City of Raleigh Museum’s mission is to “Preserve Raleigh’s Past for the Future.” It debuted its first exhibit in 1993, and operated as a nonprofit until 2012, when the City of Raleigh assumed operational control. It’s supported by the nonprofit Friends of the COR Museum.
It’s at 220 Fayetteville Street, in the 1874 Briggs Building in historic downtown Raleigh.
Admission is free, although a $5 donation is suggested and can be placed in the donation box in the gift shop.
Hours:
- Tuesday-Saturday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Sunday: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- Monday: Closed
- First Friday of month: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Learn about more free museums to visit in the Triangle (and free museum days.)
Read on to see upcoming events at City of Raleigh Museum.
Current Exhibits at City of Raleigh Museum
- The Story of Barbecue in N.C.
- From Plantation to Park: The Story of Dix Hill
- “You Really Stuck It To Me”: The Political Cartoons of Dwane Powell
- The People’s Politics: Local Democracy in Raleigh
- Let Us March On: Raleigh’s Journey Toward Civil Rights
- R3: Raleigh Then, Raleigh Now, Raleigh Next
- Raleigh’s City Flag: Lost and Found
Upcoming events at City of Raleigh Museum
You can find City of Raleigh Museum’s upcoming events on their website or Facebook page.
Here is one that’s coming up:
African American History Symposium
Saturday, February 8th, 2020
1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Free
This is the fourth annual African American History Symposium at the City of Raleigh Museum. This event will explore the transformation from slavery to freedom through two lectures.
Collector Craig James will discuss images from his personal collection of early African American photographs. James’ library of rare photos capture the transformation from slavery to freedom and the emergence of a new black identity. A native North Carolinian, James is descended from slaves from the Spring Hill Plantation in Pender County. Among his collection are images of his family, “Nursey” James, who was born into slavery and lived into the 20th century.
Also speaking will be City of Raleigh Museum director, Ernest Dollar, who will share new research on the enslaved community of Dix Park and the efforts to locate living descendants. During research on the museum’s latest exhibit, From Plantation to Park exhibit, Dollar discovered John Hunter, born in the 1760s, and traced eight generations of his family to New York. In November 2019, John’s family traveled back to Raleigh to learn about their historical roots and the future of the new park.
