City of Raleigh Museum facts for kids

The City of Raleigh Museum is a fun place to explore the history of Raleigh, North Carolina. This museum is located in the old Briggs Hardware Building on Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh. It offers many exhibits and programs that you can enjoy for free!

Museum History

The idea for the City of Raleigh Museum started with a historian named Beth Crabtree. After she passed away, Mary Cates worked hard to make the dream come true. In 1990, Mary Cates began gathering people who wanted a museum focused on their city.

By 1991, many people supported the museum idea. Steps were taken to make it happen. The museum opened its first exhibit in 1993. This was in the Borden Building, located in Fred Fletcher Park.

In 1998, the museum moved to its current home. It found a spot on the first floor of the newly fixed-up Briggs Hardware Building. This building is right in the middle of downtown Raleigh. The museum has been there ever since, sharing Raleigh's story.

What the Museum Does

The museum used to be run by a non-profit group until July 2012. After that, the City of Raleigh took over running the museum. Even though the City is in charge, a non-profit group called the Friends of the COR Museum still helps out.

The museum has lots of different exhibits. It also offers educational programs. These programs teach about various parts of Raleigh's history. The museum also keeps a large collection of old photographs and items from Raleigh. This helps them serve the city by preserving its past.

Friends of the COR Museum

The Friends of the COR Museum is a group that helps the museum. They raise money and start other projects to support the museum's goals. This group is a 501c(3) organization. This means it's a non-profit group that helps the public. Before the City took over, this group actually served as the museum's main board.

Images for kids

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  The entrance to the City of Raleigh Museum.