Mint Museum Randolph — Attraction in Charlotte

This is a lovely, eclectic museum easily located in Charlotte. We came during the week, so there was plenty of parking available and it was nice to not be crowded while visiting.

The grounds outside were gorgeous, even at the tail end of winter/beginning of spring. Little roundabout with a fountain allows cars to drop off/pick. up passengers. There is a ramp to the side to allow access to the front doors for those in wheelchairs, etc.

We were greeted warmly by the young lady at the front desk. We paid admission and were given small reusable plastic tags to wear on our shirts to show security we had paid.

We started off on the ground floor which had a circular path, starting off with history of the Mint Museum and samples of what we would see on the upper floors.

We truly enjoyed the Art of the Ancient Americas exhibit the most. They had the standard pieces you'd expect, but they also had some of the most exquisite items I had never seen before and, frankly, never realized the outstanding artistry of the area. That alone was worth the admission price.

All in all, it was a lovely museum, but I do have one major complaint. The lack of seating. There were so many wonderful rooms with many pieces of art that I would have loved to have sat and marveled at, but very few rooms had benches. It was technically handicapped accessible, but mainly for those in wheelchairs. Anyone with a cane or walker, would have had a...

The Mint Musuem - Randolph was an intriguing experience. I was guided to visit this museum location first instead of Uptown and was taken on a mesmerizing hidden journey full of coded messages. It was an honor to be at this location and in a building with such great historical significance. The surrounding neighborhood is very charming which adds to the appeal. The museum grounds are beautiful with a wonderful fountain positioned near the entrance. As a first time visitor, I appreciated the late opening hours and how one admission fee is good for two consecutive days. As a nod to the U.S. Mint and Assay Office, I started my exploration in the Heritage Gallery. As I moved through the levels, the stories and messages started to slowly unfold. The galleries that spoke to me the most - European Art (vibrant Italian/Flemish/Dutch pieces), Portal to the Past: British Ceramics (the story of Queen Charlotte and King George III), Arts of Africa (powerful carvings, masks, attire), Spanish Colonial Art, and Art of the Ancient Americas (Mayan and Olmec pieces). Initially, the musuem seemed small (eventhough I got semi-lost lol) but the rooms had a way of revealing themselves and opening up when the time was right. My time spent here and at the Uptown musuems store triggered a surge and urge to paint again. (Something I haven't done in...

My family and I were genuinely excited to visit the original Mint Museum, but our experience was sadly tainted by what felt like clear racial profiling. From the moment we arrived, we were followed closely by a security guard named Muhammad. Not just monitored—from gallery to gallery, he trailed us so persistently and obviously that it made us feel targeted and uncomfortable in a space that should be welcoming to all.

Eventually, I asked him to take a photo of us just to break the awkward tension. No one should have to “prove” their innocence or comfort a security guard in order to enjoy art with their family.

As a Black family, we’re tired of being treated with suspicion instead of respect. We came to enjoy culture, not be surveilled like criminals. This kind of experience is not unique to us, and that’s exactly the problem. Racial profiling—subtle or not—is unacceptable.

We hope the Mint Museum reflects on this and makes serious changes to ensure that all visitors, regardless of race, feel equally welcome...