The North Carolina Museum of History is located at 5 E. Edenton St. Raleigh, NC 27601. This museum's mission is collecting and preserving artifacts as well as other historical materials that relate to the heritage and history of North Carolina in any context. This is done to help visitors understand how the past influences on the present.
After all, according to writer and philosopher George Santayana, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
Planning Your Visit
Admission to the museum is free to all visitors. The hours of operation are 9 AM to 5 PM Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 PM on Sunday. The gift shop hours of operation are the same. Visitors do not need to have a ticket to visit the museum and can enjoy time at the museum before heading over to nearby restaurants and other family-friendly attractions.
Available Tours
The North Carolina Museum of History provides a mixture of free and fee-based tours for those who would like to learn more about the history of North Carolina. Visitors can choose to go on a self-guided tour throughout the museum or go through a one-hour docent led tour. The African American History Tour and the Weekend Guided Tour are also offered for free to visitors.
The museum also offers fee-based tours to help guests get a new look at some of the history. These discovery tours are $30 per class. The two fee-based tours that guests can choose are the Civil Rights Tour and the American Indian Tour.
Exhibits at the Museum
Guests will have a chance to look at many different exhibits when they come to the North Carolina Museum of History. These exhibits help showcase some of the history and heritage found in North Carolina and throughout the south. Visitors will find that many of these exhibits change throughout the year, including some permanent, traveling, and changing exhibits to bring something new to all guests each time they visit. Visitors can also look at many of the popular exhibits online to learn more, even if they are not able to make it to the museum.
Kids and Family Events
The North Carolina Museum of History provides a variety of events that are great for families and children alike. Some of the events that your family should check out include:
- History Adventures: This is a free virtual program available the second Wednesday of each month.
- Tar Heel Tales: This event is great for kids ages 5 to 8, and parents are invited to join in on Wednesdays.
Families can also choose to do a free Take-it and make-it kit. These change throughout the year, providing different hands-on learning experiences to children of all ages. For children who enjoy hands-on history, the museum also provides chances to come to the museum and touch and use some of the cool stuff at the museum throughout the year too.
When you are in the Raleigh, NC area, make sure to stop by the North Carolina Museum of History at 5 E. Edenton St. Raleigh, NC 27601.
Here's the website for more information: https://www.ncmuseumofhistory.org/