Museums North Carolina
General

Browse Museums

Attmore-Oliver House Museum
New Bern, North Carolina

General, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Military

As the house is used frequently for Historical Society functions, the Attmore-Oliver House is not strictly a museum. However, it provides a uniqure opportunity for visitors to see a home lived in by only two New Bern families throughout most of the 19th century and half of the 20th century.

Brunswick Town State Historic Site
Winnabow, North Carolina

Archaeology, Culture, General, History, Historic House, Military, Park

A major pre-Revolutionary port on North Carolina's Cape Fear River, Brunswick was razed by British troops in 1776 and never rebuilt. During the Civil War, Fort Anderson was constructed atop the old village site, and served as part of the Cape Fear River defenses below Wilmington before the fall of the Confederacy. Colonial foundations dot the present-day tour trail, which crosses the earthworks of the Confederate fort.

Charlotte Museum of History and Hezekiah Alexander Homesite
Charlotte, North Carolina

Children's, Culture, General, History, Historic House, Library, Park

Located on a beautiful 8 acre park-like setting, the Charlotte Museum of History has been called "the most entertaining one-stop, two-hour history lesson in the Piedmont." The museum offers a comprehensive look at life in the Charlotte region from the Revoultionary War times to the present. Four galleries lead visitors from the early settlement days to the first U.S. gold rush, to the dark days of slavery, the Civil War and the rise of textiles and banking. The museum includes changing exhibits and hands-on learning for children as well.

Fort Defiance
Lenior, North Carolina

Botanical Garden, Cemetery, Culture, General, History, Historic House, Military

n/a

High Point Museum
High Point, North Carolina

General, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Park

Museum:Visit us and meet early entrepreneur Captain Snow as well as other distinctive High Point citizens.

Picture jazz musician John Coltrane’s hands gliding across the keys of his piano.

Drive our big yellow school bus and discover how changes in modes of transportation influenced the development of High Point.

Explore how the twin industries of hosiery and furniture have flourished while contributing to High Point’s changing identity.

Check out the Museum’s changing exhibit gallery for more in-depth topics and events related to High Point. Call for current exhibition details.

Historic Park
Step into the home of John Haley and view the lifestyles of a wealthy late 18th century household.

Joel Lane Museum House
Raleigh, North Carolina

Culture, General, History, Historic House, Library

Joel Lane built his home in the early 1770’s in what was a very rural part of North Carolina. He is called “The Father of Raleigh” because he facilitated the location of North Carolina’s capital city on his land in 1792. His faithfully-restored plantation manor was once deemed “The Best House for 100 Miles.” A visit to this important historic site will transport you back in time. The site includes Joel Lane's stately "plantation manor house," a circa 1790 middle class dwelling, and an 1840s school room or office used as the Visitors Center housing the museum shop and offices. The gardens feature a neo-colonial formal city garden and a formal herb garden.

Mountain Farm Museum and Mingus Mill
Cherokee, North Carolina

Archaeology, Children's, Culture, General, History, Historic House, Natural History, Nature Centers, Park

Oconaluftee offers both a visitor center and the Mountain Farm Museum—a collection of historic log buildings gathered from throughout the Smoky Mountains and preserved on a single site. Buildings include a house, barn, applehouse, springhouse, and smokehouse.

North Carolina Museum of History
Raleigh, North Carolina

Children's, General, History, Library, Natural History

Explore more than 14,000 years of North Carolina history, from the state's earliest inhabitants through the 20th century. The major exhibition The Story of North Carolina features fascinating artifacts, multimedia presentations, and an interactive format for all ages. Other museum exhibits highlight the state's military history, sports heroes, decorative arts and more. Monthly programs include children's programs, craft demonstrations and family events with things to do for all ages. The Museum Shop, featuring North Carolina crafts, and the on-site restaurant Pharaoh?s @ the Museum are open daily.

Orange County Historical Museum
Hillsborough, North Carolina

Anthropology, Archaeology, Art, Cemetery, Children's, Church, Culture, General, History, Historic House

The Orange County Historical Museum is located in downtown Historic Hillsborough, one of the early capital cities of North Carolina. The community is steeped in history, from the early Native Americans, the Occaneechi, to the hanging of the Regulators apprehended during the Battle of Alamance, a prelude engagement to the American Revolution. Soldiers from the British Army to Confederate soldiers of the American Civil War have marched through the streets of this quaint town. The Orange County Historical Museum captures many of these spledid stories through more than 1,500 artifacts and exhibits. The museum is located just down the street from the home of William Hooper, a signer of the Declaration of Independence for North Carolina.

Robeson County History Museum
Lumberton, North Carolina

Art, General, History, Historic House, Science

The museum highlights interesting events in Robeson County’s history with artifacts from early geological times to the present. Exhibits show the natural resources, transportation, agricultural, commercial, military, social and cultural history of the area. The museum’s goal is to tell the story of the county with permanent and changing exhibits

Bennett Place State Historic Site
Durham, North Carolina

Culture, General, History, Military, Park

This simple farmhouse was located between Confederate General Johnston's headquarters in Greensboro and Union General Sherman's headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina. In 1865 the two officers met at the Bennett Place, where they signed surrender papers for southern armies in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Today James Bennett's reconstructed farmhouse, kitchen, and smokehouse recall the lifestyle of an ordinary Southern farmer during the Civil War.

CAROLINA MILITARY VEHICLE PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION
KENLY, North Carolina

General, History, Military

THE CAROLINA MILITARY VEHICLE PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION OPEN A MUSEUM WITH US MILITARIA ON DISPLAY. THE ITEMS ON DISPLAY ARE FROM WWII TO THE CURRENT CONFLICTS. WE ALSO DISPLAY MILITARY VEHICLES ON THE WEEKENDS. IT IS A SMALL MUSEUM BUT IT HONORS ALL BRANCHS OF THE MILITARY.

Cherryville Historical Museum
Cherryville, North Carolina

Art, Children's, General, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Library

This building was built in 1911 on to an already standing wall with the Bull Durham add on it. We have uncovered part of the Bull Durham add and hope to do more in the future. In this first room we have the original 1921 LaFrance Fire Truck purchased by the City of Cherryville. On the wall behind the truck you see a 9 x 10 foot wall hanging of this building with the fire truck and the firemen at that time.

Hickory Ridge Homestead
Boone, North Carolina

Culture, General, History, Historic House

Hickory Ridge Homestead, located on the grounds at "Horn in the West," is an eighteenth-century living history museum highlighting the daily lives of our mountain ancestors.

Iredell Museums, Inc.
Statesville, North Carolina

Art, Children's, Culture, General, History, Science

We Have A Fort: Archaeological Discovery in Iredell County presents the archaeological history of Fort Dobbs that led to its reconstruction. After Fort Dobbs was abandoned following the end of the French and Indian War, the structure disappeared from the pastoral landscape. Interest in its remembrance and site preservation emerged in the twentieth century when the Daughters of the American Revolution acquired the land where the fort once stood, but its exact location and style were a mystery. Using primary sources from the time the fort was built, contemporary fort designs, and archaeological research, archaeologists and the Iredell community undertook a decades long journey to uncover one of the most significant and well-known historic sites in Iredell County.

Memory Lane Motorsports and Historical Automotive Museum
Mooresville, North Carolina

General, History, Specialized

Featuring over 150 vehicles on display, this unique museum is a fabulous collection of automobiles and related items. Memory Lane was honored as the "Best of 2003? by the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) for outstanding achievement in the preservation of automotive history". Over 15 different types of race cars on display from Soap derby's, drag cars, to Winston Cup Stock and NASCAR cars. Visit our display of wrecked race cars displaying the safety features as they have developed over the years.

National Railroad Museum and Hall of Fame, Inc.
Hamlet, North Carolina

General, History, Specialized

Located in the old Seaboard Air Line Railway's depot. Victorian architecture and one of the most photographed rail stations in the Eastern US

North Carolina Transportation Museum at Historic Spencer Shops
Spencer, North Carolina

General, History, Specialized

The North Carolina Transportation Museum is located on the site of what was once Southern Railway Company's largest steam locomotive repair facility. The site features an authentic train depot, antique automobiles, and a 37-bay Roundhouse that includes 25 locomotives, dozens of rail cars and other exhibit areas. The museum offers seasonal train rides, guided tours for scheduled groups, and special events scheduled throughout the year.
The N.C. Transportation Museum is part of the Division of State Historic Sites, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources. The Department of Cultural Resources is a state agency dedicated to the promotion and protection of North Carolina's arts, history and culture. Additional support for the museum and its programs are provided by the N.C.

Poplar Grove Plantation
Wilmington, North Carolina

Botanical Garden, Culture, General, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Library, Park

Just a few minutes north of Wilmington, North Carolina, Poplar Grove offers a wonderful experience for families, with plenty to see and do. Tour the big house and tenant farmer's cabin, spend some time visiting the craft shops and learn about basket making and weaving, and the blacksmith's shop - find out why nails were so precious.

Swannanoa Valley Museum
Black Mountain, North Carolina

Archaeology, Children's, Culture, General, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Library, Military, Specialized

We offer hikes, tours, and daycations weekly. Visit www.swannanoavalleymuseum.org/events for more information.

MUSEUM CONFERENCES

Georgia Association of Museums 2025 Conference

February 5 - 7, 2025

Milledgeville, Georgia

Georgia Association of Museums 2025 Conference

Wednesday, February 5 - Friday, February 7, 2025

Ina Dillard Russell Library Georgia College & State University

Milledgeville, Georgia

Hosted by: Georgia Association of Museums

The Whole Story Is The Meanin

“For the fiction writer himself the whole story is the meaning, because it is an experience, not an abstraction.”― Flannery O'Connor, Mystery and Manners: Occasional Pros

Join us in Milledgeville, Georgia, for the annual Georgia Association of Museums conference as we explore the profound wisdom of Milledgeville author Flannery O'Connor’s words. In a world where narratives intersect and perspectives diverge, this theme invites proposals that delve into the essence of storytelling within museums and cultural institutions. Our work in the museum field requires us to look at stories from as many angles and perspectives as possible so that we might do our best to tell the “whole story.

Through thought-provoking discussions, interactive workshops, and engaging presentations, we will uncover the layers of meaning embedded within every artifact, exhibition, and historical account. Just as O’Connor masterfully crafted narratives that resonate with universal truths, museums hold the power to illuminate the whole story behind many objects, artworks, and cultural phenomena

We will examine how museums can embrace inclusivity, diversity, and authenticity in their storytelling practices. By acknowledging multiple perspectives and amplifying marginalized voices, we can enrich our understanding of the past and present, fostering empathy and connection within our communities.

Small Museum Association 41st Annual Conference 2025

February 17 - 19, 2025

Gaithersburg, Maryland

Small Museum Association 41st Annual Conference 2025

Monday, February 17 - Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center

Gaithersburg, Maryland

Hosted by: Small Museum Association

The annual SMA conference attracts more than 300 museum professionals, board members, and volunteers from a wide variety of small museums. They attend sessions on topics ranging from collections and education to staffing and board issues.

We offer a large Museum Resource Hall and plenty of informal networking opportunities for you to talk with (and get ideas from!) other small museum professionals and volunteers

Theme for 2025: Make It Happen!!!

Is there an exhibit, program, or fundraiser that you've been talking about doing for years? Do you feel stuck because of procrastination, lack of board support, or insufficient funds? It's time to take action

At SMA 2025, small museum professionals will share their tips and tricks of how they made it happen!

2025 California Association of Museums Conference

February 18 - 22, 2025

San Fransico, California

2025 California Association of Museums Conference

Tuesday, February 18 - Saturday, February 22, 2025

San Fransico, California

Hosted by: California Association of Museums

CAM is hard at work planning for the 2025 conference, set to take place from February 18–22, 2025 in San Francisco. We look forward to highlighting best practices and innovative ideas from California's museum community

The California Association of Museums is excited to continue offering in-person programming for 2025. We will not be requiring proof of COVID vaccination/s, but highly encourage vaccination and boosters. For the health and safety of our colleagues, masks are also encouraged (but not required). Capacity and spaces will be thoughtfully considered in the planning of this event.

For more information, please email [email protected].

Virginia Association of Museum's 2025 Annual Conference!

March 15 - 18, 2025

Blacksburg, Virginia

Virginia Association of Museum's 2025 Annual Conference!

Saturday, March 15 - Tuesday, March 18, 2025

The Inn at Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia

Hosted by: Virginia Association of Museums

2025 Conference Theme: Looking Back to the Future For the past several years, many museums have been deeply involved in planning programs and events to observe the 250th birthday of the United States of America. While this is certainly an occasion to celebrate, this anniversary also forces us as a society to reckon with ongoing inequities and challenges within the US that go back to its inception. As museums ask their audiences to look to the past to understand the present and shape a better future, perhaps now is a good moment in time for Virginia’s museum community to take pause and look back at its own history. We are excited to see you in Blacksburg in March 2025 as we take a moment in our hectic schedules to take pause and visit our diverse pasts. Let’s uncover and share our histories to build a more resilient Virginia museum community.

2025 Am Assoc for State and Local History Annual Conference

September 10 - 13, 2025

Cincinnati, Ohio

2025 Am Assoc for State and Local History Annual Conference

Wednesday, September 10 - Saturday, September 13, 2025

TBD

Cincinnati, Ohio

Hosted by: American Association for State and Local History

The 2025 AASLH Annual Conference, in partnership with Ohio Local History Alliance, will take place as the history field makes the final preparations to kickoff off the 250th commemoration of the founding of the United States.

The 2025 conference theme, inspired by AASLH’s Making History at 250: The Field Guide for Semiquincentennial, is an opportunity to broadly explore one of the guide’s themes, The American Experiment. For many in the American colonies in 1776, independence from Britain represented a “leap into the dark” into an unknown future

We are excited for you to join us in Cincinnati as we encourage discussion about our democracy and civic institutions and how they can help strengthen understanding, inspire action, and reveal ways that all of us can participate in and shape the ongoing American experiment.

For more information, please call 615-320-3203 or email [email protected].

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