Museum Highlights
- Displays of Mississippi's diverse habitats, including a spectacular exhibit of white-tailed deer and soaring waterfowl
- An entire wall of fossil specimens, including Zygorhiza, Mosasaurus, and a giant sloth
- A 100,000-gallon aquarium network housing over 200 living species
- "The Swamp": a 1,700-square foot greenhouse
- Outdoor Treehouse Play Area: Explore, imagine, and discover the wonders of nature from a whole new perspective. Located behind the museum.
- The Preschool Discovery Room, featuring colorful murals and an iconic giant treehouse with a slide
- The Dinosaur Trail
- The Dragonfly Gift Shop
- The LeFleur's Bluff Playground
- Classroom space and the 200-seat Rotwein Theater
- The Nest
- A safe storage environment for the museum's biological archives--a vast collection accessed regularly by scientists around the world!
Mission
The MDWFP Mississippi Museum of Natural Science is committed to promoting understanding and appreciation of Mississippi's biological diversity through collections, research, scientific databases, education, and exhibits; and to inspiring the people of our state to respect the environment and to preserve natural Mississippi.
Each year, more than 100,000 visitors from all 50 states and many foreign countries are inspired by the natural world showcased in the Museum's permanent and special exhibits. These visitors enjoy the Museum's indoor exhibits and 300-acres of natural landscape, nature trails, a Dinosaur Trail, and the LeFleur's Bluff Playground.
Awards and Recognition
2026
- Best Museum in Mississippi — Mississippi Magazine
- Best Attraction for Kids — Mississippi Magazine M-List
- Best Animal & Wildlife Attraction — Best of Mississippi Travel M-List
- State Partner Award — Keep America Beautiful
- Torchbearer Award — Mississippi Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities
- Service Award — Mississippi Bat Working Group, awarded to MMNS Mammalogist Katelin Cross
- Hometown Hero — Visit Jackson, awarded to MMNS Museum Director Angel Rohnke
- Best Park in Mississippi — Mississippi Magazine, for LeFleur’s Bluff Playground
- Best State Park — Best of Mississippi Travel M-List, for LeFleur’s Bluff Playground
- #6 Best Public Playground in the Nation — USA TODAY 10Best, for LeFleur’s Bluff Playground
Explore the Museum and Grounds
We encourage you to share your time between the indoor exhibits and the outdoor environment, moving between informative indoor models and their reality in a natural Mississippi setting.
A range of nature trails meander through wooded bluffs, river bottoms, lakes, and scenic swamplands, offering ample and diverse opportunities for nature walks, photography, and the study of living things in their natural landscape.
Camps, Special Events, and Activities
Along with the usual Museum features, we also offer many exciting and educational activities for children, such as our popular creature features, hands-on fish feedings, and summer camps.
The museum also hosts numerous award-winning annual events including NatureFEST, Family Fun Science Night, Fossil Road Show, Snake Day, Park After Dark, and more.
Our education team provides special programs for scouts and teachers and also coordinates the museum's popular summer camps.
We also host a distinguished lineup of experts in our Noon Lecture Series (February - October).
