Raleigh History Museum
Fun Things to do in Raleigh
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.
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