Cape Fear Museum in Wilmington, NC is a Treasure Trove of History


The oldest history-oriented museum in the state of North Carolina, the Cape Fear Museum in Wilmington tells the stories of the Lower Cape Fear region's history, science, and culture through exhibitions, displays, and regularly-scheduled special programs.

The museum was founded in 1898 with a collection of Confederate relics. It was originally housed in one room in the Wilmington Light Infantry Building and was run by the Wilmington chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy. The museum moved to Raleigh during World War I but eventually made its way back to Wilmington about a decade later. New Hanover County took over control of the museum in the 1977 and the first paid staff arrived a few years later. The museum continues to grow, now housing more than 50,000 objects. It is also now accredited by the American Association of Museums.

Today, the Cape Fear Museum in Wilmington consists of both permanent and temporary exhibits. Permanent displays at the museum include Cape Fear Stories, an interactive exhibit that allows visitors to explore life in Lower Cape Fear throughout the centuries through the use of photos, artifacts, models, and three-dimensional diorama-type settings.

The outdoor Maritime Pavilion profiles the importance of Wilmington's location on the Cape Fear River and explores the watercraft that local residents have used over the decades to sail the waters.

The Michael Jordan Discovery Gallery is designed for Cape Fear Museum's younger visitors. Built to resemble Lower Cape Fear's environment, this interactive hands-on area of the museum not only allows for lots of play time but also teaches children about soils, plants, and animals of the maritime region and upland forest. Kids will also enjoy the opportunity to visit with one of Wilmington's oldest residents, a replica of a 1.5 million-year-old giant ground sloth that was fashioned from bones found nearby in 1991.

Temporary exhibits occupy a great deal of space at the museum and there are usual at least two of these exhibits at Cape Fear Museum at any given time. Generally, they remain open for at least a few months, sometimes longer. Access to these special visiting exhibits is included with general admission to the museum.

The Cape Fear Museum hosts a variety of special events and programs that are open to the general public. Family events are held each Saturday at the onsite Learning Center and most events are appropriate for children up to age 12. The museum also offers programs specifically geared towards adults. Held once or twice each month, these programs might include lectures or symposia led by area experts in the history, science, or culture of the Lower Cape Fear region.

Cape Fear Museum Summer Camps offer half-day, weeklong programs to children ages 5 through 12. Generally, there are several from which to choose and the price is extremely affordable.

The museum still welcomes volunteers to help with any number of tasks there, including staffing the gift shop, helping with special events, or teaching camp or other public programs.

Cape Fear Museum is open daily except for Mondays from Labor Day until Memorial Day. Admission fees are minimal and include access to all the exhibits. The first Sunday of every month is free for New Hanover County residents. Tours are self-guided.

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