Please note that on January 11, the Capitol won't be open because of the inauguration. The North Carolina State Capitol, at One East Edenton Street, Raleigh, North Carolina, is open for visits. It will be open for free guided and self-guided tours. Visitors are welcome to take a self-guided tour any time between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on … [Read more...] about North Carolina State Capitol: free guided tours on Saturdays
Museums and attractions
Homeschool History Day at Mordecai Historic Park Sep. 5
Mordecai Historic Park, 1 Mimosa Street, Raleigh, North Carolina, is hosting Homeschool History Day on Friday, September 5, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Explore historic trades and life skills, including demonstrations by a blacksmith, leatherworker, and woodworker. Make historic crafts, play townball, take a special kids' tour of the Mordecai house. This is a free event. Registration … [Read more...] about Homeschool History Day at Mordecai Historic Park Sep. 5
1st Anniversary Celebration at Pauli Murray Center Sept. 6
Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice, at 906 Carroll Street, Durham, North Carolina, is devoted to the legacy and work of Pauli Murray. Set in Murray's childhood home, it opened in 2024. Learn about Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray, who was a civil rights activist, lawyer, educator, and more. 1st Anniversary Celebration On Saturday, September 6, 2025, celebrate the first anniversary … [Read more...] about 1st Anniversary Celebration at Pauli Murray Center Sept. 6
Free open house at Duke Lemur Center Museum of Natural History Aug. 30
The Duke Lemur Center Museum of Natural History, at 1013 Broad Street, Durham, North Carolina, houses a research collection that helps us to understand our evolutionary journey as primates. The collection includes 55 million year-old, lemur-like primate fossils from Wyoming; 37 to 28 million year-old anthropoid fossils from Egypt; 19 to 7 million year-old ape fossils from Egypt and India; 13 … [Read more...] about Free open house at Duke Lemur Center Museum of Natural History Aug. 30
Free Friday at Mordecai Historic Park August 29
Mordecai Historic Park, at 1 Mimosa Street, Raleigh, includes the Mordecai House, which is the oldest house in Raleigh in its original location. It was built in 1785. It became a public park in 1972. The park also includes: The park encompasses 3.2 acres in the heart of downtown Raleigh. Tours cost $7 for adults, $3 for seniors, $4 for youth. Kids 6 and under are free. Upcoming … [Read more...] about Free Friday at Mordecai Historic Park August 29
Museum of Durham History: Opening Event for “Booker T. Spicely: Citizen, Soldier, Martyr, Hero” Aug. 22, and more…
Museum of Durham History, at 500 W. Main Street between Downtown Durham and Brightleaf Square, is free to visit. It's open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. It's open late for Durham Third Friday. Events with Museum of Durham History Opening Event: “Booker T. Spicely: Citizen, Soldier, Martyr, Hero”Friday, August 22, 20256 to 8 p.m.Free On Friday, … [Read more...] about Museum of Durham History: Opening Event for “Booker T. Spicely: Citizen, Soldier, Martyr, Hero” Aug. 22, and more…
Marbles’ Art Bash rescheduled to Aug. 14 — free arts activities for kids
Marbles' Art Bash is a free event for kids in the outdoor Marbles Playway on Thursday, August 14, 2025, from 4 to 7 p.m. This is a rescheduled date, due to the weather forecast on August 7. Imagine, create and express yourself at Marbles Big Art Bash! Collaborate with local artists and on one-of-a-kind creations and explore hands-on art installations in the Marbles Playway. All outdoor … [Read more...] about Marbles’ Art Bash rescheduled to Aug. 14 — free arts activities for kids
Second Sunday Open Studio at Nasher Museum Aug. 10
Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, 2001 Campus Drive, Durham, is free for everyone every day that it's open. Reservations are not required. You might be interested in our list of museums in the Triangle with free admission (all the time or certain days.) Upcoming Events at Nasher Museum of Art Find a full list of events at Nasher Museum of Art at nasher.duke.edu/events/. … [Read more...] about Second Sunday Open Studio at Nasher Museum Aug. 10
Free days at museums in the Triangle
The Triangle area of North Carolina is rich with museums but you don't need riches to visit them because many are free. And some that aren't free offer free days. Raleigh, especially, as the state capital, has many free museum offerings, but you'll find some in Durham and Chapel Hill as well. Keep in mind that all the free museums welcome donations. Raleigh North Carolina Museum of … [Read more...] about Free days at museums in the Triangle
Visit Raleigh Fire Museum 2nd Saturday of month (for free)
Raleigh Fire Museum, 105 Keeter Center Drive in Raleigh, is open just one day a month to the public, although tours can be scheduled other times. If you'd like to just walk in, though, come by the second Saturday of the month, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. It's free to visit. See photos and artifacts that tell the story of the history of firefighting. This is a small museum but it has hundreds … [Read more...] about Visit Raleigh Fire Museum 2nd Saturday of month (for free)
