HOURS OF OPERATION
Monday: 9 am – 5 pm
Tuesday: 9 am – 5 pm
Wednesday: 9 am – 5 pm
Thursday: 9 am – 5 pm
Friday: 9 am – 5 pm
Saturday: 9 am – 5 pm
Sunday: CLOSED
The Museum will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and Easter.
The Museum will be open on New Years Day.
TICKET PRICES*
| Adult Age 15+ | $20 |
| Child Age 3 to 14 | $15 |
| Infant 2 & Under | FREE |
| Senior Age 65+ | $17 |
| Military With military ID | $17 |
| Groups 15 or more | $17 for Adult $13 for Child |
*Prices do not include tax.
MEMBERSHIP
WHERE TO FIND US
Address:
133 4th Ave NE
Decatur, AL 35601
WHERE TO PARK
Primary parking:
133 4th Ave NE (adjacent to the Museum)
Secondary parking #1:
429 Holly St NE
Secondary parking #2:
431 Holly St NE
Secondary parking #3:
510 Cherry St NE
ACCESSIBILITY & RESOURCES
The Cook Museum is committed to making the Exhibits, interactives, activities, and general areas as inclusive and accessible as possible for all visitors so they can explore in a safe environment. Click one of the headings below to learn more.
- The Family Restroom is available in the First Floor Lobby.
- All restrooms have diaper change stations.
- The rope bridge in Forests is the only part of the Exhibits that is not wheelchair accessible.
- The Cook Museum has courtesy wheelchairs that may be borrowed on a first-come, first-served basis free of charge for use within the building. The wheelchairs, which are all manually operated, may not be taken outside of the Museum. They can be requested at the Guest Services Desk.
- A Social Story provides an illustrated, step-by-step guide on what to expect during a visit to the Museum. Use the Social Story to prepare for your visit and a change in routine. Click Here to download the Cook Museum Social Story.
- Use this Visual Vocabulary to get a sense of what to expect, introduce new vocabulary. and plan out what to see at the Museum. Click Here to download the Cook Museum Visual Vocabulary.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
In the Cook Museum of Natural Science, you’ll be able to experience nature up-close through interactive Exhibits and hands-on activities that will keep the entire family engaged! You’ll leave amazed, excited, and inspired by the natural world.
Here are a few highlights:
- Immersive cave experience
- Live animals, including: baby alligators, turtles, snakes, insects, jellyfish, fresh and saltwater fish, and more
- 15,000-gallon saltwater aquarium
- Forests Exhibit gallery with a tree you can climb up through the inside of and a rope bridge you can cross to a squirrel’s nest high up in a tree
- Hands-on interactive activities including a kinetic sand table, a digital seashell generator, and a meteorite from outer space
...and much, much more!
Click here to see our Exhibits.
We are looking for volunteers! Visit our volunteer page to see all available positions. When you see an opportunity you’re interested in, click the “Proceed to Application” link at the bottom of the page. Thanks for your interest and support!
To donate to the Cook Museum, please visit our Donate page.
To help share the amazing life around us, we seek to provide the public with a rich and diverse resource of natural science specimens that encourage discussion, teaching, and curiosity.
If you would like for us to consider an item you own for donation, please visit our Collections page to learn more about that process!
To see our current openings and apply, go to our careers page. We will review applications and respond to qualified applicants. Please no solicitations, as we will not accept resumes in-person.
