North Carolina Museum of History facts for kids
 |
|
 |
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Established | 5 December 1902 (as "Hall of History") |
|---|---|
| Location | Raleigh, NC |
| Type | history museum |
| Visitors | 579,236 (2017) |
The North Carolina Museum of History is a cool history museum located right in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. It's connected with the famous Smithsonian Affiliations program, which means it's part of a big family of museums! This museum is also part of the state's official history museums division.
Contents
Discovering North Carolina's Past
The North Carolina Museum of History helps everyone learn about the exciting history of North Carolina. It does this by collecting old items and sharing the stories behind them. It's a great place to see how people lived long ago and how the state has changed over time.
How the Museum Started
The museum's story began with a man named Frederick Augustus Olds. He's often called the "father" of the museum. In the late 1800s, he started gathering historical items from all over North Carolina. He traveled to every single county, collecting not just old things but also the interesting stories that went with them. This idea of using stories to explain history is still a big part of the museum today!
On December 5, 1902, Olds combined his huge collection with items already on display at the State Museum. This new collection was called the "Hall of History" and was opened for everyone to see. It had all sorts of cool things, like a shoe buckle that belonged to James Iredell and even a death mask of a Confederate General. To honor Frederick Olds, you can see a metal statue of him at the entrance of the museum today. He's joined by statues of a craftsman named Thomas Day and a Sauratown woman.
Finding a Permanent Home
Over the years, the museum's collection grew bigger and bigger! In 1914, the North Carolina Historical Commission took over the Hall of History. They moved the collection to a new building, but it quickly needed even more space. So, in 1939, it moved again to the Education Building, which had a special area just for the artifacts and exhibits.
By July 1, 1965, the collection had grown so much that the "Hall of History" was officially renamed the North Carolina Museum of History. It moved one more time in 1968. Finally, on June 16, 1988, construction began on a brand-new building just for the museum! This special home was finished in 1994 and cost over $29 million. The new building has lots of space for research, classrooms, an auditorium, and about 55,000 square feet for exhibits across four floors.
Tar Heel Junior Historian Association
One of the coolest programs at the North Carolina Museum of History is the Tar Heel Junior Historian Association (THJHA). This program helps students in North Carolina explore local and state history in a fun, hands-on way!
Learning and Sharing History
THJHA encourages young historians to share what they learn. They often do this through special projects. Many of these projects are entered into contests and shown off at the THJHA Annual Convention in Raleigh. The best projects even get to be part of the association's gallery, called History in Every Direction.
The THJHA started in 1953 and is a network of free clubs all over the state. Students in grades 4 through 12 can join, with at least one adult helper. Clubs can be sponsored by schools or other groups like museums and scouting programs. The museum staff provides support and resources, including a student magazine called Tar Heel Junior Historian.
North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame
The North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame is located on the third floor of the North Carolina Museum of History. It's a special exhibit that covers about 4,000 square feet!
Celebrating Sports Heroes
The Hall of Fame started in February 1963. It celebrates amazing athletes and their achievements in sports. These are people who have brought great recognition to themselves and to the state of North Carolina. The Hall inducted its first five members in December 1963. By 2010, it had 274 members!
Since the beginning, the athletes who are chosen for the Hall of Fame have given special items from their sports careers to the collection. These items were first displayed in Charlotte. But in 1981, they moved to the North Carolina Museum of History, where a special gallery was planned for them.
See Famous Sports Items
In the gallery, you can see awesome mementos like:
- Richard Petty's race car
- Dale Earnhardt's fire suit
- North Carolina State University basketball coach Jim Valvano's warm-up suit
- Arnold Palmer's golf bag
- Meadowlark Lemon's Harlem Globetrotters basketball uniform
- North Carolina State University coach Kay Yow's Olympic team basketball
- Carolina Hurricanes captain Rod Brind'Amour's game-worn jersey from the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill football star Charlie "Choo Choo" Justice's jersey
For many years, basketball legend Michael Jordan, who is from Wilmington, North Carolina, was not in the Hall. This was because he couldn't attend the required induction ceremony. But in 2010, it was announced that Jordan would finally be inducted! His special ceremony happened during halftime of a Charlotte Bobcats game, a team he owned.
Supporting the Museum
The North Carolina Museum of History has two main groups that help it run and grow: the Associates and the Foundation.
North Carolina Museum of History Associates
The North Carolina Museum of History Associates is a group of members who help the museum every day. They provide money for things like buying new items, making publications, and promoting the museum. As government funding has decreased, the support from these members has become super important. Their help allows the museum to keep offering free programs!
Besides the main museum in Raleigh, the Associates also help support other history museums around the state. These include:
- Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras
- Museum of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City
- Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex in Fayetteville
- Mountain Gateway Museum and Heritage Center in Old Fort
- North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort and Southport
The Associates also host "Museum Days" events in different places to let more people know about the museum and its work.
North Carolina Museum of History Foundation
The North Carolina Museum of History Foundation is a group that raises money for the Museum of History and other state history museums. Their goal is to help preserve and share the history and culture of North Carolina.
The Foundation mainly collects and gives money for:
- New exhibits
- Educational programs
- Buying new historical items
- Taking care of old objects
They also help with building improvements and create a special fund for future generations. The Foundation is a charity, so contributions to it can be tax deductible.
Gallery
-
Civil war-era cannon in front of the museum
-
Example of an exhibit: Recreation of a 1920s drugstore
-
Model of a 1902 Wright Glider in the museum's entrance
