Charlotte Museum of History facts for kids
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| Established | July 13, 1972 |
|---|---|
| Location | 3500 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, North Carolina, United States |
| Type | History museum |
The Charlotte Museum of History is a cool place in Charlotte, North Carolina, where you can learn about the past. It started to protect a very old house called the 1774 Alexander Rock House. Now, the museum shares stories from all parts of Charlotte's history. You can find exhibits about music, soldiers from World War I, and much more!
Contents
About the Museum
How the Museum Started
In 1943, the owner of the 1774 Rock House, Mr. Eugene M. Cole, gave the house and its land to the Methodist Church. They planned to build a retirement community there. Later, in 1949, a group called the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) rented the house. They wanted to save it and bring it back to how it looked in the 1770s.
The DAR started giving tours of the house. In 1969, the Hezekiah Alexander Home Foundation was created. This group helped raise money for more repairs. They collected over $200,000 to keep the restoration going.
A New Home for History
In 1975, the Charlotte city council decided to put the historic home under the care of the Mint Museum. It was called the Mint Museum of History for a while. But in 1985, the Mint Museum moved its main operations.
Then, in 1986, the Mint Museum decided to let the city's parks and recreation department take over the history museum. This happened because some people felt the Mint Museum focused more on art than history. This change allowed the Mint Museum to focus on fine arts.
Growing Bigger
In 1990, the Hezekiah Alexander Home Foundation took charge of the house and museum again. The city asked them to raise $2 million. The foundation did even better, raising over $3 million!
By 1993, the museum moved its old papers and a huge collection of 5,000 historical items. They moved them into a new addition to their building. In 1996, the foundation started building an even bigger museum. This new building, which cost $7 million, opened on October 24, 1999. In 2002, the foundation officially changed its name to the Charlotte Museum of History, Inc.
Explore Historic Buildings
The Alexander Rock House
The museum is home to the 1774 Alexander Rock House. This house is just a short walk from the main museum building. You can take a tour inside the house to see what life was like long ago.
The Rock House was finished in 1774. It is the oldest building in Mecklenburg County! It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. The house is special because it was the home of Hezekiah Alexander. Many believe he signed the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence.
The Siloam School
The museum is also working to restore the Siloam School. This is a historic Rosenwald School. These schools were built for African American children in the early 1900s. The museum plans to move the school to its own grounds. The Siloam School was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.
