Raleigh Museums

Explore Raleigh's rich history, through tours in a vast array of museums - with admission that is free or nominal. Here are some places to get you started:

African American Cultural Complex

Features: Collection of African American exhibits featuring innovations in the arts, business, medicine, politics, science, and sports.

Admission: Free

Hours: By appointment only

119 Sunnybrook Rd, Raleigh, NC 27610, 919-250-9336

Cary Heritage Museum

Features: Two galleries of regional art, in a restored 1868 railroad hotel, on the third floor of the Page-Walker Arts & History Center

119 Ambassador Loop, Cary, NC 27513, 919 460 4963

Admission: Free

Garner Station Historical Museum

Features: Historical artifacts from the town of Garner, housed in the city's original depot.

Old Garner Rd, Garner, NC 27529, 919 772 5520

Gregg Museum of Art & Design

Features: Changing exhibitions of regional, national and international visual arts, and local artists renditions of applied and decorative arts, architectural drawings, ceramics, paintings, photography, textiles, metal and furniture - all housed in NC State's museum facilities in the Talley Student Center. Tours and educational programs are available.

Hours: Mon-Fri, 12-8pm; Sat-Sun, 2-8pm; closed on NCSU holidays and between exhibitions

2610 Cates Ave, 2^nd floor, Talley Student Center, Raleigh, NC 27607, 919 515 3503

Joel Lane Museum House

Features: Wake County's oldest existing home, built in the 1770s. Guided tours of the fully restored and authentically furnished house and period gardens are provided by costumed docents.

Hours: Tours begin in the Visitor's Center at 160 S. Saint Mary's Street, Wed-Fri 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm; Saturdays 1pm, 2pm, 3pm. School tours by appointment; reservations for groups of eight or more. Closed mid December - February

Admission: $5 adults, $4 65 and older, $3 students, free for children under the age of 6

Legends of Harley Drag Racing Museum

The only Harley-Davidson drag racing museum in the world; home of world-famous drag racing champion Ray Price.  It is located on the second floor of one of the largest Harley dealerships in the U.S.

Admission: Free

Hours: Mon-Fri., 7am-6pm; Saturday 7am-4pm; Sunday noon-4pm.

1126 S. Saunders St, Raleigh, NC 27603, 919 832 2261

Marbles Kids Museum

Features: Hands-on museum, IMAX movies.

Admission: $5 for museum, IMAX rates vary

Hours: Tues-Sat 9am-5pm; Sunday 12pm-5pm; Monday closed.

201 E. Hargett St, Raleigh, NC 27601, 919 834 4040

Mordecai Historic Park

Features: Antebellum village street of historic structures, including plantation house birthplace of Andrew Johnson, 17^th president of the United States.

Admission for park tours: $5 adults, $3 seniors, $3 ages 7-17, free for children under age of 6.

Hours: Tues-Sat, 9am-4pm; Sunday 1-4pm. One hour tours begin every hour until 3pm.

One Mimosa St, Raleigh, NC 27604, 919 857 4364

North Carolina Museum of Art (reopening April 2010)

Features: Premiere visual arts museum in Southeast, with collection from classic to contemporary spanning 5,000 years. Special exhibitions, films, lectures, workshops and concerts are hosted in the Museum Park amphitheatre. 164-acre Museum Park will remain open while museum prepares for grand opening of its new gallery building in April 2010.

Admission: Free. Nominal fee for special exhibits.

2110 Blue Ridge Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607, 919 839 6262

North Carolina Museum of History

Features: Exhibitions of historic military, art and sports. Hosts craft demonstrations, concerts and events, in conjunction with the Office of Archives and History, N.C. Department of Cultural Resources. Museum Shop, featuring North Carolina crafts, is open daily.

Admission: Free

Hours: Mon-Sat., 9am-5pm; Sun., noon-5pm.

5 E. Edenton St, Raleigh, NC 27601, 919 807 7900

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

Features: Four floors of exhibits including the world's most complete Acrocanthosaurus dinosaur, living conservatory, animals, a store and Arco Café. Traveling exhibits from around the world are on display throughout the year.

Admission: Free, donations accepted, charge for special exhibits

Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sunday noon-5pm

11 W. Jones St, Raleigh, NC 27601, 919 733 7450

North Carolina Railroad Museum & New Hope Valley Railway

Features: Outdoor, self-guided tours of historic railroad equipment. Trains operate the first Sunday of each month May-November and Saturday and Sunday the first two weekends of December. First train of the day departs from the Bonsal Depot at 11am.

Admission: Free to walk the grounds; train rides $9 adults, $6 children 12 and under.

5121 Daisey St, New Hill, NC 27562, 919 362 5416

North Carolina State University Insect Museum

Features: Internationally recognized collection of insects and mites from the Southeastern United States.

4321 Gardner Hall, NC State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, 919 515 3595

Page-Walker Arts and History Center

Features: Two galleries of regional art in a restored 1868 railroad hotel; the Cary Heritage Museum.

Admission: Free

Hours: Mon-Thurs 10am-9:30pm, Friday 10am-5pm, Saturday 10am-1pm

119 Ambassador Loop, Cary, NC 27513, 919 460 4963

Raleigh City Museum

Featuring exhibits that change periodically and focus on the history of the city, the museum is housed in the historic Briggs Building, built in 1874 as a hardware store. The building retains many of its original features, including the tin ceiling in the museum gallery. A gift shop carries unique items associated with Raleigh's history.

Free admission. Group tours available with advance notice. Hours: Tues.-Fri., 10am-4pm; Sat., 1-4pm.

220 Fayetteville St. Raleigh, NC  27601, (919) 832-3775

Features: Tours of plantation once owned by Colonel Theophilus Hunter, pioneer settler and early Wake County leader.

Admission: Free, Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm

705 Barbour Dr, Dix Central Regional Hospital, Raleigh Campus, Raleigh, NC 27603

Touring the sites in Raleigh, NC?

You may also be interested in some of these articles:

Jobs in the Raleigh Area

Triangle Area Market Reports - How's The Real Estate Market in Raleigh?

Shopping in the Raleigh Area - What Kind of Shopping Is There?

Raleigh Relocation Package - All About the Raleigh Area!

Which Part of the Triangle is Cheapest to Live?  Property Tax Guide

Raleigh Relocation Package

Durham Museum of Life and Science

Fun Things to Do with Kids in Durham NC

Where can you find science, animals, weather, aerospace, trains, playgrounds and more?

A place for kids to learn and play, entertainment for adults and fun for all?

Indoor and outdoor activities all in one place?  

The Museum of Life and Science in Durham of course!

Durham Museum of Life and Science Wins Multiple Awards

The Museum of Life and Science has won many awards including, "Best Area Museum" by Carolina Parent 2008, "Best Field Trip Destination" by Herald Sun 2008, and "Best Place to Take Children" Maggy Award by Cary Magazine.

I just had to visit and see what all the hype was about.

As you walk into the 65,000 sq ft museum, there are several rooms branching off the lobby just waiting to be explored.

So many rooms and exhibits, that after being at the museum for over three hours, we didn't even make a dent in all the Life and Science Museum has to offer!

Durham Museum of Life and Science - SoundSpace: Hear Motion

Love music? Try the SoundSpace: Hear Motion room.

With web cameras throughout the room, your motions throughout the room are sent to a computer and music is created. The faster you move, the more music you make!

Durham Museum of Life and Science - Weather Room

Wondering how the weather works? What makes clouds, how storms form?

Visit the weather room, with interactive exhibits, you can learn more about how wind creates sand dunes, how ocean currents move, tornadoes and more!

Durham Museum of Life and Science - Play to Learn Center

For kids age six and under, make sure to stop by the Play to Learn Center.

With building blocks, a climbing wall, animal care corner, ball tracks and a paint-with-water wall there is much to do and learn about.

Kids can use their imagination, fine and gross motor skills, artistic abilities and more while playing with the fun, age appropriate exhibits. 

Durham Museum of Life and Science - Carolina Wildlife

If your kids like animals, then try the indoor Carolina Wildlife exhibit which includes North Carolina native wildlife including snakes, owls, turtles, alligators and more.

There are also several outdoor exhibits covering 13 acres, including a farmyard, wetland overlook and lab, an animal observation deck and more.

You can see black bears, red wolves, several farm animals, fish, ducks and tadpoles.

Durham Museum of Life and Science - Magic Wings Butterfly House

The Magic Wings Butterfly House is home to hundreds of butterflies with a 30-foot high conservatory and is one of the largest butterfly houses in the world.

Make sure to stop in at 11:00am Monday through Saturday or at 3:00pm Sunday to experience the once daily butterfly release! Also in the Butterfly House is the Bayer CropScience Insectarium where you can find rare exotic insects and use interactive exhibits to learn more about them.

Durham Museum of Life and Science - Loblolly Park

Once you are done with the animals, stop by Loblolly Park and to dig in the sand pit and play with the many drums, wind chimes, bells, whistles.

Learn how many different kinds of music can be made when you bang the different  instruments together.

Durham Museum of Life and Science - Train Rides on Ellerbee Creek Railway

Ready for a break from all the learning and playing? Grab a ride on the Ellerbee Creek Railway, a replica of the C.P. Huntington locomotive and enjoy ride through the Nature Park on the museum grounds. Make sure to book tickets early though! The train runs every 30 minutes from 10:30am through 4:00pm. Tickets are $2.50 each and children under 3 ride free.  

A Full Day of Fun for Everyone!

This is just a sample of all the Museum of Life and Science has to offer!

When you make the trip, plan to be there for the day so you can enjoy as many exhibits as possible. Rain or shine, hot or cold, the Museum of Life and Science is an all-weather, year-round place for families to enjoy!

Located at 433 Murray Avenue, the Museum of Life and Science is open Monday through Saturday 10:00am-5:00pm and Sunday noon-5:00pm.

Admission is $10.85 for adults, $8.85 for seniors and active military, $7.85 for children ages 3-12 and free for kids 3 and under. Admission is free for Durham County residents on Wednesdays 1:00pm-5:00pm with valid ID.

You may also be interested in:

Jobs in the Raleigh Area

Triangle Area Market Reports - How's The Real Estate Market in Raleigh?

Shopping in the Raleigh Area - What Kind of Shopping Is There?

Raleigh Relocation Package - All About the Raleigh Area!

Which Part of the Triangle is Cheapest to Live?  Property Tax Guide

The North Carolina Museum of History is often called the "Raleigh History Museum" by locals, and those newly local.  No matter what it's called, it's worth a visit.  And best of all, it's FREE! 

The North Carolina Museum of History is impressive - starting with the exterior of the modern, clean building.

How Old is the North Carolina Museum of History?

It all started in the 1880s.  A Raleigh News & Observer city editor named Frederick Augustus Olds began collecting pieces of North Carolina history from around the state, and noting the stories that went with each piece.

In 1898, the collections were first displayed in the old Agriculture Building in downtown Raleigh.  These collections have migrated and grown throughout the years.

In 1992, the building at Five East Edenton Street opened, with room to store and display the 250,000 items that illustrate North Carolina's history.

What will I see at the Raleigh History Museum? 

The exhibits are constantly changing, so each visit to the North Carolina Museum of History is a new treat. 

Step past the sculptures welcoming you to the place where "History Happens". 

The galleries offer 55,000 square feet of displays. 

In July, visitors can see:

• "Bearing Witness" - Civil Rights photographs by Alexander Rivera
• "Showboat" - Artifacts, memorabilia, and photographs tell the story of the USS North Carolina 
• Community and Culture: North Carolina Indians Past and Present
  Exhibit addresses cultural practices in the state's American Indian communities.  
• Pleasing to the Eye: The Decorative Arts of North Carolina
  Objects from the museum's collection, including furniture, ceramics, metalwork, silver, portraits, pottery, and textiles ranging from the 1600s to the late 1900s.
• 1920s Drugstore
  Re-created interior of a typical North Carolina drugstore from the 1920s, complete with pharmacist's workroom and authentic marble-topped soda fountain.

ArtDuckO: Waterfowl Culture in North Carolina
Decoys and other objects associated with waterfowl hunting and conservation in North Carolina, plus Audubon prints, photographs, and a flock of "ducky" artifacts.  Walk through displays that illustrate how and why duck decoys are built and painted. 

Everybody's War: North Carolina and World War II
Artifacts, images, and stories chronicling the contributions of North Carolinians during wartime.  

• North Carolina in the American Revolution
  Traveling exhibition, organized by the Society of the Cincinnati in Washington, D.C., highlighting North Carolina's contributions to the Revolution.

What kinds of kids activities are there? 

This isn't just boring history for adults - the North Carolina Museum of History offers many different kid-friendly activities.

There's even a "For Kids Only" section on the North Carolina Museum of History website, with challenges and activities for different age groups.

Summer Camps and school activities are offered, with titles like "American Indian Life", "A Taste of the Past", "The Blue and the Gray", and "Pirates, Ships, and Lighthouses". 

When Should I Visit? 

This FREE museum has a great range of hours.  Weekends are busier than weekdays, but traffic and parking in downtown Raleigh are better on the weekends, so either option works well!  Parking is available just a block away. 

North Carolina Museum of History
5 East Edenton Street
Raleigh, NC 27601-1011

Telephone
919-807-7900

Hours
Monday through Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: Noon to 5:00 p.m.

You may also be interested in:

Jobs in the Raleigh Area

Triangle Area Market Reports - How's The Real Estate Market in Raleigh?

Shopping in the Raleigh Area - What Kind of Shopping Is There?

Raleigh Relocation Package - All About the Raleigh Area!

Which Part of the Triangle is Cheapest to Live?  Property Tax Guide

Everywhere you go in Downtown Raleigh right now, your eye will catch one of these signs.

"The Dead Sea Scrolls" are now on display at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Science.

Approach the building, and you'll see some Hebrew notations on the banner, and thanks to the Israel Antiquities Authority.

I've been through the exhibit - and all I can say is it's well worth the $22 ticket ($15 for Friends of the Museum).

You won't be allowed to take any photographs, so don't worry about bringing the camera.

But allow plenty of time.  You'll want to soak in the details.

The first thing you'll do is be issued a hand-held "wand" to place up to your ear.  The exhibits are self-paced, so as you pass each numbered station, you'll enter the corresponding number on the wand to hear the narrator speak.

You may need to wait in line, but when you do enter the exhibit on the second floor, you'll enter a cave that transports you to the Holy Land.

There are artifacts and exhibits, photos and bits of pottery.  There are elaborate chests and pottery jars.  And there is so much history.  You'll learn how the scrolls were found, and learn about the remnants of the ancient city they were near.

You'll learn about politics and culture, and about how the Dead Sea Scrolls were dated and identified.

You'll learn how Duke University had the opportunity to purchase the scrolls decades ago when they were first discovered - and turned them down. 

And finally, in a climate-controlled room with dim lights, you'll see the Dead Sea Scrolls themselves.  Each fragment is translated and displayed in a heavily protected case. 

The entire exhibit is very quiet, and probably better suited for children over 5, though all children all welcome (but no strollers allowed in the exhibit).  Do be very careful not to bring any liquids of any kind, not even a baby bottle - and no cell phones, either.   Plan to spend at least 2 hours going through each portion of the exhibit.

The Dead Sea Scrolls will be on exhibit from June 28th to December 28th at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Science in Downtown Raleigh.  For ticket information, click here, or call 919.733.7450 ext. 212.

After you've had a chance to see the Dead Sea Scrolls, be sure to check out the rest of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences - which, as always, is FREE. 

You may also be interested in:

Jobs in the Raleigh Area

Triangle Area Market Reports - How's The Real Estate Market in Raleigh?

Shopping in the Raleigh Area - What Kind of Shopping Is There?

Raleigh Relocation Package - All About the Raleigh Area!

Which Part of the Triangle is Cheapest to Live?  Property Tax Guide

The 82nd Airborne Division is a very important part of Fort Bragg.   82nd Airborne has been an active division since 1917, and was named the "All-American" Division after it was discovered that the original unit had soldiers from all 50 states.

The 82nd Airborne has been assigned to Fort Bragg since the 1960s, and has been active throughout the world in all major American operations, including Grenada in 1983, Panama in 1989, and the Gulf War in the early 90s.  The 82nd Airborne is very active in Iraq today.  Find out more about the Division's history.

Fort Bragg is a short drive from Raleigh, just over an hour.  If you're interested in learning more about the history of the 82nd Airborne Division, plan a quick trip to the

82nd Airborne Division War Memorial Museum

* Year museum was established: 1945
* Square footage for museum facilities: approximately 15,000
square feet
* Average annual visitation: 60,000
* Number of artifacts in collection: 4,000
* Estimated value of artifacts: $4 million
* Percentage of museum's collection on display: 33 percent

Aircraft on display:

* Lockheed C-130
* Douglas C-47B Skytrain
* Curtis C-46 Commando
* Waco CG-15A (front fuselage only/glider)
* Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar
* Fairchild C-123K Provider
* DH Canada C-7B Caribou
* Bell UH-1A Iroquois

(910) 432-3443/5307

Hours of Operation

Tue - Sat 10:00 - 16:30

Sunday, Monday - Closed with the exception of Federal Holidays

Theater viewings are every hour on the hour starting at 11:00 - 15:00

Museum History

Museum Photos

 82d Airborne Division Historical Society

Directions

(NOTE: Proper identification is required to access Fort Bragg)

You may also be interested in:

Jobs in the Raleigh Area

Triangle Area Market Reports - How's The Real Estate Market in Raleigh?

Shopping in the Raleigh Area - What Kind of Shopping Is There?

Raleigh Relocation Package - All About the Raleigh Area!

Which Part of the Triangle is Cheapest to Live?  Property Tax Guide

North Carolina Museum of Natural Science

If you want somewhere free to take your family for an afternoon of educational fun, I highly recommend the North Carolina Museum of Natural Science in Raleigh.  Whether you're considering a move to the Triangle area, or you're a life-long resident, this museum has a lot to offer, with its  captivating approach to understanding the mysteries of geography, geology, plants and animals as a "window on the world."

You can't miss the museum - its green glass rounded roof and sprawling building are easy to spot on Bicentennial Plaza in downtown Raleigh, between the Capitol and Legislature building, at the corner of Jones and Salisbury streets at 11 West Jones Street.

Every time we mention going to the Museum of Natural Science, the kids get excited. They absolutely love the displays, including both living and real-life-looking wildlife, grasses, rocks, pictures - even a 20-foot high indoor waterfall - and plenty of hands-on interaction available on four floors of a perfect architectural layout of free-flowing hallways, open space and exhibits.

The main entrance leads to a soaring hallway of exhibits, with a theater off to the left showing featured films. 

In addition to the core exhibits - including giant dinosaur relics, one of the world's most outstanding displays of great whale skeletons and, yes, even bugs and snakes (that the kids appreciate a lot more than I do)  the Raleigh Museum of Natural Science has special exhibits every few months (though the museum is free, some of the special exhibits have a fee).

When we visited a couple of days ago, we saw Willo, the world's only dinosaur with a fossilized heart,along with a real Acrocanthosaurus skeleton. A while back there was a special CSI (how bugs can reveal criminals) exhibit. And we've heard that the Dead Sea Scrolls will be coming sometime later this year.

But that's not all. The North Carolina Museum of Natural Science also offers special presentations and movies about Wilderness North Carolina (currently featuring Planet Earth: From Pole to Pole and Weird Nature: Fantastic Feeding.) 

There are lots of opportunities for Raleigh kids to sit and learn at Storytime (for little children) or Meet the Animals, complete with live animals (everything from alligators to opossums.)

Recent science discoveries are probed in yet more classroom-type discussions, where museum educators present topics fresh from today's news, like global warming.

Even outside its walls, the Raleigh Museum of Natural Science is having a huge impact on North Carolina.

It sponsors"Exploring North Carolina," a localized, science-based program about ecosystems, geology, rivers, weather patterns, fauna and flora, as well as early explorers and natives from the Age of Discovery - nominated for an Emmy, which airs on UNC television. You can find the current season's schedule at Exploring North Carolina.  A new grant is making it possible for specific episodes of the program to be available for students to view at North Carolina middle and secondary public schools at no cost.

The museum is also heavily involved in scientific research that goes far beyond the fascinating displays we enjoy so much. They work hand-in-hand with state and federal agencies, international organizations and local universities including Duke University, North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University and North Carolina Central University.

If you're coming to visit, don't miss the gems on the first flooror the dinosaurs on the fourth floor! And if you're hungry, there's even a café just down the hallway, offering lots of nutritious and inexpensive choices.

Best of all, not only is the museum free, it's also open all week long, from 9 am to 5 pm Monday through Saturday, and noon to 5 pm on Sunday. And on the first Friday of every month, the museum is open until 9!

You may also be interested in:

Virtual Tours - See This Week's Most Exceptional Homes

Jobs in the Raleigh Area

Shopping in the Raleigh Area - What Kind of Shopping Is There?

Raleigh Relocation Package - All About the Raleigh Area!

Which Part of the Triangle is Cheapest to Live?  Property Tax Guide

Marbles Museum in Downtown Raleigh NC

Preschooler Activities and Entertainment for Kids!

If you're a mom or dad of young children, there is a great new place to take the kids in downtown Raleigh. 

The Marbles Museum is touted as a hands-on, interactive experience - and parents love it. 

There's a courtyard with water activities, boulders and a "creek", and across the courtyard from the musuem is an IMAX theater. 

Parking is easy - they have their own lot, but cost is $1 per hour.

                                                                                                                                                          The "Blue Marble"

The highlight for many young children is the pirate ship, which demonstrates the details and believability of the museum. 

This play area has three stories, and treasure chests full of pirate hats, shirts and pants to put on over clothing before climbing up and down to the deck and lookout areas of the ship. 

"Around Town" is our favorite place to visit.  There are terrific play areas like the grocery store that has hundreds of realistic food items, shopping carts, Lowe's Foods aprons for stocking shelves, and a couple of cash registers. 

The kitchen is right next door, with a nearly life size refrigerator, stove, work island with lots of cupboards to open and take things in and out of, and chairs for your customers to eat their gourmet dinner in!  

With dolls, crutches, stethascopes, real hospital blankets, and lots of other medical supplies to play with, there is plenty to do in the hospital area, including taking "patients" into the child scale wooden ambulance. 

The firefighter corner includes full and pint size fire hats and coats, a wooden firetruck with several entrances and (including a child scale wooden ambulance). 

There's even a separated area for infants to crawl and play.  One of the best features is the attendants - who make sure that the toys stay in their correct areas, and that they're just as well organized for the afternoon visitors as those first to arrive in the morning. 

The entire "Around Town" area is surrounded by a 3 ft high divider, with latched gates, which makes it easier to watch kids playing in several different areas.

Upstairs, there are a variety of exhibits, including a music room, where kids can play drums or sing karoake.  The other rooms seem to change fairly often, giving something fresh to interact with.  

If you'd like more information, just go to http://www.marbleskidsmuseum.org/visit/index.aspx.  The Marbles Museum is just one of many fantastic activities for kids in the Triangle area. 

You may also be interested in:

Jobs in the Raleigh Area

Triangle Area Market Reports - How's The Real Estate Market in Raleigh?

Shopping in the Raleigh Area - What Kind of Shopping Is There?

Raleigh Relocation Package - All About the Raleigh Area!

Which Part of the Triangle is Cheapest to Live?  Property Tax Guide