Chapel Hill Museum facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Chapel Hill Museum

Former museum facade
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Established	1996
Location	Virtual
Type	Local, historical, cultural
Visitors	20,000+ annually
Public transit access	Chapel Hill Transit

The Chapel Hill Museum was a special place in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It was a museum that showed the history and culture of the local area. The museum first opened its doors in 1996. It was started by people from the town's Bicentennial Committee.

For ten years, the Chapel Hill Museum was a popular spot. More than 20,000 people visited it every year. It also taught over 3,500 students each year through its education programs. Sadly, the museum closed on July 11, 2010.

The Museum's Story

The building where the museum was located has its own history. It was designed by an architect named Don Stewart. It first opened in 1968 as the Chapel Hill Public Library. The building had a modern look. It also used local materials like stone and had lots of plants around it.

After a new library was built, this building had different uses. It even housed the Chapel Hill Historical Society for a while. Eventually, it became the home of the Chapel Hill Museum.

Inside, the museum had two main areas for showing exhibits. There was also a gift shop where visitors could buy souvenirs. Offices for the director and volunteers were on the upper floor. Downstairs, there was a meeting room and storage for historical items.

The museum worked with many groups and people in the community. These partners included local schools, the Chapel Hill Fire Department, and parts of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. They all helped the museum share local history and culture.

What Was Inside: The Museum's Collection

Permanent Exhibits: Always There

The Chapel Hill Museum had several exhibits that were always on display. These exhibits told important stories about the town and its people.

Meet Me On Franklin Street: The Heart of Chapel Hill

Franklin Street is a busy place in Chapel Hill.

Franklin Street (Chapel Hill) is a very important street in Chapel Hill. It's where many traditions happen. People go there for food, shopping, parades, and celebrations. This exhibit showed what Franklin Street looked like in the 1940s. It also showed how it changed over time. Visitors could see photos and learn about its history.

Alexander Julian: A Local Fashion Star

The West Gallery, where some exhibits were displayed.

Alexander Julian grew up in Chapel Hill. He became a famous fashion designer. He won many awards for his designs. He was also one of the youngest people to join the Fashion Hall of Fame. This exhibit celebrated his amazing career.

Heroes of Yesterday, Heroes of Today: Chapel Hill Fire Department

This exhibit told the story of the Chapel Hill Fire Department. It started in 1902 with just a few volunteers. They worked hard to keep the community safe. The exhibit showed how the department grew and improved over the years. It also featured old photos and equipment.

Chapel Hill's 1914 Fire Truck: A Piece of History

The town's very first fire truck from 1914 was kept at the museum. It was a special piece of history. It showed how firefighting used to be done.

Carolina On My Mind: The James Taylor Story

James Taylor is a famous musician who grew up in Chapel Hill. This exhibit showed his life and music. It included his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame trophy. It also had his Grammy Award for the "Hourglass" album. Visitors could see photos from his early life and watch a video about him.

Farmer/James Pottery Collection: Art from North Carolina

This exhibit displayed beautiful pottery made by artists from North Carolina. It was part of a large collection of Southern art pottery. The pottery showed the artistic traditions of the region.

The Paul Green Legacy: A Local Playwright's Life

Paul Green was a very important person from North Carolina. He was a writer, a professor, and a playwright. He won a Pulitzer Prize for his plays. He also cared deeply about human rights. This exhibit showed his life, his work, and his lasting impact.

Past Exhibits: What Was Once On Display

The museum also had many temporary exhibits that changed over time. Here are a few examples:

• Lincoln High: A School's Story This exhibit told the story of Lincoln High School. It was the only all-Black high school in Chapel Hill before schools were desegregated. It showed the history of its students and teachers.
• Nature Illustrated: Art from North Carolina This exhibit featured artwork by local artists. Their art focused on the plants and animals found across North Carolina.
• The Life and Writing of Robert Ruark This exhibit explored the life of Robert Ruark. He was a journalist, author, and world traveler. He was known for his adventurous stories.

Education Programs: Learning at the Museum

The Chapel Hill Museum offered many free education programs. These programs were for students in Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools. They also helped home-schooled children and other schools in the area. More than 3,500 students learned from these programs each year.

Volunteers, many of whom were experienced teachers, created and ran these programs. In 2005, the education committee won an award for their amazing volunteer work. All the museum's programs met the state's learning requirements for schools.

Popular Programs

Fire Safety & Puppet Musical: Learning to Be Safe

The puppets used in the puppet show "Johnnie Joins the Fire Department," based on teaching fire safety rules to children of all ages.

This program taught kids about fire safety. It had three main parts:

• History and fire truck: Students learned about the Chapel Hill Fire Department's history. They also saw the town's old 1914 fire truck.
• Puppet musical: A fun puppet show called Johnnie Joins the Fire Department taught important fire safety rules. It encouraged families to make a home fire escape plan.
• Real firefighter: A firefighter would meet the students. They showed their gear and tools. This helped kids understand that firefighters are there to help, even if their gear looks a bit scary.

This program was very important for second-grade students. It taught them about fire safety and community helpers. In 2009, the puppet show was even made into a video. This helped even more people learn about fire safety.

North Carolina Pottery and History of Pottery: Art and Culture

This program was for eighth-grade students. It used pottery from the museum's collection. Students learned how pottery showed the culture and lives of North Carolinians over many years.

The Lost Colony: A Historical Play

This program was for fourth-grade history students. It was based on the play "The Lost Colony" by Paul Green. The play tells the story of early North Carolina history. Students even got to act out parts of the play in costumes!

Meet Me On Franklin Street: Local Heroes

This program taught third-grade students about their community's history. Students learned about important local leaders. They even acted out dramatic presentations about these historical figures.

Images for kids

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  The East Gallery

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  The Gift Shop