I hadn’t been to the North Carolina History Museum in downtown Raleigh since before I had kids. However, the kids and I were visiting the Natural Science Museum across the street and decided to check it out before we headed home! I was amazed to see how much the exhibits coincided with current events, and it opened up the doors for some meaningful conversations with my kids.
At the time of our visit, the map below shows the current layout and available exhibits. The history of North Carolina takes up most of the downstairs and you will spend most of your time there.
History of North Carolina
The NC history section of the museum highlights the people who helped shape our state throughout the years. The exhibit covers American Indian life, European settlement, piracy, the American Revolution and early 1800s farm life. It continues through the antebellum era, the Civil War, the rise of industry, the Great Depression, the two World Wars, and the Civil Rights movement.
European Settlement
We had previously taken the kids to Roanoke Island, so it was interesting to see exhibits about the early settlers that started our state history. I don’t think the kids fully grasped the concept, but they liked the interactive parts of the exhibit. There were buttons you could push to show the path the settlers crossed across North Carolina. The kids have been fascinated with maps lately, so they were excited to see Raleigh on the map!
American Slavery
Within the exhibit there is a restored slave cabin from 1860. It shows how seven enslaved African Americans lived in this one-room house. My kids had lots of questions about who lived here, so it opened up the conversation about this dark time in history. It was eye opening to see the living conditions first hand, and it was a very somber space. The exhibit also went on to discuss the civil war and a lunch counter that played a part in the civil rights era.
Industrial Revolution
The age of Industry also held a place within the story of North Carolina. It showed how textiles and engineering paved the way to the machines we know and love today. My kids loved seeing the old cars and phones that great grandma and great grandpa would have used when they were kids. It was funny to me how they didn’t know what some of the items were!
Wright Brothers Plane
We have driven by the Wright Brothers Memorial many times while on vacation in the Outer Banks, but we haven’t actually gone to it. After seeing the Wright Brothers exhibit at the museum, I suppose we might have to make a stop next year! The kids were surprised to hear that airplanes were invented at the same place we vacation! We live in such an awesome state with a captivating history, from the first English settlement in the new world to the first airplane flight!
Spanish Flu
The Spanish Flu Exhibit caught me the most off-guard after the current events of 2020. It showed how our state fought the flu and how it affected our area. I couldn’t help but realize that our current pandemic will one day be on this wall of history as well.
Toy Boom
After exploring the heavily emotional exhibits downstairs, we were excited to view something a bit more lighthearted! The Toy Boom exhibit displays toys and artifacts from the 50’s and 60’s. It was so fun to point out the toys that my boomer parents played with when they were little! My kids enjoyed seeing Nana’s and Papa’s toys and I wish we would have brought them along with us! This could be a fun exhibit to stop in and see if you have family in town for the holidays!
The toys are grouped into unique environments, including TV westerns, space age, zany toys, creative toys, dolls, action figures and more. It made me think of how Woody was replaced with Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story, which I guess was pretty historically accurate!
There are also a few interactive elements, although some of them were closed when we visited. The kids enjoyed playing on the Twister mat and getting some wiggles out. I know they would have LOVED the interactive light bright board, but the pegs had been removed due to the pandemic.
1920’s Drug Store
Upstairs you will also find the former J.C. Brantley Drugstore. It was interesting to see how Drugstores were such a fixture in that time frame. Back then you could order food, purchase from the candy counter, marvel at the toys, and watch the pharmacist hand mix medicines with a mortar and pestle. The whole place just transports you back in time!
Beach Music in the Carolinas
I’m not from North Carolina, so I never really understood the beach music festivals that you see all over our area. I thought it was just music played at the beach! I didn’t understand the deep history of it’s African American roots and how it crossed racial boundaries and brought people together.
Within this exhibit there is a fun interactive video that teaches you how to shag! The kids and I enjoyed practicing our moves, although none of us will be teaching any classes any time soon! 🤣
Gift Shop
We didn’t actually visit the gift shop, but there is one available. It contains items that could have been purchased at the 1920’s drugstore, plus other items for the history buff in your family!
Admission
Admission to the museum is completely FREE. It is open to the public from 9am to 5pm, except on Sundays when it opens at 12pm. Currently during the pandemic, 9-11am is reserved for the elderly and immunocompromised. The museum is following the current mask wearing guidelines set forth by the governor, and it is easy to socially distance while inside. You do NOT need to reserve your time in advance, but the museum is limited to 250 inside the building. There were only a couple other families there during our visit, so I don’t see this limit being an issue if you decide to plan a visit!