The Triangle has an abundance of museums to visit and enjoy; from history and science or exhibits to activities, you will be able to find something for nice date or a day out with the kids. Here is a short list of the museums in the area
Located less than five miles from downtown Durham, the Museum of Life and Science is one of North Carolina’s top family destinations. Their 84-acre campus includes a two-story science center, one of the largest butterfly conservatories on the East Coast, and beautifully landscaped outdoor exhibits. Interactive experiences include Dinosaur Trail, Ellerbe Creek Railway, Hideaway Woods, Into the Mist, Earth Moves, and Aerospace, which features one of the largest collections of Apollo-era NASA artifacts in the state. The Museum is also an AZA-accredited zoo, home to rescued black bears, lemurs, endangered red wolves, and more than 60 species of live animals.
433 W Murray Ave, Durham, NC 27704
The Division of State History Museums collects and preserves artifacts and other historical materials relating to the history and heritage of North Carolina in a local, regional, national and international context to assist people in understanding how the past influences the present.
5 E Edenton St, Raleigh, NC 27601
Located in the heart of downtown Raleigh, Marbles serves a diverse population of families, school groups and community organizations with dozens of themed exhibits, summer camps, IMAX documentary and feature movies and special events year-round.
201 E Hargett St, Raleigh, NC 27601
One of the leading art museums in the American South, the North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA) recently completed a major, three-year expansion that places it in the front ranks of museums nationwide. The NCMA offers a permanent collection spanning more than 5,000 years, a variety of celebrated exhibitions and public programs, an amphitheater for outdoor performances, and the nation’s largest museum park—164 acres of trails and parkland containing major works of art.
2110 Blue Ridge Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607
The state’s museum devoted to science and nature, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in central Raleigh is the largest institution of its kind in the Southeastern United States and, with over a million visitors a year, the state’s most visited museum. Its 300,000 square-foot downtown campus is augmented by Prairie Ridge Ecostation and satellite facilities in Whiteville, Greenville and Contentnea Creek. Together, they provide a variety of curriculum-focused classes onsite, offsite, outdoors and online for pre-kindergarten through graduate students across the state.
11 W Jones St, Raleigh, NC 27601
The Gregg Museum of Art & Design at NC State University sparks creativity and encourages exploration through engaging exhibitions, relevant programming, and thought-provoking educational experiences. Focusing on outstanding examples of art, craft, and design, the museum utilizes cross disciplinary collaborations and its extensive collections to foster critical thinking and expand worldviews. The Gregg serves its diverse campus community and the greater Triangle region in a welcoming, accessible, and inclusive environment.
1903 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC 27607
For more than 200 years, North Carolina’s capital city had no repository for its historical artifacts, no place to preserve its past, and no institution to educate its citizens and visitors. That all changed in 1993 when the COR Museum (formerly Raleigh City Museum) debuted its first exhibit. As part of its mission to “Preserve Raleigh’s Past for the Future,” the museum collects and cares for artifacts, curates exhibits, and provides educational programming that all highlight and interpret Raleigh’s history and heritage.
220 Fayetteville St, Raleigh, NC 27601
The Raleigh Fire Department has a rich history. Since 1912, the year that the career fire department was formed, the city has been served by 16 fire chiefs and over 1,500 uniformed and civilian fire department members. Many people have documented the department’s history, from WPA writers in 1936 to the scrapbooks of the Ladies Auxiliary beginning in 1951. Histories of the Raleigh Fire Department have been written by Elizabeth Davis Reid (1970), Capt. B.T. Fowler (1984), and Capt. Peter Brock (2002).
105 Keeter Center Dr, Raleigh, NC 27601
The Museum of Durham History is a 21st-century museum that uses stories about people, places and things to foster curiosity, encourage further inquiry, and promote an understanding of diverse perspectives about the Durham community and its history. The museum is putting its mission into action through a personal approach to history that sets this museum apart: an innovative, community model that engages with history through stories—the personal memories, experiences and family lore of our shared heritage.
Yates Mill Museum
4620 Lake Wheeler Rd, Raleigh, NC 27603
The African American Heritage Preservation Cultural Complex (AACC) originated in 1984,as a hobby, by Dr. and Mrs. E.B. Palmer, then opened in 1989 as the Black Heritage Park. The Palmers’ and George Barner incorporated AACC in 1994. The Palmers’ entered into a Lease Agreement in 1991 for $1.00 per year. The park occupies approximately 3 acres of the wooded land to the rear of the Palmer House at 119 Sunnybrook Road. The AACC was chartered and granted 501 (c)(3) tax status in October 1994. The AACC currently has 3Exhibit Houses located along a natural trail beside a creek, a Mini-Amphitheater, a Bird Sanctuary, Nature Preserve and a Picnic Area and Botanical Gardens. There is no admission fee, however, visitors and friends have donated small sums of money. Friends and organizations have also donated labor and artifacts.
119 Sunnybrook Rd, Raleigh, NC 27610