North Carolina Museums

With the help of the North Carolina Museums Council, North Carolina has been engaged in stimulating the public to support and take interest in the importance of these museums to inculcate new knowledge and experiences to everyone else's minds. Moreover, the council has been the state's representative for its museum in a national basis, as well as a provider of members for gathering information and tactics for the improvement of these institutions and for attracting people to be involved, as well as acquire possible career opportunities, especially for those who have keen interest in museology. It’s interesting to note that each among the 100 counties of North Carolina is at least one museum can be located and despite the author’s target to discuss each museum, the space proves to be limiting, thus a preference to these museums are prevailed although it’s unarguable that all museums are still worth visiting.

Located in Buncombe County is Asheville Art Museum that features an outstanding collection of American Art and has been hailed as a leading art institution in the Western and Southeast North Carolina. It was introduced in the public in 1948 and has been committed throughout in showcasing art in this contemporary age. It survived through the years with the support from individuals, foundations, federal agencies, business entities and other sponsors. Aside from their exhibits, the museum also offers a wide range of services including workshops, lectures, concerts, tours and film screenings. The museum is open. The museum admits people of all ages, with children under four years of age allowed to enter free o charge, while students and senior citizens need to pay $5 while adults, %6. It is open daily except Mondays, but schedule varies.

Situated in the county of Durham is the North Carolina Museum of Life and Science which has garnered a number of awards since its inception in 1946, including the Critics Award for Best Museum (2001), Top Field Trip Venue (2007) and City's Best Museum by AOL City Guide (2004). It is the first trail-side nature center of Durham and has been true to its mission to create an interesting place of learning science and relating to themselves and to the community where they are living in. Before coining its current name, the museum was more known as the "Children' Museum" when it was first introduced to the public until the name change in the 1973 due to the expansion of its scope. Among its pool of daily interesting events are Butterfly releases, Feeding Frenzies, Snake and Alligator Feedings, Ladybug Releases and more.

The 17,000 square feet Greensboro Historical Museum located in the county of Guilford serves to reflect the rich history of the area, featuring exciting treats such as vintage films at the Crystal Theater and learn more about interesting places and people associated with them such as the Richard Fariss Drugstore, fictionist O. Henry, First Lady Dolley Madison and more. One may choose to stop over at the Museum Gift Shop and purchase the perfect souvenir.

Other notable museums in the state are the following: Charlotte Trolley Museum at Mecklenburg, Battleship North Carolina at New Hanover, Chapel Hill Preservation Society at Orange and North Carolina Pottery Center at Randolph.