North Carolina Museum of History

Entry is free and you can easily spend all day here. Huge wide range of items to examine on display from lots of different eras. An immensely interesting collection and a must-visit in Raleigh, the pictures I've added don't even scratch the surface, there's so much to view here!

Brought my family here for a visit and we had a great time. Every time we visit, there is a new amazing experience. My son enjoys learning from the staff and stations set up throughout the museum. Looking forward to coming back and learning more!

This museum is free, has restrooms, gift shops, and a cafe that is sometimes open. The parking lot near it charges cash and about $2 per hour. The museum is great, there is so much to see, there are about 4 floors and 2 buildings. It is fantastic for kids and adults. There are live animals and insects as well. There are also films in both buildings. The fun demonstrations and activities are usually done on weekends but a weekday is nice and calm if you don't like being around too many people. The museum has animals, plants, insects, rocks, wood, and dinosaurs. You will spend at least 2 hours here but could easily spend 4.

Free to enter and really interesting. Gives you the history of North Carolina. Give yourself at least 2 to 3 hours to get through it. They have some old houses in there too from the past which were really cool. Go before October of this year because they are about to shut down for renovation.

It is a very well maintained museum. The staff were very friendly, had a great time seeing all the exhibits from olden times maintained in the best way possible. And it's open to the public for free, but you can do your part by offering small donations. My favorites were a couple of exhibits with houses and rooms which were about 150 years old and also a few exhibits where they recreated models of scenes from the past, the one I have in my pics. This is a good place to learn and feel the history of North Carolina. Overall, time well spent at the museum.

We entered the 3D room to see a T REX exhibition, which was very educational so that children and not so children could learn in a fun way. The museum staff did a wonderful job, everything was very well taken care of.

Cool free thing to do while in town. The lady at the help desk was helpful and gave a brochure explaining each level and also how to get tickets to a current special attraction they had going on. Took my dad and my son. There were interactive displays that caught both of their eyes. So much to learn: went on a Monday so it wasn’t a big crowd which I loved cause no rushed feeling. The sports area upstairs was pretty small with a few highlights that my son enjoyed. We all learned a lot which was the goal. On street parking was available close by.

Unfortunately, the only floor that was open was the first floor as they will be closing in one month so that they can do a three-year renovation. The good thing is it was free and very interesting as I have not been to Raleigh North Carolina before. It was a good two hour walk-through of the complete history from Neolithic days up until now. I do look forward to the reopening in three years to see what they can come up with I’m sure it will be much better.

Lots of great displays and information. Also, has a cafe with great food. We had a blast when we visited a few weeks ago. Don't miss it. Visit when you can.

Based on from what i gathered, the museum will close in October 2024 for a renovation to be completed in 2027? Considering the 2nd floor was closed the day I went plus admission was free, this was definitely worthwhile to check out. So much history going back to the Indian tribes and the Confederecy to the Wright Brothers, albeit some of it not so pretty, but it's the truth and it needs to be remembered and not hidden. Museum row here is on the smaller side. Metered parking on the street. Will definitely be back after the renovation!

This museum is located in downtown Raleigh. The admission to this museum is completely free. This is a very fun and informative museum to visit with the whole family. It's super informative. The information is presented in a way that is easy to understand. It's incredible that it's free, it's fantastic! I don't know much about North Carolina, and if someone is like me, they should visit this museum, they won't regret it. It has everything a museum should have. My husband and I had a good time there, full of information and history.

Visited with elementary aged kids during a day trip to Raleigh. Everyone enjoyed the museum (surprisingly with kids) and found something they were interested in. There are exhibits covering everything from NC sports heros to the Revolutionairy War. I would love to see some areas get a little more detail but the basics are all there and having room to grow isn't a bad thing. The location is in the same complex as the natural history museum - right across the road from the legislative building and nearby to the Governor's mansion, so if you're seeing the sights this is an easy stop to add. It isn't massive but there are many exhibits so you can spend as much (or as little) time as you want. Being free, it's hard to beat.

Free to enter and really interesting. Gives you the history of North Carolina. Give yourself at least 2 to 3 hours to get through it. They have some old houses in there too from the past which were really cool. Go before October of this year because they are about to shut down for renovation.

The North Carolina Museum of History may just be my favorite museum in Raleigh. I recently became a member of the museum too. The Story of North Carolina is located on the first level and tells about the history of the state. If you can't make it in person to the museum, the website has a 360 degree virtual tour of the Story of North Carolina. On the third floor there is the permanent exhibit of the NC Sorts Hall Of Fame. Special exhibits are also on the third floor. You can walk up the stairs to the third level or take one of the elevators. Admission to the museum is free although the special exhibits may have a small fee. Recently I went to the Power of Women of Country Music exhibit that came from the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles. I didn't know much about country music so I learned about it and was fascinated with the song writing part of the exhibit. I liked hearing from the artists how it all came together. The exhibit was very interactive and you could even play the instruments as well. I love the gift shop in the museum. It is where I recommend people go to find those North Carolina products they are looking for. The gift shop focuses on the state; current exhibits and past exhibits. You might find pottery made from the Seagrove; jewelry; books about state and those who live/lived here; foods made in NC. If you still send postcards like I do, they have many available. It is a great place for those unique gifts.

Free admission! We stopped in on a Sunday at around 1 and spent probably about 40 minutes here. If you're interested in learning about North Carolina's history (including development, trades, slavery), then this is a good museum to go to. It wasn't too crowded when we went, so that was nice. I have a feeling it probably gets crowded on weekdays with school trips. I do wish there were more benches around though. The museum is set up in a way that you kind of just follow one path, so if you needed to take a break, there's really nowhere to sit. It's a quick visit though, but just something to keep in mind.

This is a fun museum to visit. They gave great exhibits and most are kid friendly. The museum is free. My son could not pick his favorite part. They had some great photo opportunities. We walked to the museum from the train station.

5 stars for making History available to everyone, no fee entry. So many interesting items in this museum, with the Carbine Williams exhibit right at the top of the list. https://www.ncmuseumofhistory.org/exhibits/david-marshall-carbine-williams From Beginning to Now, so much to take in and to be able to come and go, is a great option. Check it out, you wont be disappointed.

Down from NY to visit my son , loved the place our granddaughter loved it also ,wish I knew about this last week been here for a week ,missed the space display by 2 days , we will return again , wished some of the displays worked a little better but otherwise it was Awesome

Recommend going to Museum of History AND Science because they're close. We went as a date for the day and this was our first time. It was completely free, but accept donations! My boyfriend loved the war history and I absolutely loved the pottery and sunken treasures. It was a really diverse bunch of collections and had something for both of us to enjoy! 10/10 recommend for all ages. Especially if kids love pirates ! Tip: if someone asks you to do a survey, I'd recommend you take it. It's really quick!

Very close walk from the coffee shops and really cool to see how the weaver creates a pattern then set up the loom to make it. The other cool history piece is when North Carolina commissioned a statue of George W and called it "Giorgio Washington" - Italian sculptor Antonio Canova chose to portray him as a Roman soldier turned statesman. I took my mom and little sister here after working and they had a blast.

I can't believe this museum is free. It is fantastic. There is only metered street parking available, which takes cards. I'd give yourself at least 90 minutes to see this museum. I'd suggest spending the bulk of your time on the first floor. You can tell that the curators really thought about: A) What are the most interesting parts of our history? B) What are the most important parts? C) How can we keep everyone engaged throughout? I didn't know much about North Carolina's history beforehand. I left with a new perspective that changed how I viewed the rest of my time in the state AND thoroughly entertained. That's what you want in a history museum!

Unfortunately this museum experience was extremely underwhelming for me. Maybe it's because I'm a native New Yorker ? This place didn't measure up to all the reviews. COVID19 has ruined a lot of experiences. Not being able to enjoy the full museum experience of being able to touch and be interactive with the exhibits was a bummer for my 9 year old. She became rather bored quickly. A lot of the exhibits focus on the history of slavery for African Americans and how that transitions into the Black Lives Matter campaign today. We visited during Women's Month and so they main attraction here was the Women's Voting Rights exhibit. Pretty dull. Unfortunately there are only 2 levels to explore. Not memorable and uneventful. The gift shop was silly. There was nothing relevant to the museum. Random trinkets and home goods. I would not return. It was free. You get what you pay for. Nothing.

This museum was a pleasant discovery. Admission is free although donations are accepted. The 1st floor galleries cover the time period from the 1500s to the early 1970s. It is full of interesting facts and minutia regarding the state's history and settlement. Upstairs there is a wonderful gallery on North Carolina's sporting hall of fame as well as an old time pharmacy and a section on different companies that manufactured or sell products in the state.. On weekends you can park in the state government parking lot adjacent to the building free of charge

Amazed that this museum is free. It covers all of North Carolina's history so it's a bit overwhelming but it's neat to see all of the states history in one place. It's very well done. It's much bigger than it looks. You can easily spend hours here.

This is a fantastic museum for both locals and visitors. Super informative, and almost feels like a US history museum because of how intertwined the state is with the founding of the country. You could spend hours here, and you really can come back several times and learn something new each time because there's so much to explore. The information is presented in a way that's digestible, though, and the writing is very well done. Enjoyable for both kids and adults. And a wonderful rainy day activity!

Free admission museum right next to the natural history and NC state capital. Evening meter parking and weekends are free. Lots of learning stuff here including 1903 Wright Brothers "First in Flight" history. Top floor was the special exhibit on NC military veterans.

The North Carolina Museum of History is located in downtown Raleigh. Admission is completely free; however, they accept donations. There are three levels in this building, but the first and third levels have exhibitions. This little museum contains more than 14,000 years of North Carolina history. Some of the exhibits include photographs by Vietnam veterans, history of harvest, North Carolina and World War I, North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, and many more. My favorite exhibition was the 1920's drugstore. I spent over an hour looking at all the antique items and weird medicinal concotions. Be sure to check out the pirate artifacts. Don't leave without visiting the gift shop. I normally don't purchase anything from gift shops. But they have so many unique NC themed items. Luckily they were having a sale when I popped in. I ended up buying a really nice bottle of wine from NC. 5 stars.

There are two levels to the museum, we spent most of our time downstairs because there was more reading in that area . The staff wasn't as friendly when you walk in (we went to the science museum first and they were so nice and informative). It had very interesting artifacts and information at the museum!

We attended a Masquerade Gala Fundraiser for Young Associates on a Saturday evening after the museum was closed. Only the Lobby was available for the event, which was disappointing but I imagine an open bar and open museum could lead to a chaotic scene from "A Night at the Museum." The event was a Mardi Gras theme, black tie optional, party with a live band, dance floor, open bar, and heavy hors d'oeuvres. Every aspect of the event was five stars, except the food--cold (not even room temperature) chicken tenders, a pasty unidentifiable dip, dried out pastries and key lime pie bites that seemed more than a day old. The silent auction was small, but the items were a good fit for the crowd (sporting events, distillery tours, golf, trolley pub). There was a photo booth available and the guy working was yawning every time I looked at him. Not much energy coming out of that experience. Overall if you're in your 20's and 30's this is a really fun way to get involved in philanthropy and it gives you an excuse to wear your tuxedo or ball gown while supporting one if the fine museums in downtown Raleigh.

Checked out the museum with my family we had a nice time learning out North Carolina history but wished they had more ! The staff that I encountered were nice and very informative. One thing I could say it was lacking was a good cafeteria. If they had that and made food that is apart of the culture in Nc that would be cool.

If you want to learn more about North Carolina history, this is the place to visit. It touches on the main points that makes up North Carolina. I can easily spend hours in here on the weekends. You will come out feeling inspired. It's definitely adult and kid friendly. The museum is always kept clean from what I've seen. The North Carolina sports exhibit is my favorite here. Make sure to check that out. It's located on the upper level.

Had a great time at this museum! It's free to enter, but worth making a donation to keep it going. I am not native to North Carolina so I learned a lot. Definitely some interesting history here and unexpected exhibits for sure. Love the section- 'the story of NC'. There was so much to see that we didn't finish all floors and have to go back and make another visit! There was a variety of topics that we were able to see that reflect both positive and negative time of North Carolina history so I was glad that both were represented. On our second visit, we are looking forward to seeing the 1920's drugstore and 1950's toy exhibit.

We enjoyed exploring the history museum. It is packed full of history here in North Carolina. What I love is that it stays updated. Any historical event no matter how far or recent is added. There's information on important events from just two years ago displayed. Love our museums.

First things first: Plan on at least 5 hours to get through the entire museum. Especially if you actually want to read all information at every exhibit. My wife and I actually didn't get through the entire museum because we arrived at 1pm and spent a LOT of time on the first floor. That being said, I would say that this was the highlight of my trip to Raleigh this week. The NC Museum of History is a beautiful, three-story building between the State Capitol and the State Library and best of all FREE to the public. I would however plea to please consider donating to the museum, which you can do either with cash at the front desk or with card in the museum shop. Some things are worth maintaining, and the way our state's history is presented here is amazing. As I prefaced, we spent a good 3-1/2 hours in the main exhibit going through a chronological history of NC from natives all the way to the present. It's amazing how much of our history is either glazed over in school or completely omitted. I think it's safe to say that not everything in NC's past is to be proud of. That being said, it's nice to see that the museum presents everything from the Civil War to Social Inequality in the most non-biased way possible. I was equally impressed with the way history is displayed in various mediums and the thought put into exhibit detail vs the time it takes to properly convey a message. The third story features a variety of rotating exhibits. When we visited they had an exhibit called "Toy Boom" and another called "Quilt Speak" along with a few others. After the first floor, we only had time to quickly look through the Quilting exhibit (which my wife loved) and the other exhibits will have to wait for another day. If you're planning a trip to Raleigh, I would call this a top-five "must visit" destination. Please be respectful and take your time.

Pros: -------- Free admission( Charge to few exhibits) In Downtown next to Capitol and Natural science museum. Street Parking Clean restrooms Friendly staff

I was a bit underwhelmed the with North Carolina Museum of History. We frequent all of the North Carolina Museum's and this is probably my least favorite. The overall museum is really clean. The bathrooms are clean and the floors are well kept. They have a lot of NC History as well as history on the Wars which I thought was cool. I was bit bored in the kids area because there is a lot of reading and watching and for a small child that can be a little overwhelming. So, I wouldn't recommend it for kids under 6. But surprisingly my son did have questions. One of our favorite exhibits was the Sports Hall of Fame. My son loves sports so this was his favorite part. Overall I think it will be an awesome museum for older kids who enjoy history.

I have been here dozens of times. It's actually a great place for a first date or a family trip on a weekend (just be prepared to search for parking) and you can literally spends hours here, their collection is so expansive. This trip was very memorable for me because of the temp FASHION exhibit they were showcasing. It was kewl. They had examples of fashion throughout the decades going all the way back to the 1700's!

There's no shortage of things to awe over at this museum. My wife and I visited from Charlotte, about 2.5 hours drive, for the Downton Abbey exhibit and stayed to tour the remaining exhibits. Just walking through the exhibits doesn't take very long however, if you choose to read all of the information signs then I'd easily allow for a couple of hours to tour the entire facility. I have never been to this museum but it appears that several exhibits might have been limited or removed due to new Covid protocols.

This place has two different levels (1st and 3rd floor). Admission is free as well. Given the Covid regulations, many of the hands on activities are closed. I bet if it was open if would be more more entertaining than it already is.

I enjoyed my time here at the North Carolina Museum of History which seemed to spend a lot of its floor space on the Sports Hall of Fame. I found it interesting that there was no mention of the Panthers or the Hornets/Bobcats/Hornets. A nice display of the history of North Carolina going back to the original Native Americans who lived here, how they lived and what they did. Neat! A very good display on the history of the Carolinas in war, including materiel from the Revolutionary War, the Civil War (aka the War of Northern Aggression), World War 1 and World War 2 right up to the War in Iraq/Afghanistan. Audio from soldiers playing over the speakers made it a bit more real. Interesting. Many items were interactive with "please touch" signs. Great for the kiddos!

Haven't been there for 6.5 years. I went one day after Christmas. It feels better than last time. Only hung around at the first floor--the history of NC and the gift shop. I felt warmly welcomed. The exhibition of NC history is new to me. It's a lot of fun and I spent about an hour with it alone. I learned quite much of history of the state. The exhibition is very well designed and organized. Especially the slavery era. A lot of methods to illustrate the theme have been used. I like this museum and will be back in the future to explore more.

A bit a simple fun for free. Kind helpers and social distancing friendly. Enjoyed touring and exploring the gift shops.

This is a FREE museum and very very well done. Covers many different aspects if NC history. Absolutely worth coming by, do not miss duing your time visiting Raleigh.

Today was a school field trip with the kids school, and as I went around chaperoning a group of kids, you learn something. The kids liked the exhibits with the guns, buttons you can push, the touch screen trivia, and race cars. Guess what, this museum has it all, or all of that at least. There are two main floors with exhibits that you can see. The museum is constantly being remodeled, so you have to go every few months to see what is new. No kid on the field trip was bored, but then again they were 7 & 8, and I think everybody, not matter how old, or young will get something out of this. There is history on airplanes, cars, slavery, civil war, cabinet making, drug stores, child labor, race car, war, sports and more. As you go along there are little fact sheets that you can pick up and guide you on the area you are in. Many facts are very interesting. Right now they are working on new exhibits on each floor, so I am sure that it will be something interesting. And if you want your kids to have an educational summer, then the museum also has summer camps. Now I will say why I gave it four stars. The reason is simple, or stupid depending on how you look at it. Because the kid in me likes the Museum of Natural Science across the way better. But, if you are history buff, then you might think other wise.

Lost in the shadows of the flashy and re-vitalized NC Museum of Natural Science, the NC Museum of History should not be missed! With its new display on North Carolina history ranging back to its original settlement, through slavery, segregation, WWII and more, it's a great step back into a North Carolina time machine! I sometimes forget I'm in the South living in the Triangle but the NC Museum of History is a good reminder of the state's rural, agrarian history and how it go to where it is today. And beyond the NC exhibit, you'll find the NC Sports museum, an exhibit on military and combat from the NC perspective (quite good) along with NC clay pottery. While the exhibits rotate on a regular basis, I'm pretty sure you'll find something super interesting and tangible during a visit here. Honestly, these two museums in downtown Raleigh are gems that should be totally appreciated...

I had a Meetup event here to attend the Donna Washington storytelling performance, and we really enjoyed the program. I've toured the museum before, and it's a gem.

This review is specifically for the children's programs at the NC Museum of History. They have an excellent "tours with tots" programs (currently Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 10-10:45am). For $3+tax [$3.20] your child reviews an educational activity and maybe even a little something special. Not only is the Museum of History a great place for adults, but they have rotating exhibits and it's FREE to the public [sometimes special exhibits and activities are extra]. I took two tots today (ages three and five) to the "I Scream for Ice Cream" activity and they loved it. Not only did we learn about how people stayed cool back in the day, but it was very child comfortable and the kids got to "churn" their own ice cream at the end. It was a great way to experience history in a new way [kid friendly!] I have to return to the museum more often myself, but I wanted to make sure parents knew about their fabulous programs. The only downside to the museum is parking. I don't know of a free spot for museum goers. Street metered parking is usually accessible and cheap (at $1/hour) however there's a two hour max on street parking. You could always choose to park in a deck, but I'm unaware of a close parking deck and with young children involved you want to be as close as possible to your destination.

This was our last museum we visited for the day and it was my favorite and not just because it was free :-). Unfortunately, we only had about 45 minutes to skim through the museum but what we saw was cool and informative. There was a lot of African American history exhibits that I really enjoyed. There were a lot of interactive displays that allowed you to touch, reenact or just play around with stuff. There were so many sections that you can truly spend hours here and not get bored. We stopped in the museum's store and bought some small miscellaneous stuff. I enjoyed the small flavored soaps that were made by a local from North Carolina. This is one museum that I will definitely return so I can take my time and take in and learn more about each of the exhibits at my own pace.

Terrible disappointment. 2 hr drive for 2 floors of nothing. Waste of time.

Simply a beautiful walk through history. I wish we had more time to go through the museum and see the rest of the exhibits. We will definitely be back!

Like all museums in our great state...the admission is free. If you find yourself with nothing to do...why not take a drive to Edmonton St. Fir a walk back in time to learn about our state's history. Here you will learn everything from First inhabitants to our current events. There are moments of levity and sobriety. The civil war thru civil rights is especially moving. What so you have to lose? I can almost guarantee you won't be bored. I say almost because well....I am sadly aware of a population out there that finds museums boring....silly silly people!!

Nice museum. 1) Had very NC related historical exhibits. 2) The museum was pretty large. 3) The museum of Science was nearby, which is also worth a visit.

The North Carolina Museum of History does a great job of having a variety of exhibits. You are bound to find something of interest. On the first floor is the permanent exhibit "The Story of North Carolina" which begins with the Native Americans and goes through our state's various pages of history. They have done an excellent job of making this more than "artifacts behind glass" exhibits. For little hands (and curious old folks) there are many exhibits where one can lift lids, push buttons, etc. for more historic information. Other exhibits allow you to enter a Native American hut, a typical 1800's rural home, peak inside a slave's housing, and walking into a textile factory. I feel they have done a good job of sharing several aspects of our state's history, including the darker side of events. There are reviews of pirates, crooked revolutionary governors, hardships of soldiers in several wars, the treatment of the African American race, Woman's rights, etc. My only real criticism is that the Story of North Carolina strangely ends pre-1970. On the third floor are the rest of the exhibit galleries, including the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, Military exhibits, and special exhibits, which usually require a reasonable admission fee. We are a sports crazy state, and the NC Sports Hall of Fame recognizes those that have made the many sports we love famous (except for Michael Jordan - what's the deal?) While I enjoyed visiting here, the Hall seems like it hasn't updated in 20 years. In the NASCAR area you can watch videos of three NASCAR tracks - all videos are from 1993. The basketball display has clips from several national championship games, but again the games available are pre-2000. A younger generation as well as those new to NC need more current sports memories. Except for special exhibits, your visit to the NC Museum of History is free. Great place to spend several hours. Great facility. If you haven't been, it is worth the trip. If you haven't been in some time, return and enjoy again.

My husband and I attended the Masquerade Gala benefit and it was wonderful from start to finish. First, we got there a little before 8 and were welcomed in with glasses of champagne and told we could view a toy exhibit on the third floor. We then proceeded to the hors d'oeuvres table. The food was exquisite! They had double stuffed mini red potatoes, buffalo chicken dip with corn, chicken strips and mushroom beef Wellington. For desserts there were mini cakes and sweets, I didnt try any because I dont have much of a sweet palette, however they looked fantastic! There was a VIP section which the catering staff seemed to restock the food quickly from our view outside. The open bar had wine, champagne, lone rider beer, budwiser, sercy carbonated beverages and well drinks. The band was lively and seemed to engage the crowd frequently. They also had a photo booth and tarot card reader. Overall I feel this was put together very nicely. Next year I'll probably recruit a group of friends to join!

I was not sure what to expect here; I just hoped they'd have some displays about the Wrights. I was overwhelmed... It's free, the staff is great, and there is a ton of information here. Some of it is geared towards kids, but I learned so much too. As for aviation, there is really only a little bit, but everything else was so interesting that I was not disappointed. Lots of Civil War stuff, of course, but also prehistory, modern history, you name it. There's a great shop with cool stuff, from little trinkets to fancy gifts. Well worth a visit, even if it weren't free.

Great museum full of NC history. My boyfriend and I spent at least 2 hrs here. Good for NC residents and out of state visitors. Friendly staff and knowledgable volunteers. Clean museum and the artifacts are well presented. This week we toured the Clay exhibit. This is great for kids too because there's an activity table at the end.

Yesterday I went to this museum to check out one of their latest exhibits from Selma to Montgomery which features photgraphs of the march led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr . This exhibit is here until June and gives an intimate look of what occured during the march. I highly recommend taking the whole family to see. The museum offers free entry and has a room dedicated for young children to learn more about history. This museum is easy to navigate thru and located across from the Natural Science Museum in case you want to plan a day out of checking out both! Although it is named North Carolina Museum of History it does not just focus on the state's history but interesting historical info pertaining to America in general. You can expect to see anything from sports history to a transformed exhibit hall replica of a pharmacy in the 1920's ! My lil one and I enjoyed the experience and learned alot during our visit.