Chapel Hill Museum facts for kids
Former museum facade
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| Established | 1996 |
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| 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, where people could explore local history and culture. It was started in 1996 by community leaders who wanted to celebrate Chapel Hill's 200th birthday.
For ten years, the museum was a popular spot. It welcomed over 20,000 visitors each year. It also offered educational programs to more than 3,500 local students annually. The Chapel Hill Museum closed on July 11, 2010.
Contents
The Museum's Story
The building that housed the Chapel Hill Museum had its own history. It was designed by architect Don Stewart and opened in 1968. Back then, it was the Chapel Hill Public Library.
The building's design used local materials like stone and had lots of plants around it. This made it fit right in with Chapel Hill's style. After a new library was built, this building had different uses. Eventually, it became the home for the Chapel Hill Museum.
Inside, the museum had two main gallery areas upstairs. There was also a gift shop, offices, and a workroom. Downstairs, visitors could find a meeting room and storage areas for the museum's important historical items.
The museum worked with many groups and people in the community. These partnerships helped the museum offer great programs and exhibits. They teamed up with schools, local government, university departments, and many talented individuals.
Amazing Exhibits
The Chapel Hill Museum featured many interesting exhibits. Some were always on display, while others changed regularly.
Permanent Displays
These exhibits were always there for visitors to enjoy:
- Meet Me On Franklin Street
- This exhibit took you on a journey down Franklin Street (Chapel Hill). It's the main street in Chapel Hill, famous for its shops, restaurants, and celebrations. You could see what Franklin Street looked like in the 1940s and how it changed over time.
- Alexander Julian
- Learn about Alexander Julian, a famous fashion designer from Chapel Hill. He won many awards and was one of the youngest people to join the Fashion Hall of Fame.
- Heroes of Yesterday, Heroes of Today: The History of the Chapel Hill Fire Department
- This exhibit told the story of the Chapel Hill Fire Department. It showed how firefighters protected the community from 1902 onwards. You could see how the department grew and improved over the years.
- Chapel Hill's 1914 Fire Truck
- The town's very first fire truck from 1914 was on display at the museum. It was a cool piece of history!
- Carolina On My Mind: The James Taylor Story
- This exhibit celebrated the life and music of James Taylor, a famous singer from Chapel Hill. It included his actual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame trophy and a Grammy Award. You could also see photos from his early life in Chapel Hill.
- Farmer/James Pottery Collection
- The museum displayed a collection of beautiful pottery made by artists from North Carolina and the Southern United States. This collection had 280 pieces, showing different styles of art pottery.
- The Paul Green Legacy
- Discover the life and work of Paul Green, a famous writer from North Carolina. He was a playwright, professor, and even won a Pulitzer Prize. He also created outdoor historical plays.
Special Rotating Shows
The museum often had new, temporary exhibits. These shows covered a wide range of topics, keeping things fresh for visitors. You could find out about the current rotating exhibit on the museum's website.
Past Exhibitions
Here are a few examples of interesting past exhibits:
- Town Treasures (2008)
- This exhibit honored people who had given many years of amazing service to the Chapel Hill community.
- Hard Circus Road: The Odyssey of the North Carolina Symphony
- This show told the story of the North Carolina Symphony. It showed how the symphony grew from small beginnings to become a major musical group.
- Of Field, Forest and Fancy: Artwork by the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators (2007)
- This exhibit featured beautiful artwork focusing on nature in North Carolina. Many artists showed their drawings and paintings of local plants and animals.
- Lincoln High
- This exhibit shared the story of Lincoln High School. It was the only all-Black high school in Chapel Hill before schools became desegregated. It showed the school's history through photos and stories.
- 37th Frame: The Best of Carolina Photojournalism
- This annual show displayed amazing photos taken by photojournalism students from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The pictures captured scenes from both local and international events.
- The Life and Writing of Robert Ruark (2006)
- This exhibit explored the life of Robert Ruark, a journalist and author who traveled the world. He was known for his adventurous stories and writings.
- The Transformation of Memorial Hall (2005)
- This exhibit featured photographs showing three years of renovations to Memorial Hall Auditorium. It's a historic building on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Learning Programs
The Chapel Hill Museum had special education programs for students. These programs started in 1999 and were free for schools in Chapel Hill-Carrboro and surrounding counties. Over 3,500 students learned from these programs every year.
Volunteers, many of whom were professional educators, created and ran these programs. In 2005, the Education Committee won an award for their hard work. All the museum's programs met state learning requirements for teachers.
Fire Safety Fun
This popular program taught kids about fire safety. It had three main parts:
- History and Fire Truck: Students learned about the history of the Chapel Hill Fire Department. They saw the museum's 1914 fire truck and learned how firefighting has changed.
- Puppet Musical: A fun puppet show called Johnnie Joins the Fire Department taught important fire safety rules. It encouraged families to make and practice a home fire escape plan.
- Real Firefighter: A real firefighter would meet the students. They showed their gear and explained why kids should never hide during a fire. This program was part of the local school curriculum for second graders. In 2009, the puppet show was even made into a video.
North Carolina Pottery and History of Pottery
This program was designed for eighth graders. It used pieces from the museum's pottery collection. Students learned about North Carolina's culture and history through the art of pottery.
The Lost Colony Play
This history program for fourth graders was based on the work of Paul Green. It told the story of early North Carolina history and the famous outdoor play, The Lost Colony (play). At the end, students even performed a short version of the play in costumes!
Meet Me On Franklin Street
In this program, students acted out presentations about important community leaders. This helped third graders learn about the history of their own town.
Photo Galleries
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The Front Entrance
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The West Gallery
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The East Gallery
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The Gift Shop
