North Carolina Museum of History

(Sorry, I didn't realize I was taking a video)

Location: 5 East Edenton Street, Raleigh, NC
Admission: Free
Child Friendly: Yes, however I would recommend for children who are at least 6+
Web address: North Carolina Museum of History

Today, we went and explored the North Carolina Museum of History located in the heart of downtown Raleigh. Recently the museum just added a new permanent collection that spans the entire history of the state covering the entire first floor of the museum. Overall I was impressed with the overall quality and caliber of the new exhibits.
The exhibit begins with the history of North Carolina's first native inhabitants. It features an array of ceramic artifacts that have been excavated from around the state, as well as, early tools. Perhaps the most impressive of all is a recreated dwelling that is the focal point of this area.

Blackbeard's flag

Next, you move throughout the exhibit to details about the early contact between natives and settlers. It details items traded between the people and how early settlers survived in the new colony. However, this display could easily be missed as you are quickly distracted by the adjacent exhibit on everyone's favorite... Pirates. Arrrghh.  No, really, it's pretty neat. The staff cleverly creates the setting of being inside the haul of a pirate ship and tells story of pirating off the North Carolina coast, highlighting the state's most notorious pirate, Edward Teache aka, Blackbeard.

Cannon you can aim at various ships (fun for the kiddies)

From there, the museum moves on to life in the early colony. It describes the variety of settlers who came to North Carolina and the regions in which different immigrants migrated to. It highlights early life, early handicrafts and agriculture. Another impressive exhibit, is that of the two-room house of carpenter Solomon Robson, which is restored within the exhibition area. This area of the museum highlights life on small farms and several chores. This area is fun, kids can pick up buckets and see what it would be like to carry it from the well to the house, there's a chicken hatching an egg, and yes, even the chance to "milk" a cow. Of course, I tried and was unsuccessful.

From colonial life to rebellion, the exhibit transition to the revolutionary history and North Carolina's role in the war. I didn't spend much time in this area, revolutionary history has never been a favorite (sorry to all you military history buffs!) Next you move to the early history of the United States, the forming of the Confederacy and the inevitable Civil War. Note, a large portion of the overall exhibit space is dedicated the the Civil War and there is an impressive array of artifacts. Once again, military history has never sparked my interest so I kind of wandered through this section, occasionally stopping to read labels.


Coming out of the wartime section, there are several good exhibits which highlight the political and social attitudes at the turn of the century. I especially liked their exhibit on the Wilmington Race Riots, a little known skeleton in the closet of North Carolina history. Into the modern age, there are exhibits on the various industries within the state, most notably textiles, furniture and the almighty tobacco crop. There is a neat section here in which they recreate an old textile mirror and you can hear and feel what it would have been like working in one of the shops.



Out of the turn of the century and into the Great Depression, World War I, and the New Deal. This area highlights the early 20th century history the state and features a recruitment office, pictures that WPA worker's took in the state and the handicrafts that kept the Appalachian region thriving. From here you move into an exhibit that shows the role of North Carolina in World War II. It shows the mobilized war effort throughout the country and how everything, even the smallest scrap metal or leftover cooking grease could be used for the war. It transitions into the Civil Rights movement, and there is even the counter from Woolworth's, where the famous Greensboro sit-in's took place.

This essentially marks the end of the exhibition space. There is a short video at the end which takes the museum-goer to present day history, however I have to say we skipped it. I felt it a little lazy to skip ahead to present day in such a fashion, but then again perhaps history since 1970's is too young to begin interperting. I'll leave that for you to decide.


I think if your bring children here, they should be at least kindergarten age or else they will be bored. Trust me, I brought the four year old I nanny here and he was not impressed or engaged at all. eHowever, for the more curious six or seven year old, this is great.  The museum is highly interactive, there are a variety of labels which quiz your knowledge coming into the exhibit, as well as, things to touch, pick up and an un-godly number of small video clips to watch. All in all, I believe this section of the museum to be geared towards an older audience but it still delivers to the kids.

Overall, I was impressed with the total package. I have come to the museum many times in the past and I have to say, this was the first time I felt the museum was on par with larger museum such as the newer  Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown Victory Center in Williamsburg, VA. It's about time the state installed a permanent exhibit chronicling its history and well done guys. Kudos to the staff and all those involved in to adding this to the museum.