Cook Museum

Useful Information

Location:	133 4th Ave NE, Decatur, AL 35601. (34.605047, -86.982913)
Open:	All year Mon-Sat 9-17. Closed Thanksgiving, 25-DEC. [2023]
Fee:	Adults USD 20, Children (3-14) USD 15, Children (0-2) free, Senior (65+) USD 17, Military USD 17. Groups (15+): Adults USD 17, Children (3-14) USD 13. [2023]
Classification:	Cave Replica
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	yes
Bibliography:
Address:	Cook Museum, 133 4th Ave NE, Decatur, AL 35601, Tel: +1-256-351-4505.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1968	John Cook, Sr. opened his professional insect collection to the public by appointment.
1980	additional collections of rocks, minerals, fossils, coral, sea shells, mounted wildlife, and federally protected migratory birds were acquired.
1980	Cook’s Natural Science Museum opened in new building with 460 m² exhibition space.
2016	museum closed.
2017	cave replica created.
07-JUN-2019	Cook Museum of Natural Science opened to the public.

Description

The full name is actually Cook Museum of Natural Science and it is located in Decatur. We have listed it because it features a replica cave, which authentically recreates Alabama caves. It is a sort of diorama with very realistic rock formations, plants and animals. There are not only bats and bears, but creatures that live in the different parts of a cave. Unlike most natural caves this replica is all wheelchair-accessible.

The museum was originally owned by the Cook-Family, hence the name. John Cook, Sr. had a company called Cook’s Pest Control. He had a huge professional insect collection which was used primarily for employee training. In 1968, he opened his collection to the public by appointment. In 1980, the family built a new building and acquired other collections of rocks, minerals, fossils, coral, sea shells, mounted wildlife, and federally protected migratory birds. The museum was opened under the name Cook’s Natural Science Museum. But after almost 40 years, the Cook family decided it was time to reinvent the museum. So they closed the private museum and created a non-profit museum which opened 2019 under the name Cook Museum of Natural Science.