North Carolina Museum of History — Attraction in Raleigh

Excellent choice to kill time, get together with friends and family, or to just hang out. I have been thru this museum many times as with the other 2 museums in downtown Raleigh. I find myself people watching rather than checking out the exhibits. I enjoy the looks and expressions people have as they take in all of the exhibitis. This along with the other two museums a almost like secret gems in downtown, free secret gems. They are often overlooked and forgotten about. Especially this museum. People think museum it's like their mind goes straight to educational, and boring. if you give this museum a try you will find out it is fun hands on an interactive, informative and educational. You are learning even when you don't realize it. The best part about this museum is that is is free. I am surprised they have such a modern, technologically advanced facility, and are able to let people visit for free. They are constantly working on the facility adding or updating exhibits, upgrading technology. The not only have interactive exhibits here, there are different live shows on the weekends, many different festivals and cultural events throughout the year. I have yet to find a person who has been here and didn't find something the enjoyed, be it the scientist and researchers, the globe shaped theater for the movie, or for a good snooze (I have been guilty of falling asleep here) the butterfly Atrium or even the food court and gift shop. Everybody had a great time, found something enjoyable, had unique experiences and memories that wont soon be forgotten. As many times as I have been here I am always finding things I missed, they also add things quickly and often at regular intervals. So, there is always something new, or maybe it's old and been there for a while. That is where the fun comes in, figuring out what is new and what you have been missing. Finding out what you missed that has been right in front of you eyes the whole time and what you happened to stumble upon that secluded and hidden. There is so much to do, so much to see, so much to experience here. All you have to do is show up and do a little exploring and have a unique adventure. It's all on you just show up give it a try, what is the worst that could happen, you enjoy yourself and decide to come back making it a ritual tradition, and right of passage. I did and...

I just want to start by saying that there is no way my review can do this place justice. I visited at the beginning of November of 2021 and I have either spoken about or thought of this museum nearly every day since. This museum is absolutely phenomenal. Obviously, I’m a bit of a history buff since I’ve been thinking of a museum for the past few months, but it was the highlight of my trip to North Carolina and think it’s a must visit for everyone.

I was blown away with how many interactive exhibits there were and made sure to click every button, as if I was three years old, to make sure I didn’t miss out on anything. I’m from the North, so it was very interesting to learn not only about North Carolina State history but about US history as well. My only qualm with the museum was their wording on one of the slavery exhibits. It said something along the lines of "many slaves did not agree" and that feels like a huge understatement. It seems like we should be at a point where we can all collectively agree that the vast majority of, if not all, slaves would have rather had been free than enslaved. But, this wording choice did not deter me from having a great time, I was just caught off guard by it.

They have an INCREDIBLE exhibit on the World Wars upstairs. It was so immersive that I do think it should come with a warning for those who may suffer from PTSD. I went on a very quiet mid-week morning, so I was the only one in the exhibit at the time and it was very eerie, and a bit unnerving, to be in it alone. They also have a large exhibit on sport history in North Carolina which I was very excited to see. Also, they had an entire exhibit on the history of Beach Music which I had never thought of as a genre all on its own but that was another great experience.

The gift shop had a good variety and was very fairly priced. I did my research ahead of time on where to park and ended up in a lot one street over, which was perfect and well located for my stroll around Raleigh. Just, come here, that’s all I can say. This Museum has done an incredible job at providing a lot of historical facts while making it easy to understand and engaging. You don’t need to be a history buff to enjoy...

The museum is located in downtown of Raleigh within walking distance to the Museum of natural science, across is the state capitol. The Museum is free to public from 10 to 5. It is known for the main gallery on the first floor and the sports hall of fame on the second. The museum is very well maintained, artifacts are organized carefully and displayed in chronological order - dated from prehistory through western colonization, bloody conflicts between the colonists and Indians, independence of the unions, the civil war, slavery emancipation, the notorious Jim Crow law and racial segregation held mercilessly and arrogantly by the Democrats, to participation of two world wars, dropping of Enola Gay atom bomb unto Hiroshima, to civil right movements of later days, of course intermingled with fascinating story of mystery fate of the first immigrants setting foot on Roanoke Island, the fierce battle of Tuscarora Indians, the sad displacement of Cherokees along the Trail of Tears, the legendary Great Wagon Road full of hardship, and the pirate “Black Beard” and mishap of his “Queen Ann’s Revenge” flagship, and what’s more the magnificent but less widely known statue of George Washington. This is a place filled with joy, surprise,...