The greeter for the new science museum in Whiteville is 12 feet long from head to tail. The Postosuchus (post-oh-SOO-kuss) is a skeletal replica of a fierce reptile whose 220-million-year-old fossils were unearthed in a Durham quarry. At around 600 pounds, this toothsome creature was the top terrestrial predator of its day.  But the biggest attraction at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences at Whiteville is alive—it has the beating heart of science. There’s a laboratory where visitors of all ages can investigate with the tools of real scientists, an outdoor place for children to climb trees or dig for fossils, and a roomy natural history space where even the tiniest of tykes won’t find any “don’t touch” signs.

There’s a full lecture calendar, a monthly Science Cinema, the Teen Science Café and virtual link-ups to research activities at the parent museum in Raleigh. And if you’re into hissing cockroach races, come to BugFest South, a flagship event where folks can get up-close-and-personal with all things buggy. Mark your calendar for June 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. To learn more about the museum and all of its programs, visit naturalsciences.org or call (910) 914-4185. The museum is at 415 South Madison Street and is open Tuesday–Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free.