Museums are the cultural hubs of Raleigh — we're known as the Smithsonian of the South, and for good reason. Whether you’re looking to learn something new about the City of Oaks or plotting a way to spend your Saturday afternoon, here are 18 museums to visit in our city.

History

City of Raleigh Museum, 220 Fayetteville St. | Free | The City of Raleigh Museum preserves the capital city's unique history. Exhibits include a general history of Raleigh and an overview of the local political scene, as well as ever-changing galleries.

Historic Oak View County Park, 4028 Carya Dr. | Free | Interact with farm animals and learn about the historical significance of this 19th-century farmstead, which transitioned from a plantation to sharecropper and tenant farming.

Historic Yates Mill County Park, 4620 Lake Wheeler Rd. | Free | After visiting the 200-year-old water-powered mill, hike around the 174 acres of this historic site and native wildlife refuge.

Joel Lane Museum House, 160 S. Saint Mary's St. | Free | Learn about the man considered to be the father of Raleigh and Wake County in his 18th-century home. Bonus: Learn more about Raleigh's oldest residence.

Mordecai Historic House, 1 Mimosa St. | Free | Built in 1785, visit Raleigh's oldest house still on its original foundation — it's filled with more than 5,000 artifacts. Take a tour of the grounds on foot or travel throughout the City of Oaks on a historic trolley tour starting from the house.

*Fly* through the Tar Heel state's history at the NC Museum of History. | Photo by RALtoday

NC Museum of History, 5 E. Edenton St. | Free | The NC Museum of History is closed for renovations until at least 2026. From the pirate Blackbeard visiting NC to the flight of the Wright Flyer and Michael Jordan's rise to fame in the '90s, there is something for everyone to explore.

Pope House Museum, 511 S. Wilmington St. | Free | This home belonged to Dr. Manassa Thomas Pope, the only African American person to run for mayor of a Southern capital, Raleigh, during the Jim Crow era. This 20th-century home and its 3,000 artifacts have been preserved for visitors and is blocks away from the NC State Capitol.

This bell is the oldest artifact of the Raleigh Fire Department and was installed at City Hall in 1870. | Photo by RALtoday

Raleigh Fire Museum, 105 Keeter Center Dr. | Free | Open every second Saturday, this museum preserves the firefighting history of the City of Oaks. Plus, visit antique fire engines housed across the city, owned by the museum and the City of Raleigh Fire Department.

Randleigh Dairy Heritage Museum, 301 Dairy Ln. | $15 | See how the ice cream gets made. This unique experience gets guests up close and personal with NC State's jersey cows responsible for Howling Cow ice cream and other dairy products.

The Pope House Museum | Photo by Raleigh Parks

Arts

CAM is a unique contemporary art museum with plenty to walk to after. | Photo by CAM Raleigh

CAM Raleigh, 409 W. Martin St. | Free | As of June 2025, CAM Raleigh has temporarily paused exhibitions and in-house programming. This contemporary art museum in downtown's warehouse district has an ever-changing gallery of thought-provoking art.

Gregg Museum of Art & Design, 1903 Hillsborough St. | Free | This art museum on NC State's campus boasts 35,000 pieces in its permanent collection. Also, don't miss the largest collection of outsider art in NC.

NC Museum of Art, 2110 Blue Ridge Rd. | Free | With a collection spanning 5,000 years of history, this extensive museum has it all. Plus, guests can attend special events like film screenings and concerts and visit ticketed traveling exhibitions. And did you know? This was the first major museum collection in the country to be established with state funding.

Raleigh Lace Museum, 133 Fayetteville St. | $5+ | This museum's stunning collection spans 400 years of intricate lace and offers a fascinating glance at fashion history. Plus, add on a one- or two-hour tour with a knowledgeable docent.

Science

The museum's cutting-edge lab was built specifically to study these dueling dinos. | Photo by RALtoday

Museum of Life and Science, 433 W. Murray Ave., Durham | $18-$23 | Visit wild lemurs, wolves, farm animals, and one of the largest butterfly conservatories on the East Coast. Also, learn about health, physics, and math through interactive museum elements.

NC Museum of Natural Sciences, 11 W. Jones St. | Free | This is the largest science museum in the Southeast and oldest established museum in NC. Check out larger-than-life dinosaur fossils and learn about everything the Earth has to offer. Pro tip: Be sure to try the Dueling Dinosaurs exhibit, a a live paleontology project.

The NC Museum of Natural Sciences has lots to offer, including experiment demonstrations. | Photo by Karen Swain/NCMNS

Kids

Marbles Kids Museum, 201 E. Hargett St. | $6-$12 | Bring your little ones to explore water, music, the NC environment, and much more through hands-on exhibits. Plus, this museum offers the largest IMAX movie screen in the area.

Marbles has a variety of activities and experiences for kids. | Photo by Marbles Kids Museum

Sports

Legends of Harley Drag Racing Museum, 1126 S. Saunders St. | Free | The only Harley Davidson drag racing museum in the world is placed atop one of the largest Harley dealerships. This museum was established by drag racing world champion Ray Price, a Johnston County native.

North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, 5 E. Edenton St. | Free | The NC Museum of History is closed for renovations until at least 2026. This museum, located inside the NC Museum of History, is home to 200 items of sports memorabilia. It doesn't matter if you're a Wolfpack, Tar Heel, or Blue Devil fan, this hall of fame has got it all for NC sports fans. Score!

What did we miss? If you know a museum that’s not on the list, let us know.

What to bring

Whether you’re heading to check out the latest art showcase or ready to marvel through historic architecture, have these essentials on hand while you venture through your local museums:

Stay hydrated while you peruse ancient artifacts with this 64 oz leak-proof glass jug with versatile lids for easy use.
Pack light and breeze through security screenings using this clear, waterproof cross sling bag to comfortably carry your valuables.
Don’t forget to pack snacks for the tours –– like these low calorie, low sugar KIND Bar minis that give your taste buds the perfect salty/sweet combo.
Your feet will be ready to conquer the world when you wear this pair of New Balance women’s sneakers that give all day support and cushion.
These quick drying cargo shorts by Wrangler give a relaxed and comfortable fit and feature extra pockets for easy storage of car keys, cell phones, and a museum guide.
Use the thick lined pages of this compact style, vegan leather journal to capture your thoughts as you spectate whimsical paintings and statues.