Greensboro History Museum — Attraction in Greensboro

I visited this place as part of an elementary school field trip. I mean, maybe this would have been a decent place for older children. It was not for first graders. And, that's not the museum's fault. That falls on the school. But, I digress. What I'm really here for is to talk about the museum. More-specifically, a particular member of the museum staff.

Let me start by saying, the museum itself is nice. It appears to offer a lot to be learned about our community and our state. However, it's one of your staff members that really prompted this review. Obviously, I won't mention names. But, the person in question was extremely rude and had very unrealistic expectations for a large group of first graders. Things were said to children that should NOT be said to children in this setting. Things such as: "Why are your eyes wandering away from this photo. Look here, please!" (they're children, in a large setting, in a room FULL of photos that are back-lit to draw attention to each); "You either didn't pay attention or you can't count well." (said to one student who used more than the random, arbitrary amount of PAPER cutouts - this student started crying because of this individual's demeaning attitude); "Apparently, you won't do too well in arithmetic." (said to another student). When a couple mothers attempted to explain to her that another museum staff member just gave the students different instructions, she snapped back with, "Well, that was before I got here!".

Maybe this place is full of historical value. Maybe it provides a unique, educational value to the community. Maybe there are many things to learn from visiting The Greensboro History Museum. However, people like the individual mentioned above will prevent my family, along with multiple other families in attendance this day, from ever finding out for ourselves. This kind of attitude also carries the risk of permanently scarring children into hating museums, disliking history, and being apprehensive to learn.

Dear, Greensboro History Museum staff member mentioned above (you know who you are): if you hate your job that much, leave. If you don't like working with children, and dealing with children being CHILDREN, don't be the tour guide for a group of children. If you are having a bad day, we all understand -- just don't take it out on the children who are excited to be there, yet lack the ability to not feed from the excitement of the dozens of other children around them. If you only want the children to use a very-specific number of PAPER CUTOUTS for a craft, provide only that number per child. Don't stifle creativity. Don't punish a child for not paying 100% attention in an environment that already hinders the ability to maintain focus. And, certainly do not insult a child, nor attack their self-esteem, for not fitting within your predetermined "mold" of how a child should behave. You don't fit into my predetermined mold of how a museum tour guide should behave. I'm fairly certain you wouldn't appreciate it if I told you that you have no social skills, and further attacked your self-esteem and character in front of the children and adults. Please return the same expectation. Shame on you for behaving in such a manner. I sincerely hope you reconsider what you do with the time you currently spend at the museum "helping" those who choose...

Pretty interesting place. It's well laid-out and has some really good tidbits of information and "voice snippets" portrayed as being from figures throughout history. I was (more than) a little worried there would be a strong Confederate bias in the Civil War exhibit, but it was overall balanced and seemed to attempt to be non-partisan.

I am a little disappointed it seems they glossed over much of Greensboro and North Carolina's horrific past. I understand they want to keep it open for families, but perhaps in the future they would consider opening an exhibit rated 16+, or with a disclaimer prominently placed. It is important for museums to show all of history, good and bad, so we may learn from it.

Overall, a decent local museum. Definitely check out the International Civil Rights Museum, too, and the gift shops for both are good. (There are lots of pretty scarves and pashminas at...

From my nine year old....Third floor is the hands on stuff. There is an old fashioned movie theatre with movies to watch. Great experience.

We have long visited this place. We might give the third floor five stars however we would like to see more intentional guided play for visitors especially large groups.

The city exhibit with our school group got stale. Too much of the same scavenger hunt with paper and pen. one of the kids with me said, “i do not want to do this anymore, why can’t i look for things that i like?” Again we suggest intentional play opportunities. Change the way the visitors are expected to use their brains often. Mix it up. amazing collection of artifacts in need of new educational activities for...