops 8. Museum Entrance 9. Bobbee Vernon Memorial Garden 10. Picnic Area 11. Pollinator Garden 12. Patio 13. Wildflower & Native Grass Meadow 14. Red Foxes 15. Larry F. Scott Nature Trail Red Path:.85 miles Yellow Path:.24 miles 16. John C. Wilson Wildlife Blind 17. Outdoor Classroom & Firepit
I am going to the Delaware Museum of Natural History.
When I walk in the front door, there is a huge squid hanging from the ceiling!
I will be welcomed by a staff person who is wearing a name tag. I need to stop and pay my admission fee before I can walk through the museum. I can always ask a staff person if I need help during my visit.
I need to use my inside voice because the hallways are long and everything echoes!
I am going to look at the egg collection. They have ostrich and penguin eggs! I am allowed to touch the glass but I cannot bang on it.
There are a lot of eggs to see and I can read about them too. There is information about all of the exhibits hung on the walls.
The next room has dinosaurs! I am not allowed to touch the dinosaur bones or climb on the exhibit. I can walk all the way around and look at both dinosaurs.
In the grasslands exhibit I can see many different animals. I need to be careful because it is hard to see the glass and some people bump their head on it.
This is the Science in Action Lab. I can touch the fossils here. I need to be gentle with them and be careful not to drop them. Sometimes a scientist is working in this area and will tell me what he or she is working on.
In the Mineral Hall, I can look at the colorful rocks, minerals, and gems and learn where they came from.
The Nature Nook is where I will learn about nature and explore different habitats. I can walk through a cave or sit in a bird s nest.
I can make art and draw pictures. I will have to share the supplies with others. I can take my project home with me.
It may be a little noisy and busy in the nature nook. I can sit down and take a break on the bench and read a book, or I can leave this activity to play somewhere else. That is okay.
There are real, live animals in their habitats. Sometimes the staff members take them out so I can see them up close. They will tell me if I am allowed to touch them.
The Exhibit Hall changes exhibits every three months. Sometimes the exhibits are loud or have bright flashing lights. There are many areas where I can look, listen, and feel.
In the hallway next to the Exhibit Hall, there are giant fossils that I can look at and touch with a gentle hand.
The Great Barrier Reef Walkover is next. I can walk on top of the glass and look down at all the fish and coral beneath the glass. I can look for Nemo.
The Shell Gallery has shells glued on a wall that I am allowed to touch. Most of them are smooth and some have pointy edges. The sand underneath feels a little rough, like sandpaper.
There are many different parts of the shell gallery.
This is the Darwin part of the museum. There is a lot of information that I can read through the glass. I am allowed to touch and explore the dung beetle.
At the African Watering Hole I can learn about different animals in Africa. I cannot climb on this exhibit, but I can pretend that I am on a safari and try to find all of the animals.
There are touch screens on the side of the watering hole where I can tap the screen to learn about the animals. Sometimes, they are turned off and that is okay.
This is the Investigation Lab. Sometimes there are activities here, and other times I can look at the exhibit.
There are many animals around the room. I cannot touch the ones with the clear, plastic fence around them.
I can match the animal cutout to the animal on the picture on the wall. I will have to share the cutouts with others. It is okay if I can t find the animal. I can ask for help or pick a different card.
There may be a movie in the Community Room. The lights are turned down low and the volume may be loud. There may be other families watching the movie, too. If I want to leave the movie and keep exploring, that is okay. Sometimes there is a meeting in the room and I can t go in, and that is okay too.
I can visit the Nano lab. I can play with magnets, foam shapes, and build a city. I will have to share with others or wait for a turn. I will use my walking feet and be careful around smaller children.
If I bring lunch or a snack I can eat at the Coral Reef Canteen. This is the only place inside the museum where I am allowed to eat or drink.
If the weather is nice and warm, we can eat outside. The museum will put tables and chairs out for us.
If the weather is nice, there are things to explore outside behind the museum, too. I will listen to my parent or caregiver when they say it s time to go back in.
This is the gift shop at the museum. I can go in at the end of my visit. I can ask my parent or caregiver if I can buy a toy or a fossil. They might say no or they might say yes.
When I am outside, I am allowed to climb on the statues and get my picture taken. I need to climb safely. I had a great visit. See you soon!