We stopped by here for a road trip pit stop since it participates in the ASTC reciprocity program. The kids' area was much smaller than I had anticipated (though my kids still had fun!), and unfortunately the planetarium was closed for renovations. The special exhibit was about bikes and the natural history portion was a weird mix of taxidermy and fake animals. We also checked out the art area which had a good collection by local artists and school children. Very laid back place to visit and stretch your legs, but I'm glad we didn't go out of our way to check it out. read more

It was such a joy to stop here to break up our trip back home. This is the perfect place to spend hours with kiddos young and old. They have lots of natural discovery zones for little ones to go to and immerse themselves in learning and play. They hd numerous lego stations with guided learning or just independent play. A huge sized connect 4 game offers a delightful opportunity to play with hand sized discs and drop them into the slots with your partner or kid. My husband and I played several rounds of this together! Then there's the planetarium with several shows planned throughout the day. While the show was a bit pixelated for modern-day technology, it was completely fascinating and enjoyable. The program walked us through the spring sky and the constellations we could find. The program was designed with specific memory clues that were repeated a few times so that even an adult with challenged short-term memory would come away with new knowledge and tricks to recover the information again and again. Read the blip about Pathagaras and how math and music work together... then follow the sheet music and tap the colored pipes with flip-flops to play familiar songs! Y'all I can't say enough wonderful things about this place. The museum area had so much entertainment that we never had the chance to make it to the art gallery side of the building so I can't speak to that. But let me say, this was so worth it! We spent 2 & a half hours there and could have stayed for another two in the museum alone. Each one of us was sad to leave. It is apparent that the museum staff is incredibly dedicated to what they are doing there. Each person was glad to be there and was joyful that they were giving kids the opportunity to expand their imaginations. I do hope to come back again soon! read more

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This was an excellent find in downtown Rocky Mount, I have to preface my review. Due to a work schedule change I found myself in this area with almost three hours of free time before I had to head to my work assignment. This was one of our first high heat summer days, and I got on google while having lunch to see what air conditioned options I could find. Fortunately I found this on a list of "things to do in Rocky Mount" and decided to see what it was about. The facility is mostly in an old tobacco brick building, and houses three different sections: a children's museum, a performing arts theater, and the Maria V. Howard Arts Center. During my visit, the main exhibit at the Maria V. Howard Arts Center was "the art of the brick", an exhibit of works by Nathan Sawaya where the artist created works using Lego bricks. It will be on exhibit through 9/6/15 and well worth a view. Also on display were several juried art shows and some permanent artifacts, such as a 300 year old spinning wheel and a carriage made in the late 1800s. The Children s Museum has a $6 admission charge and featured lots of interactive computer stations to help them learn about dinosaurs. It also has a planetarium and a science center with two live animals - a 40 year old 13 foot long Burmese Python and an American Alligator who was being very active. The alligator surprised me (scared me would be more accurate) when it suddenly turned towards me with its jaws open and hissed. Yes I know it was behind glass and I was in no danger but still scared the crap out of me! They did an excellent job of showcasing the character of the old brick facility while making it a usable and attractive space for its three sections. Excellent venue for art and education. Give yourself a few hours to enjoy it, read more

The Imperial Centre for the Arts & Sciences - Art at the entrance - Museums Near Me - Rocky Mount, North Carolina

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For $6 my friend and I were able to check out some cool art, including some interactive games, then go to the science side for games and a planetarium show. We played a game where you could drive a rover on the moon, Mars, or Jupiter. My friend kept blowing up his rover by going too fast! Luckily, I had no problems driving my own rover on the moon. Should we return to Rocky Mount, we'll be back to play more science games & enjoy more art. read more

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We first got here and wasn't sure if we were at the right place; the building looks absolutely nothing like a museum. Once you get inside, you are greeted by the desk that you pay for your tickets to get inside. Then you have the option of going to the right for the kids area and the shows (Warning, do not expect these shows to be really mature. One was called "Planetarium Exhibit" but it was actually a cartoon designed for a younger audience. They did have a laser show set to 80s classic rock like Queen and Pink Floyd and that was really enjoyable) and to the left is the art area. I am not sure if it was just temporary, but we went upstairs to find a Lego exhibit, and it was pretty cool to see. I would recommend it for families or teens, but there's not much there if you are an adult without children or a child-like mind. read more

The Imperial Centre for the Arts & Sciences - Lego man from the Lego exhibit upstairs - Museums Near Me - Rocky Mount, North Carolina

I am new to the area and a neighbor recommended this museum on a rainy day. I have been to many science-themed centers across many states, but have never had such a personalized experienced. An employee named Zack introduced himself and offered to answer any questions. My 5-year old talked his ear off asking lots of questions about the snake and the animal models. He walked along with us and offered information just as readily as he was able to answer all our questions. Zack was like a personal guide giving us facts and history of the center and the exhibits! My son loved all the hands-on activities upstairs and of course the dinosaur exhibit. We stayed three hours! read more