North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh, NC is a State Gem

Located in the capital city of Raleigh, the North Carolina Museum of History strives to "collect and preserve artifacts and other historical materials relating to the history and heritage of North Carolina in a local, regional, national, and international context to assist people in understanding how the past influences the present.'' The museum "interprets the state's history through exhibitions, educational programs, and publications available to the visitor on-site or through distance-learning technologies.''

The idea for such a museum evolved in the late 1800s when a local city news editor recognized the importance of such a museum and began touring the state to gather artifacts and to document the stories surrounding them. This collection by Frederick Augustus Olds was eventually combined with an existing small collection to form the first state history museum, dubbed the Hall of History. In the decades that followed, the museum collection would be moved several times as it continued to outgrow its then-current facilities. In 1989, the museum broke ground for its current location and a $29 million state-of-the-art building was completed in 1992. It consists of 55,000 square-feet of gallery space, a large research library, classroom spaces, design shops, conservation labs, and a 315-seat auditorium.

Today, the museum owns about 150,000 objects spanning six centuries of North Carolina history. Curators research artifacts and topics relevant to the collections and develop exhibits based on their findings, so exhibits do change periodically. Some examples of current and past exhibits include On Earth's Furrowed Brow, a photography display focusing on farms of Appalachia; Elected to Serve, a photo and document display about North Carolina's past governors; Everyday Artistry, a display that's home to quilts, furnishings, tools, and other objects from rural North Carolina; North Carolina Indians Past and Present, a look at the cultural practices of the state's Native American tribes; Pleasing to the Eye, the decorative arts of North Carolina; 1920s Drugstore, including a re-recreation of an old pharmacist's workroom and traditional soda fountain; A Call to Arms, a look at the state's military heritage; and the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, profiling famous North Carolinians from the world of competitive sports.

The North Carolina Museum of History provides a wealth of educational experiences for North Carolina school children. The museum is a popular place for field trips and, during the summer, weeklong half-day camps are offered for kids in grades K through 8. The museum also offers internships to undergraduate and graduate students looking for museum experience. In addition, museum programs for the whole family include guided tours and hands-on workshops.

The museum is open daily throughout the year and there is no admission charge. An on-site gift shop offers North Carolina-related gifts. There is no caf, at the museum. Weekdays during the school year tend to be crowded with students so weekend visits are best at that time. Weekdays provide fewer crowds during the summer months. The museum is wheelchair accessible. Public parking is available for a small fee at public parking decks just a few blocks from the museum.