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Free Museums In Raleigh Nc

Discover A Wonderland For Lifelong Learners

Raleigh, North Carolina: World Class Museums & The Beautiful State Capitol (Touring America)

Theres a pretty good reason why Raleigh, N.C., has earned the nickname the Smithsonian of the South.

Only here can you admire the Southeasts largest collection of Rodin sculptures in a beautiful space filled with natural light at the North Carolina Museum of Art. Wind your way through North Carolinas piney woods in the engineers seat of a vintage diesel locomotive at the North Carolina Railway Museum & New Hope Valley Railway. Gaze up in wonder at one of the most impressive whale skeleton collections in the nation at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, then head right across the street to the North Carolina Museum of History. Or, step aboard a thrilling pirate ship with the kids to explore the mysteries of our vast oceans at .

Led by local, creative innovators, the many museums and exhibits here in the Raleigh area offer visitors these exciting cultural experiences and much, much more. And, a limited budget shouldnt keep you from taking it all in, because every major museum in Raleigh has free admission. Who doesnt love free?!

Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve

This 140-acre park in Cary offers three miles of mulch-covered walking and hiking trails that lead to a series of small overlooks.

Nice spot for leisurely walks, summer shade, fall foliage, families, dogs on short leashes, small crowds theres a great little nature center museum, too.

Read our guide to the Hemlock Bluffs Trail in Cary

  • Address: 2616 Kildaire Farm Rd., Cary

Description Map Review & Recommendations

is a great hands-on, explore away, discover away, and play all day place for kids particularly the littler ones.

Mental stimulation, discovery, and creativity rolled into fun is what they are going for. Marbles is set up around themed exhibits or play areas where kids can have a blast.

They can run their own grocery store, farm, or post office all with kid sized props. They can play in the fire truck, train, ambulance, bus, and car.

Every kid wants to be a star here they can be with the costume and dress-up area complete with mirrors and stage where they can view themselves on a screen.

There is an arts and crafts center, for coloring, painting, or drawing and the list just goes on and on. There are two floors and dozens of interactive exhibits.

Most of the activities are geared for kids from birth to about seven. They even have a special place for non-walkers!

2008 Diamond Award for Best Place to Entertain Kids on a Rainy Day 2008 Parents Pick Award for Best Raleigh Museum for Little Kids Best Raleigh Day Camp for Little Kids

It is lots of fun and the kids love it.

Museum admission for adults and kids is $5.

Located in the museum complex is the Raleigh IMAX. You dont have to pay the museum entrance fee to go to the IMAX

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Also Check: Mummy Exhibit Museum Of Natural History

Outdoor Activities In Raleigh Nc

While several hours from both the North Carolina coast and the Appalachian Mountains, Raleigh has no shortage of outdoor activities. An abundance of expansive green spaces, an extensive greenway trail network, and several picturesque lakes make this a great city for enjoying the outdoors!

1. William B. Umstead State Park

There are incredible outdoor activities in Raleigh NC even within city boundaries. Heck, some of the best outdoor things to do in Raleigh are right downtown!

Umstead State Park has more than 20 miles of trails that weave through trickling streams, dense forests, and small lakes. Out of Raleighs parks, this one is best for disconnecting from urban life .

Make sure to set aside enough time to find the parks chainsaw art, which is exactly what it sounds like. Local artists carved intricate details into a downed 25-foot tree back in 2017 and miraculously, its been incredibly well-preserved.

Insider tip: the easiest route to the chainsaw art in Umstead State Park is from the Sycamore Parking lot near the Crabtree Creek entrance.

2. Dorothea Dix Park

For a more urban park with city skyline views, check out expansive Dorothea Dix! Home to many events and free things to do in Raleigh throughout the year including various races, concerts, hot air balloons, and food festivals, its the ideal setting to dive into the citys culture.

3. Neuse River Greenway Trail

4. Lake Raleigh

5. Raleigh City Farm

6. Treerunner Raleigh Adventure Park

Museum Of Natural Sciences

Raleigh, North Carolina: Tourism, Attractions and Things to Do

When you visit Raleigh with kids, this museum is not to be missed, its one of the top Raleigh attractions. In fact, its the Southeasts largest natural history museum and North Carolinas most visited museum with over 4 floors of exhibits including live animals, education and research centers, dinosaur and whale skeletons, and so much more.

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Get Our Free Visitors Guide

The Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance is a division of the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau

421 Fayetteville St., Ste. 1505

  • 421 Fayetteville St., Ste. 1505 Raleigh, NC 27601

Visitor Info Center: 500 Fayetteville St.,

  • Visitor Info Center: 500 Fayetteville St., Raleigh, NC 27601

421 Fayetteville St., Ste. 1505

  • 421 Fayetteville St., Ste. 1505 Raleigh, NC 27601

Visitor Info Center: 500 Fayetteville St.,

  • Visitor Info Center: 500 Fayetteville St., Raleigh, NC 27601

Why We Recommend This Free Activity

Several buildings scattered along a scenic nature route make up the African American Cultural Complex museum, each open for the public to explore.

You might be interested in a rare collection of antiques, documents, and exhibitions honoring the significant contributions made by African Americans.

Some of the best free stuff in Raleigh, NC, is the opportunity to explore their rich history, and this is the perfect example.

Also Check: Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center

Enjoy Outdoors At Pullen Park

Pullen Park is a 66 and a half acre park is just west of the Downtown area of Raleigh and right next to the University campus. The park was opened in 1887 and is home to an aquatic center, an amusement arcade, an arts center, a cafe and an outdoor theater. As well as all of these attractions, the park is also a great place to undertake in a variety of outdoor pursuits such as tennis or basketball or simply relax and have a picnic in one of the picnic areas.

Legends Of Harley Drag Racing Museum

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences 2020 | Raleigh, North Carolina

Raleigh is home to the only Harley-Davidson drag racing museum in the world, founded by world-famous drag racing champion Ray Price located on the second floor of one of the largest Harley dealerships in the U.S.

Open to the public during store hours, and located on the upper balcony above the main showroom.

Harley-Davidson showroom downstairs

Ray Price was an inducted member of four halls of fame including the AMA Hall of Fame, National Motorcycle Hall of Fame, Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame, North Carolina Drag Racing Hall of Fame, and the East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame and is noted as the Father of the Funnybike.

Ray Price museum upstairs

He was instrumental in creating the current style racing transmission. Price also designed the first successful wheelie bar for bikes, allowing more power to the rear wheel without flipping the bike over.

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Biltmore Estate Americas Largest Home Set Against The Picturesque Great Smoky Mountains In Asheville

Originally intended to be the home of George Vanderbilt and his family, Biltmore Estate has become one of the most toured attractions in the entire country. Built at the turn of the 20th century, Biltmore Estate is far more than just another North Carolina museum. Offering tours of the sprawling house and gardens, visitors can feel as though theyve been transported back to the grandeur of luxury living in the early 1900s.

Aside from touring the house itself, there are rotating exhibits that are displayed at Biltmore Estate throughout the year. Recent exhibits have included Van Gogh Alive, the Downton Abbey exhibit, and Monet & Friends. Visitors can explore the rest of the grounds, which includes a winery and the Antler Hill Village, which features restaurants and shops. Admission for the Biltmore Estate starts at $89 per person.

Sample The Country Club Lifestyle

The North Ridge Country Club is set on around 400 acres of lush, green, rolling hills and is a place for the wealthy to socialize and interact. If you are visiting the state, it makes a good place to visit to sample the good life or try your hand at the 18 hole golf course which is immaculately maintained. The Country Club also holds many charity and special events throughout the year which are open to non-members and worth visiting.

Read Also: Salt Lake Natural History Museum

The City Of Raleigh Museum

220 Fayetteville St., Raleigh, NC 27601

The best museum to learn about the history and people of Raleigh is COR Museum. Located in a historic former hardware store on Fayetteville Street, circa 1874, the City of Raleigh Museum is a delight. Their mission is to preserve Raleighs past for the future, and they do a great job. For over 200 years, the city of Raleigh had no historical conservatory, but that all changed in 1993 when space was obtained and the collection was finally gathered together. The museum museum has free admission, with permanent and rotating exhibits detailing the history and accomplishments of the people of Raleigh. Current exhibitions include Women of Change: The Legacy of the 19th Amendment and From Plantation to Park: The Story of Dix Hill-exploring Raleighs newest park. FYI, Dix Park is Raleighs newest park and worth exploring.

What Will Ignite Your Imagination

Fun Things to Do in Raleigh

In addition to leading in most quality-of-life rankings, Raleigh has been the focus of national attention for its abundance of high-caliber museums.

It continues to attract stunning exhibits from around the world. Much of that recognition is a direct result of passionate, community support for the arts and culture driven by local, creative minds.

Use this definitive guide to learn about Raleigh area museums with unforgettable experiences that will broaden your vision of the world.

North Carolina Museum of Art photo: Ted Richardson

The Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance is a division of the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau

421 Fayetteville St., Ste. 1505

  • 421 Fayetteville St., Ste. 1505 Raleigh, NC 27601

Visitor Info Center: 500 Fayetteville St.,

  • Visitor Info Center: 500 Fayetteville St., Raleigh, NC 27601

421 Fayetteville St., Ste. 1505

  • 421 Fayetteville St., Ste. 1505 Raleigh, NC 27601

Visitor Info Center: 500 Fayetteville St.,

  • Visitor Info Center: 500 Fayetteville St., Raleigh, NC 27601

Read Also: Cable Car Museum San Francisco

Lake Crabtree County Park

Image: Chris Richman/visitRaleigh.com

Located on a 215-acre site adjacent to a 520-acre lake, the park has more than 16 miles of trails.This area is great for hikers, kayakers and mountain bikers. the Lake Trail is a six-mile loop that meanders its way around the lake.

Other activities include picnicking, playgrounds, catch-and-release fishing, and seasonal boating.

  • Address: 1400 Aviation Parkway, Morrisville, NC

North Carolina Museum Of Natural Sciences

Our kids enjoy the dinosaur exhibits

When I think of the top Raleigh attractions, at top of mind is the excellent and free North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences located in the heart of downtown, just behind the state capitol building.

In fact, it is the Southeasts largest natural history museum and North Carolinas most visited museum, and one of the USAs most respected museums that explores the natural world.

So much learning to do here!

With two buildings spanning two city blocks joined by a pedestrian bridge, theres over 4 floors of exhibits in this Raleigh science museum featuring live animals, dinosaur and whale skeletons, research centers, walk-through dioramas, microbes and meteorites, human anatomy, planets, 3D movies and much more.

Without doubt, as one of the top museums in North Carolina this is one of the best things to do in downtown Raleigh for those that love natural history and sciences. Read our full review here.

Watch our video from this museum:

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Best Museums In Raleigh

Are you looking for fun museums to check out while in Raleigh? We’ve got you covered. Check out these ten best museums whether you live in the area or are moving to Raleigh!

One of the many reasons the City of Raleigh has become such a popular place for people to call home is the wide variety of things to do in the area. This article has compiled a list of the best downtown museums you want to check out! Known as the “Smithsonian of the South,” Raleigh has become the primary destination for the Arts and Sciences.

The quality and quantity of museums you can find right in the Capital City are endless, and many of them are free of charge, with donations accepted. If you want a day to immerse yourself in the authentic culture of Raleigh, you don’t have to look much further.

We hope this list includes something for everyone while we touch upon some of Raleigh’s fan-favorite museums for Art Lovers, Families, Children, and Historians.

So, whether you are moving to Raleigh or already live in Raleigh and need to decide which museums to check out first, we have compiled a list of the top ten Best Museums in Raleigh to check out on your next excursion!

Asheville Pinball Museum Eclectic And Interactive Tour Of Pinball Machines From Every Decade

NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF ART // Raleigh NC

In search of a less traditional North Carolina museum experience? Look no further than the Asheville Pinball Museum. Featuring 35 machines that span every decade and theme, visitors can play on each one of the historic pinball machines. They also offer a selection of 35 classic video game machines that can be played. Admission to the Asheville Pinball Museum costs $15 per person, and includes game play for the entire day.

Read Also: Parking Near Museum Of African American History

Explore 300000 Square Feet Of Science And Nature At The North Carolina Museum Of Natural Sciences

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences delights, entertains and educates nearly a million visitors per year with fascinating exhibits, both featured and permanent, about the natural world. The museums four floors are divided into two partsthe Nature Exploration Center and the Nature Research Center, an unmistakable architectural icon that opened to much fanfare a decade ago. Exhibits range from detailed dioramas to actual ecosystems with living animalsall of which can be explored through various self-guided tours.

The museum also hosts lectures, discussions, classes, live scientific programs and more. Visitors can enjoy family-friendly, educational movies inside the SECU Daily Planeta 70-foot diameter globe that doubles as a three-story theaterand immerse themselves in 3D movie showings in the WRAL 3D Theater located in the Nature Exploration Center.

Good eats nearby: Garland Centro Element Gastropub Taverna Agora

Best Free Museums In Raleigh/durham

With an extravagant collection of over 20,000 exhibits, the Gregg Museum of Art & Design is a cultural treasure trove. The magnanimous collection includes photography, architectural drawings, paintings, sculpture, textiles, ceramics, self-taught art, modern furniture, Native American and tribal art. There are six to eight exhibitions throughout the year, as well as workshops, film screenings and other programs.

One of the leading art museums of the American South, the North Carolina Museum of Art opened in 1956 as the first in the nation established with public state funds. More than 40 galleries here are home to a permanent collection of paintings, artifacts, and sculptures spanning the history of art from antiquity to the present day. Visitors can see paintings of the European Renaissance, Egyptian funerary artifacts, and contemporary international works of art, among others. An amphitheater hosts outdoor performances, and a museum park features more than a dozen major site-specific works surrounded by forests and fields.

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Ray Price Legends Of Harley Drag Racing Museum

1126 S. Saunders St., Raleigh, NC 27603

Tobacco Road Harley Davidson is the largest Harley Davidson store in the United States, and the coffee pot is a gathering place for bikers from everywhere! However, there is a little-known gem on the second floor of the showroom, The Ray Price Legends of Drag Racing Museum.

Ray was a standout in the drag racing community. He was inducted into the AMA Hall of Fame, National Motorcycle Hall of Fame, Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame, North Carolina Drag Racing Hall of Fame, and the East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame and is noted as the Father of the Funnybike. Ray was a master with transmissions and an inspiration to many of todays great riders. This little museum has free admission and is the only Harley drag racing museum in the world. Come take a look at racing memorabilia, custom bikes, and stories of several drag racing record-holders and icons.

Online Course: Art And Science Minicourses

North Carolina Museum of Art (Raleigh)

These minicourses focus on the connections between art and science. Participants explore topics through inquiry-based learning in an online community while gaining valuable classroom connections. Minicourses include Art and the Science of Looking, Art and Systems, Art and Physics, Art and Ecology, and Art and Nature. Each course is self-paced and should take around three hours to complete. All courses are available January 10 through March 7.

Courses are aligned with the K8 North Carolina Standard Course of Study for Visual Art and Science. They are open to educators of all disciplines and audiences. Each course can provide a certificate of participation for three hours, and up to 15 hours if all five courses are completed . See more info on course topics here.

Image: Vollis Simpson, Wind Machine, 2002, steel and other media, H. 30 × W. 30 × D. 15 ft., Commissioned by the North Carolina Museum of Art with funds from the William R. Roberson Jr. and Frances M. Roberson Endowed Fund for North Carolina Art

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