Cowan Museum of History and Science

04/06/2026

The weather forecast looks good for Saturday, so please join us at ecoBLAST, April 11, from 10 AM - 2 PM at the Museum!

🦉🌿 ecoBLAST: Green & Wild is coming your way! 🌿🦋

Join us on Saturday, April 11, 2026 from 10 AM–2 PM at the Cowan Museum of History and Science for a FREE, family-friendly day full of discovery and fun.

As part of the NC Science Festival, this event brings together live animals, hands-on activities, interactive exhibits, and educational demos—all celebrating the natural world around us. 🌎

✨ What to expect:
• Up-close encounters with animals
• Fun, hands-on learning for all ages
• Interactive games & exhibits
• Delicious food trucks on site 🍔🍦

It’s the perfect way to spend a spring day—learning, exploring, and making memories with family and friends.

Don’t miss it… and don’t forget, this is the updated date!

03/29/2026

Post 2 of 2:

Our friend Meteorologist Christopher Tyndall will also be at ecoBLAST. Check out his series, "Christopher's Great Outdoors." This week he focuses on Green anoles! One may be sure to find one, or two, or three of these cute lizards at the Cowan Museum.

We are so happy that the following additional organizations will be in Kenansville, NC at ecoBLAST on Saturday, April 11, 2026, from 10 AM - 2 PM at the Cowan Museum of History and Science:
NC Fossil Club North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences Sampson County History Museum WNCT-TV , OneCommunity, Kneeling Pines Farm (preserves, seeds), Above the Briery (native plants), Master Blend Family Farms (food truck), A Little Something Extra (Ice cream truck), and Photo cards for sale by JoAnn Tomaselli.

Green anoles are lizards that are commonly seen around porches, lawn furniture, and gardens. They are quite impressive, especially considering the fact that they can change colors. See full details…

03/29/2026

Post 1 of 2:

Save the date! On Saturday, April 11, 2026, from 10 AM – 2 PM, we’re taking part in this year’s North Carolina Science Festival with our version of Earth Day, called “ecoBLAST: Green & Wild.” The event will be held on our grounds at the Cowan Museum of History and Science, 411 S. Main St., Kenansville, NC 28349. There will be FREE admission and FREE parking! People of all ages will find something fun and interesting at ecoBLAST!

So many wonderful organizations have signed up to take part in bringing this celebration to the community that we have to do TWO posts!

* Raffle *Prizes *Mini Environment *Activities *Food *Ice Cream *Science for All!

Cape Fear Botanical Garden Cape Fear Parrot Sanctuary Cape Fear River Watch Duplin Beekeepers Ecological Marine Adventures Topsail Island NC James Sprunt Community College
NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher NC State Extension North Carolina Estuarium

03/18/2026

"ecoBLAST: Green & Wild" is getting closer! Pictured here is a selection of raffle prizes for ecoBLAST. The event will take place on our grounds, Saturday, April 11, 2026, from 10 AM - 2 PM. FREE admission! Location: 411 S. Main St, Kenansville, NC 28349. Phone: (910) 296-2149.

03/11/2026

Museum staff have been cleaning up the Joann Cowan Brown Botanical Garden and have had some delightful encounters!
Duplin Beekeepers

02/25/2026

If you'd like to learn more about our STEM programs, please get in touch with our STEM Educator, Battista, and we would be happy to organize something for your group. For example, here are a couple of photos of our recent program on fossils that Battista delivered in the Rock Room Gallery. Pictured is a fossil impression activity that followed an engaging talk about fossils which was held in the main gallery!

02/23/2026

We're having another ecoBLAST! This year we'll be part of the North Carolina Science Festival. Our staff is working on the final details, but we'll post and advertise this event with updates very soon. Until then, we hope you make plans to be with us on Saturday, April 11, from 10 AM -2 PM to celebrate nature!

02/21/2026

We’re happy to announce that the Cowan Museum will take part in celebrating America250 (or the Semiquincentennial, which is quite a long word!). Through the NC First in Freedom Festival, we’re one of the attractions in their Explore Southeastern North Carolina's passport program. Pictured here is what the passport looks like. When you visit the Cowan Museum, one of our staff members will validate it with a special colored stamp. If you don’t have a passport, we have a limited supply at the museum. Plus, our neighbors, Liberty Hall, may be found in the booklet, too! For information about the passport program and how to get one, check out the link below:
https://online.fliphtml5.com/NCFIFFPassport/qexx/ =1

02/19/2026

Battista, our STEM Educator invited our former, retired Educator, Anne, to do a joint program for a very nice and curious homeschool group yesterday. The program included a talk about fossils, rocks, and minerals; a fossil impression activity; and a chance for the kids to show fossils they found in their town. Our staff was quite impressed - the group brought in several Megalodon teeth!

02/11/2026

NC Bird Count at Cowan Museum of History of Science
February 13–16, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

The Cowan Museum of History of Science will participate in the North Carolina Bird Count, part of the Great Backyard Bird Count, by offering a self-guided opportunity for visitors to observe and count birds on museum grounds.

Participants may bird anywhere on the museum grounds for at least 15 minutes and submit their observations using the free eBird app or website. Basic bird identification resources and information about using the eBird and Merlin Bird ID apps will be available inside the museum on Friday and Saturday during open hours.

On Sunday and Monday, when the museum is closed, visitors may still independently count birds on the grounds.

Participants who complete at least three 15-minute checklists during the Bird Count weekend may qualify to earn a North Carolina Bird Count badge or sticker through Science Across NC.

This program aligns with ecoEXPLORE’s Ornithology Season and supports community science participation. Free. No registration is required. All ages welcome.

02/03/2026

Hello again, Friends. The museum will be closed on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 due to winter weather-related conditions. We'd like to share a photo of our grounds showing a blanket of snow covering the museum's kitchen garden.