North Carolina Museum of History
Encyclopedia
The North Carolina Museum of History is located in downtown Raleigh
, North Carolina
. Permanent exhibits focus on the state’s military history, decorative arts, the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, and more. Visitors will see a variety of short-term and traveling exhibits. (An exhibit list follows the "History" section below.) Admission is free, and special programs include craft demonstrations, music concerts and family events. The Museum Shop features North Carolina crafts. The museum is a part of the Division of State History Museums, Office of Archives and History, an agency of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources.
). This assortment of historical artifacts became known as the "Hall of History" and was opened to the public. Thirty-seven cases contained everything from a studded shoe buckle owned by James Iredell
to the death mask of Confederate General Robert Hoke
.
The North Carolina Historical Commission took over the Hall of History in 1914 and moved the collection to the Ruffin Building; however, this space quickly became limited. The hall made another move in 1939 to the Education Building, where an area was specifically designed to accommodate both artifacts and exhibits. With the continued growth of the collection, the expanded exhibit space, and an increase in staff, it was decided on July 1, 1965, that the Hall of History would be renamed the North Carolina Museum of History. The museum moved to the Archives and History/State Library Building in 1968. In 1973 the museum opened to the public and soon became a landmark for visitors to Raleigh.
Finally, on June 16, 1988, the State of North Carolina broke ground at 5 East Edenton Street to begin construction of a new building. Symbolically placed between the old North Carolina State Capitol
and the newer Legislative Building
, the museum’s permanent home was completed in 1994. For more than $29 million, the new building featured a research library, classrooms, a 315-seat auditorium, a design shop, conservation labs, artifact storage space, offices, the Museum Shop, and 55000 square feet (5,109.7 m²) of exhibit space.
Chamber of Commerce
, "to honor those persons who by excellence of their activities in or connected with the world of sports have brought recognition and esteem to themselves and to the State of North Carolina
." The Hall of Fame
inducted its first five members in December of that year. As of 2010 the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame numbers 274 members.
Since that time, the inductees, elected annually, have donated mementos of their sports careers to the Hall of Fame. In 1969 the Charlotte Coliseum
agreed to display these objects in the corridor of the building, hoping to eventually expand the building to include a room dedicated to the Hall of Fame. The expansion never occurred, however, and in 1981 the objects moved to the North Carolina Museum of History.
Artifacts on display include Richard Petty
’s race car, North Carolina State University
basketball
coach Jim Valvano
’s warm-up suit, Arnold Palmer
’s Ryder Cup
golf
bag, Meadowlark Lemon
’s Harlem Globetrotters
basketball uniform, North Carolina State University coach Kay Yow
’s Olympic
team basketball, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
football
star Charlie "Choo Choo" Justice’s jersey.
Basketball great and Wilmington, North Carolina native Michael Jordan
was conspicuously missing from the hall for many years, because even though he had been selected for induction, he had been "unable" to attend the required induction banquet. In 2010, it was announced that Jordan would be formally inducted to the hall. Uniquely, his ceremony was held at halftime of a Charlotte Bobcats
game (Jordan owns the NBA team).
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. Permanent exhibits focus on the state’s military history, decorative arts, the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, and more. Visitors will see a variety of short-term and traveling exhibits. (An exhibit list follows the "History" section below.) Admission is free, and special programs include craft demonstrations, music concerts and family events. The Museum Shop features North Carolina crafts. The museum is a part of the Division of State History Museums, Office of Archives and History, an agency of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources.
History
Frederick Augustus Olds, known as the “father” of the North Carolina Museum of History, began collecting items from across North Carolina in the late 19th century. He traversed the state, acquiring pieces of the past and the stories associated with them. Some of the objects were related to events in the state’s history, while others might have seemed rather strange. (One item was simply labeled a “box of rocks.”) Olds amassed a large private collection, and on December 5, 1902, he merged his items with the collection owned and displayed in the State Museum (the modern-day North Carolina Museum of Natural SciencesNorth Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is located in Raleigh, North Carolina. This museum is the oldest established museum in North Carolina and the largest museum of its kind in the Southeast...
). This assortment of historical artifacts became known as the "Hall of History" and was opened to the public. Thirty-seven cases contained everything from a studded shoe buckle owned by James Iredell
James Iredell
James Iredell was one of the first Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. He was appointed by President George Washington and served from 1790 until his death in 1799...
to the death mask of Confederate General Robert Hoke
Robert Hoke
Robert Frederick Hoke was an American businessman, railroad executive, and a Confederate Army general during the American Civil War. Hoke and his division played a decisive role during the Battle of Cold Harbor in 1864....
.
The North Carolina Historical Commission took over the Hall of History in 1914 and moved the collection to the Ruffin Building; however, this space quickly became limited. The hall made another move in 1939 to the Education Building, where an area was specifically designed to accommodate both artifacts and exhibits. With the continued growth of the collection, the expanded exhibit space, and an increase in staff, it was decided on July 1, 1965, that the Hall of History would be renamed the North Carolina Museum of History. The museum moved to the Archives and History/State Library Building in 1968. In 1973 the museum opened to the public and soon became a landmark for visitors to Raleigh.
Finally, on June 16, 1988, the State of North Carolina broke ground at 5 East Edenton Street to begin construction of a new building. Symbolically placed between the old North Carolina State Capitol
North Carolina State Capitol
The North Carolina State Capitol is the main house of government of the U.S. state of North Carolina. Housing the offices of the Governor of North Carolina, it is located in the state capital of Raleigh on Union Square at One East Edenton Street. The cornerstone of the Greek Revival building was...
and the newer Legislative Building
North Carolina State Legislative Building
The North Carolina State Legislative Building is the current meeting place of the North Carolina General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Carolina. It was opened in 1963, replacing the North Carolina State Capitol as the home of the legislature...
, the museum’s permanent home was completed in 1994. For more than $29 million, the new building featured a research library, classrooms, a 315-seat auditorium, a design shop, conservation labs, artifact storage space, offices, the Museum Shop, and 55000 square feet (5,109.7 m²) of exhibit space.
Current
- The 1920s Drugstore Re-created interior of a typical North Carolina drugstore from the 1920s, complete with pharmacist's workroom and authentic marble-topped soda fountain.
- “A Call to Arms: North Carolina Military History Gallery" A look at North Carolina’s military heritage from the American Revolution to the Iraq War.
- The North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame: Audio, video, and interactive biographies, plus Richard Petty's stock car, Meadowlark Lemon's uniform, and other sports artifacts.
- The Story of North Carolina Part One of this major exhibit is open. Part Two will open Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011. Part One traces life in North Carolina from its earliest inhabitants through the 1830s. The final part of the 20000 square feet (1,858.1 m²) exhibit tells the rest of the state’s story.
Past
- The Tar Heel Junior Historian Association: Award-winning history projects by North Carolina students.
- “Barbie — Simply Fabulous at 50!” Through July 5, 2010. Beginning with a first-edition Barbie, this small exhibit offers glimpses of the history and evolution of the American icon and business phenomenon.
- “Museum Sleuths: Whatchamacallits and Thingamajigs” This exhibit features 21 objects from the museum's collection and spotlights a selection of unusual items that will befuddle or bemuse you.
- “Pleasing to the Eye: The Decorative Arts of North Carolina” Objects from the museum's collection, including furniture, ceramics, metalwork, silver, portraits, pottery, and textiles ranging from the 17th century to the late 20th century.
- "Workboats of Core Sound" On view through May 2, 2010. This photography exhibit showcases the work of Lawrence S. Earley, an author, photographer and former editor of Wildlife in North Carolina. Earley’s black-and-white images, combined with excerpts of interviews with fishermen, boatbuilders and other Core Sound residents, tell us about the history and culture of fishing communities in “Down East” North Carolina.North Carolina Museum of History Exhibits
- "A New Land, 'A New Voyage': John Lawson’s Exploration of Carolina" Through Feb. 15, 2010. This small exhibit commemorates the 300th anniversary of the publication of "A New Voyage to Carolina." Published in 1709 in London, this book by English explorer and naturalist John Lawson was the first major attempt to describe the natural history of the New World to Europeans. The book is based on Lawson’s 550 miles (885.1 km), 57-day trek with nine others through Carolina in 1700 and 1701. The exhibit showcases artifacts, natural history specimens, illustrations, maps and manuscripts related to this epic journey.
- "In Search of a New Deal: Images of North Carolina, 1935-1941" Through Jan. 31, 2011. The exhibit features Farm Security Administration photographs documenting daily life in rural North Carolina during the Great Depression. The 50 images provide a compelling and diverse portrait of a state coping with tough economic times. The exhibit, originally produced by Historic Oak View County Park in Raleigh, is supplemented with Depression-era artifacts from the N.C. Museum of History collection.
North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame
The North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame is a 4000 square feet (371.6 m²) permanent exhibit on the third floor of the museum. It was originally established in February 1963, with the support of the CharlotteCharlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
, "to honor those persons who by excellence of their activities in or connected with the world of sports have brought recognition and esteem to themselves and to the State of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
." The Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame
A hall of fame, wall of fame, walk of fame, walk of stars or avenue of stars is a type of attraction established for any field of endeavor to honor individuals of noteworthy achievement in that field...
inducted its first five members in December of that year. As of 2010 the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame numbers 274 members.
Since that time, the inductees, elected annually, have donated mementos of their sports careers to the Hall of Fame. In 1969 the Charlotte Coliseum
Charlotte Coliseum
The Charlotte Coliseum was a multi-purpose sports and entertainment arena in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was operated by the Charlotte Coliseum Authority, which also oversees the operation of Bojangles' Coliseum, the Charlotte Convention Center, and Ovens Auditorium...
agreed to display these objects in the corridor of the building, hoping to eventually expand the building to include a room dedicated to the Hall of Fame. The expansion never occurred, however, and in 1981 the objects moved to the North Carolina Museum of History.
Artifacts on display include Richard Petty
Richard Petty
Richard Lee Petty is a former NASCAR driver who raced in the Strictly Stock/Grand National Era and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series...
’s race car, North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
coach Jim Valvano
Jim Valvano
James Thomas Anthony "Jim" Valvano , nicknamed Jimmy V, was an American college basketball coach.While the head basketball coach at North Carolina State University, he won the 1983 NCAA Basketball Tournament against high odds...
’s warm-up suit, Arnold Palmer
Arnold Palmer
Arnold Daniel Palmer is an American professional golfer, who is generally regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men's professional golf. He has won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, dating back to 1955...
’s Ryder Cup
Ryder Cup
The Ryder Cup is a biennial golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States. The competition is jointly administered by the PGA of America and the PGA European Tour, and is contested every two years, the venue alternating between courses in the United States and Europe...
golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
bag, Meadowlark Lemon
Meadowlark Lemon
Meadow "Meadowlark" Lemon is an American basketball player, actor, and minister. For 22 years, Lemon was known as the "Clown Prince" of the touring Harlem Globetrotters basketball team. He played in more than 16,000 games for the Globetrotters and is a 2003 inductee of the Naismith Memorial...
’s Harlem Globetrotters
Harlem Globetrotters
The Harlem Globetrotters are an exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism, theater and comedy. The executive offices for the team are currently in downtown Phoenix, Arizona; the team is owned by Shamrock Holdings, which oversees the various investments of the Roy E. Disney family.Over...
basketball uniform, North Carolina State University coach Kay Yow
Kay Yow
Sandra Kay Yow was an American basketball coach. She was the head coach of the NC State Wolfpack women's basketball team from 1975 to 2009. A member of the Naismith Hall of Fame, she had more than 700 career wins. She also coached the U.S...
’s Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
team basketball, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
star Charlie "Choo Choo" Justice’s jersey.
Basketball great and Wilmington, North Carolina native Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
was conspicuously missing from the hall for many years, because even though he had been selected for induction, he had been "unable" to attend the required induction banquet. In 2010, it was announced that Jordan would be formally inducted to the hall. Uniquely, his ceremony was held at halftime of a Charlotte Bobcats
Charlotte Bobcats
The Charlotte Bobcats is a professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association. The Bobcats were established in 2004 as an expansion team, two seasons after Charlotte's previous NBA...
game (Jordan owns the NBA team).
Other museums in the Division of State History Museums
- Museum of the AlbemarleMuseum of the AlbemarleThe Museum of the Albemarle is located in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. It serves as the northeastern regional branch of the North Carolina Museum of History...
, Elizabeth CityElizabeth City, North CarolinaElizabeth City is a city in Pasquotank County and Camden County in the State of North Carolina. With a population of 18,683 at the 2010 census, Elizabeth City is the county seat of Pasquotank County.... - Museum of the Cape Fear Historical ComplexMuseum of the Cape Fear Historical ComplexThe Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex is a museum about the history and cultural heritage of southern North Carolina. Opened in 1988 and located in Fayetteville, the museum is a regional branch of the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh...
, FayettevilleFayetteville, North CarolinaFayetteville is a city located in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. It is the county seat of Cumberland County, and is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a U.S. Army post located northwest of the city.... - Mountain Gateway Museum and Heritage CenterMountain Gateway Museum and Heritage CenterThe Mountain Gateway Museum and Heritage Center focuses on Southern Appalachian heritage, and the culture and history of western North Carolina. The museum is located in Old Fort, North Carolina, and is part of the Division of State History Museums, Office of Archives and History, an agency of the...
, Old Fort, North CarolinaOld Fort, North CarolinaOld Fort is a town in McDowell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 959 at the 2008 estimated census. The town is well known for its weekly Mountain Music concerts, attracting large audiences and many musicians from the surrounding areas to Old Fort's downtown each Friday at... - North Carolina Maritime MuseumNorth Carolina Maritime MuseumThe North Carolina Maritime Museum is a divisional museum of the North Carolina Museum of History. There are several branches of the Maritime Museum located in Beaufort, Southport and Roanoke Island.-North Carolina Maritime Museum at Beaufort:...
, locations in BeaufortBeaufort, North CarolinaBeaufort is a town in Carteret County, North Carolina, United States. Established in 1709, it is the third-oldest town in North Carolina.The population was 4,189 at the 2008 census and it is the county seat of Carteret County...
and SouthportSouthport, North CarolinaSouthport is a city in Brunswick County, North Carolina, near the mouth of the Cape Fear River. It is part of the Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area... - Graveyard of the Atlantic MuseumGraveyard of the Atlantic MuseumThe Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum is a maritime museum that focuses on the maritime history and shipwrecks of the Outer Banks of North Carolina...
, HatterasHatteras, North CarolinaHatteras is an unincorporated community in Dare County, North Carolina, United States, on the Outer Banks island of Hatteras. North Carolina Highway 12 passes through the community linking it to Frisco and Ocracoke . It is south of the famous Cape Hatteras and the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in Buxton...
External links
- Official website
- N.C. Department of Cultural Resources official website
- Capital Area Visitor Services