This list of museums in North Carolina is a list of museums, defined for this context as institutions (including nonprofit organizations, government entities, and private businesses) that collect and care for objects of cultural, artistic, scientific, or historical interest and make their collections or related exhibits available for public viewing. Museums that exist only in cyberspace (i.e., virtual museums) are not included.
| Name | Town/City | County | Region | Type | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cumberland | Military | Exhibits include the history of the 82nd Airborne Division and historic military aircraft. | |||
| Art | Part of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, collection includes Asian art, works on paper (drawings, prints, and photographs), European masterworks, 20th-century and contemporary art, African art and North Carolina pottery | ||||
| A.D. Gallery | Robeson | Art | Part of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke[1] | ||
| African American Atelier | Art | website, visual arts and culture of African Americans, located in the Greensboro Cultural Center | |||
| African American Cultural Complex | African American | Contributions made by African Americans, open by appointment[2] | |||
| Agriculture and Transportation Museum | Multiple | website, operated by the Murfreesboro Historical Association, antique farm equipment and implements, early carriages, buggies and other vehicles | |||
| Fayetteville metro area | Military | Recounts heroic actions of Airborne & Special Operations forces | |||
| Piedmont Triad | Military | Visitor center exhibits focus on American Revolution battle, also historic Allen House | |||
| Burlington | Alamance | Piedmont Triad | Historic house | Located in the Victorian-period L. Banks Holt House | |
| Historic house | Operated by the Anson County Historical Society, 19th-century period house | ||||
| Alleghany Historical Museum | Alleghany | Western | Local history | Operated by the Alleghany Historical – Genealogical Society[3] | |
| Historic house | website, early 19th-century house operated by the Transylvania County Historical Society | ||||
| American Classic Motorcycle Museum | Piedmont Triad | Transportation | Harley Davidson motorcycles[4] | ||
| American Military Museum | Gaston | Metro Charlotte | Military | [5] | |
| Biographical | Memorabilia of actor Andy Griffith and the Andy Griffith Show, located at The Andy Griffith Playhouse and Surry Arts Council | ||||
| Antique Car Museum at Grovewood Village | Asheville | Buncombe | Western | Automotive | website, located in historic Grovewood Village in the former Biltmore Industries, Inc. weaving shops, includes antique cars, horse-drawn wagons, a fire truck. |
| Arts Council of Henderson County | Western | Art | website, includes exhibit gallery | ||
| Wayne | Piedmont | Art | Includes an art gallery | ||
| Artspace | Raleigh | Wake | Art | website, visual art center with 3 galleries | |
| Ashe-Covington Medical Museum | Wadesboro | Anson | Sandhills | Medical | website, operated by the Anson County Historical Society |
| Western | Art | Focus is 20th and 21st century American art and works of significance to Western North Carolina's cultural heritage | |||
| Asheville | Western | Natural history | website, hall of minerals, mining, fossils, astronomy, gemology, geology, meteorology, mineralogy, oceanography, formerly the Colburn Earth Science Museum | ||
| Asheville | Western | Pinball | website | ||
| Asheville | Western | Radio history | website | ||
| Inner Banks | Natural history | Area fossils, shark jaws, archaeological artifacts including projectile points, stone tools, jewelry and cooking implements of Native Americans from Eastern North Carolina | |||
| Inner Banks | Biographical | Life of actress Ava Gardner | |||
| The Triangle | Military | History of the Battle of Averasborough | |||
| Avery | Western | Local history | Located in the former county jail | ||
| Inner Banks | Historic house | Victorian house, operated by the Winterville Historical and Arts Society, open by appointment and for events[6] | |||
| Piedmont | Historic house | Mid-19th century period home of governor Charles Brantley Aycock | |||
| Orange | The Triangle | Historic house | Federal period plantation home | ||
| Backing Up Classics Auto Museum | Cabarrus | Metro Charlotte | Automotive | website | |
| Badin Historic Museum | Stanly | Metro Charlotte | Local history | website, local history, adjacent 1915-period residence and a firehouse museum | |
| Inner Banks | Historic house | 18th century house | |||
| Barton College Art Galleries | Inner Banks | Art | Located in the Case Art Building[7] | ||
| Western | Art | website, regional art gallery | |||
| Open air | Includes six restored buildings which are open for tours | ||||
| Metro Charlotte | Art | ||||
| Belhaven Memorial Museum | Beaufort | Inner Banks | Local history | website | |
| New Hanover | Historic house | Changing exhibits on architectural history, historic preservation and the design arts | |||
| Belmont Historical Society | Metro Charlotte | Local history | website | ||
| Bennett Classics Antique Car Museum | Rutherford | Western | Automotive | website | |
| The Triangle | Civil War | Site of the largest surrender of Confederate soldiers during the American Civil War, includes reconstructed period farmhouse, visitor center with exhibits | |||
| Ben Owen Pottery | Randolph | Piedmont Triad | Art | website, includes museum of pottery | |
| Benson Museum of Local History | Johnston | Piedmont | Local history | [8] | |
| Johnston | The Triangle | Civil War | Site of the Battle of Bentonville, includes visitor center with battle displays, period field hospital historic house | ||
| Big Ivy Historical Park | Buncombe | Piedmont | Open air | Operated by the Big Ivy Historical Society[9] [10] | |
| Charlotte | Mecklenburg | Metro Charlotte | Biographical | Features exhibits about the life and works of Christian evangelist Billy Graham | |
| Asheville | Buncombe | Western | Historic house | French Renaissance inspired chateau with collections of decorative arts and 75acres of formal gardens | |
| Biltmore Industries Homespun Museum | Asheville | Buncombe | Western | History | website, located at Grovewood Gallery, history, fine cloth and woodworking crafts of the Biltmore Industries, a school for workers on the Biltmore Estate |
| Black Cat Station | Western | Railroad | website, model railroad layouts | ||
| Buncombe | Western | Art | website, includes gallery | ||
| Asheville | Buncombe | Western | Art | website, includes two floors of galleries, research center, and performance space | |
| Bladen | Piedmont | Multiple | website, local history and art, hand-crafted miniature buildings, military artifacts, farm equipment and tools, photos, operated by the Bladenboro Historical Society | ||
| Greensboro | Guilford | Piedmont Triad | Historic house | Italianate home of former North Carolina Governor John Motley Morehead | |
| Edgecombe | Inner Banks | Multiple | Operated by Edgecombe ARTS, includes changing and permanent art exhibits, decorative art, furnishings and textiles, and the separate Pender Museum of Edgecombe County History, open by appointment | ||
| Watauga | Western | Multiple | website, area art, culture and history | ||
| Maritime | Lighthouse to climb | ||||
| Wadesboro | Anson | Sandhills | Historic house | Operated by the Anson County Historical Society, 18th-century period house | |
| Murfreesboro | Hertford | Inner Banks | History | Collection of Americana | |
| Brevard Station Museum | Gaston | Metro Charlotte | Local history | website | |
| Brock Historical Museum of Greensboro College | Greensboro | Guilford | Piedmont Triad | History | website, history of Greensboro College |
| Brunswick | Lower Cape Fear | Archaeology | Ruins of colonial town and Civil War era fort | ||
| Piedmont | Historic house | Open by appointment, mid-19th century plantation house | |||
| New Hanover | Lower Cape Fear | Historic house | 18th-century house with 18th and 19th-century furnishings | ||
| Burke Arts Council | Western | Art | website, features gallery with changing exhibits | ||
| Burke Heritage Museum | Morganton | Burke | Western | Local history | website, operated by the Historic Burke Foundation, located in the Old Burke County Courthouse |
| Hillsborough | Orange | The Triangle | Historic house | 1830s female academy and home, depicts mid-19th century life | |
| Bryant House and McLendon Cabin | Sandhills | Historic house | website, operated by the Moore County Historical Association | ||
| Cabarrus County Veterans Museum | Concord | Cabarrus | Metro Charlotte | Military | website, operated by the Historic Cabarrus Association, located in the Cabarrus County Governmental Center |
| Caldwell Arts Council | Caldwell | Western | Art | website, features gallery with changing exhibits | |
| Caldwell Heritage Museum | Lenoir | Caldwell | Western | Local history | website, history of Caldwell County |
| Inner Banks | Prison | Historic prison and local history | |||
| New Hanover | Lower Cape Fear | Art | Collection includes fine arts, crafts, and design | ||
| Canton Area Historical Museum | Western | Local history | [11] | ||
| New Hanover | Lower Cape Fear | Multiple | History, natural science and cultures of the Lower Cape Fear region | ||
| Dare | Outer Banks | Maritime | Includes lighthouse and adjacent Museum of the Sea | ||
| Mecklenburg | Metro Charlotte | Open air | website, operated by the Mint Hill Historical Society, includes Mint Hill Country Doctor's Museum, Ira V. Ferguson Country Store, school house, assay office and outbuildings | ||
| Henderson | Western | Biographical | Home of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and writer Carl Sandburg | ||
| Chapel Hill | Orange | The Triangle | Sports | Part of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | |
| Charlotte | Mecklenburg | Metro Charlotte | Aviation | Over 50 aircraft, including flying Piedmont DC3 | |
| Western | Historic house | 19th century plantation home | |||
| Carthage Museum | Moore | Sandhills | Local history | [12] | |
| Inner Banks | Medical | History of the Caswell Developmental Center, a center for adults with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities | |||
| Caswell No.1 Fire Station Museum | Kinston | Lenoir | Inner Banks | Firefighting | [13] |
| Catawba County Firefighters Museum | Western | Firefighting | Includes fire truck, uniforms, firefighting and communications equipment[14] | ||
| Catawba County Museum of History | Catawba | Western | Local history | website, operated by the Historical Association of Catawba County | |
| Catawba | Western | Science | website | ||
| Catawba Valley Furniture Museum | Hickory | Catawba | Western | Decorative arts | Part of Hickory Furniture Mart, historic furniture, tools, area furniture makers[15] |
| Catherine Smith Gallery | Watauga | Western | Art | Part of the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts at Appalachian State University[16] | |
| Alamance | Piedmont Triad | Farm | 19th-century farm | ||
| Centennial Campus Center for Wildlife Education | Raleigh | Wake | The Triangle | Natural history | website, ecology and environment of the Piedmont, operated by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission |
| Hendersonville | Henderson | Western | Art | ||
| Century Post Office Museum | Winton | Hertford | Inner Banks | Philatelic | Open by appointment[17] [18] |
| Gaston | Metro Charlotte | Automotive | Trucks, early tractors and trailers, trucking memorabilia | ||
| Chadbourn Depot Museum | Columbus | Piedmont | Railroad | Facebook site, includes model railroads, period furnishings, Audubon prints, railroad memorabilia[19] | |
| Guilford | Piedmont Triad | African American | Former school, exhibits on contributions made by African American citizens to education in North Carolina | ||
| Charlotte | Mecklenburg | Metro Charlotte | Multiple | website, includes local history museum and 1774 Hezekiah Alexander House with costumed guides | |
| Charlotte | Mecklenburg | Metro Charlotte | Natural history | Operated by Discovery Place, features interactive nature exhibits and live animals | |
| Chatham Historical Museum | Chatham | The Triangle | Local history | website, operated by the Chatham County Historical Association | |
| Cherokee County Historical Museum | Cherokee | Western | Local history | website, include Cherokee artifacts and history, minerals, dolls | |
| Wayne | Piedmont | Medical | History of Cherry Hospital, a historic psychiatric hospital for African Americans, open by appointment | ||
| Dare | Outer Banks | Maritime | Includes two stations and five outbuildings | ||
| Children's Museum of Alamance County | Graham | Alamance | Piedmont Triad | Children's | website |
| Children's Museum of Wilmington | New Hanover | Lower Cape Fear | Children's | website | |
| Piedmont Triad | Children's | Goal is to teach children literature, building, zoology | |||
| Children's Playhouse | Boone | Watauga | Western | Children's | website |
| Foothills | Historic house | 1920s 27 room English countryside mansion with decorative arts and furnishings | |||
| Chowan University Green Hall Art Galleries | Murfreesboro | Hertford | Inner Banks | Art | [20] |
| Raleigh | Wake | The Triangle | Local history | City history | |
| Clay County Historical & Arts Council Museum | Western | Local history | Housed in the old jail, includes 1920s – 1940s office of a local doctor[21] and outdoor Cherokee Homestead Exhibit, operated by the Clay County Historical & Arts Council[22] | ||
| Johnston | The Triangle | Natural history | Includes the Forestry Exhibit Center with interactive exhibits about the ecology of forests, soil, water, wildlife and the state's cultural history | ||
| Wayne | Piedmont | Natural history | Geology and natural history of the cliffs and the park | ||
| Coats Museum | Harnett | The Triangle | Local history | Local history displays, adjacent Cotton Museum about cotton farming, weaving[23] | |
| Caldwell | Western | History | Historic general store with a collection of antiques, original store fixtures and photographs[24] | ||
| Columbia Theater Cultural Resources Center | Inner Banks | Multiple | website, local culture and environment, particularly heritage of farming, fishing, and forestry, operated by Partnership for the Sounds | ||
| Concord Museum | Concord | Cabarrus | Metro Charlotte | Local history | website, operated by the Historic Cabarrus Association in the Cabarrus County Courthouse |
| Raleigh | Wake | The Triangle | Art | Multimedia contemporary art and design gallery | |
| Carteret | Crystal Coast | Multiple | website, includes duck decoys, local history, culture and natural history and environment | ||
| Corolla Wild Horse Museum | Outer Banks | Natural history | website | ||
| The Triangle | Medical | website, history of rural health care in the United States | |||
| Duplin | Piedmont | Multiple | website, includes historic farm and general tools and equipment, rock specimens, local history exhibits, park with historic village buildings | ||
| Transylvania | Western | Multiple | Nature, conservation, science, forestry, includes two nature trails with historic forestry buildings and equipment, Forest Discovery Center with exhibits about the forest and forestry | ||
| Creation Museum & Taxidermy Hall of Fame | Moore | Sandhills | Creationist | Includes stuffed animal mounts and antique tools[25] [26] | |
| Western | Textile | Fine art gallery, weaving studio and exhibits, and a retail shop | |||
| C. S. Brown Regional Cultural Arts Center | Hertford | Inner Banks | African American | website | |
| Kinston | Lenoir | Inner Banks | Military | Remains of the hull of the Confederate ironclad CSS Neuse | |
| Cultural Heritage Museum | Kinston | Lenoir | Inner Banks | African American | Open by appointment[27] |
| Edenton | Chowan | Inner Banks | Historic house | ||
| Metro Charlotte | Multiple | Includes memorabilia of Curb musicians, the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame with photos and memorabilia of notable state musicians, and NASCAR vehicles, photos and memorabilia | |||
| Corolla | Currituck | Outer Banks | Maritime | Lighthouse to climb, operated by the Outer Banks Conservationists | |
| Dare | Outer Banks | Aviation | Features models of aircraft that played a part in the aviation history of Dare County, history of the airport and area aviation | ||
| Metro Charlotte | Historic house | website | |||
| David John Aaron Museum | Wayne | Piedmont | Local history | Operated by the Mount Olive Area Historical Society[28] | |
| Piedmont Triad | Local history | Located in the former county courthouse | |||
| Delta Arts Center | Winston-Salem | Forsyth | Piedmont Triad | Art | website, arts & humanities, with an emphasis on African American contributions |
| Diggs Gallery | Winston-Salem | Forsyth | Piedmont Triad | Art | website, part of Winston-Salem State University, dedicated to African and African-American art |
| Charlotte | Mecklenburg | Metro Charlotte | Science | ||
| Mecklenburg | Metro Charlotte | Children's | |||
| Dr. Robert Smith House | Mount Airy | Surry | Foothills | Local history | Depicts early 20th century life |
| Rowan | Metro Charlotte | Historic house | website, operated by the Historic Salisbury Foundation, mid-19th century period house | ||
| Dry Ridge Historical Museum | Buncombe | Western | Local history | Located in the Weaverville Public Library[29] [30] | |
| Durham | Durham | The Triangle | Open air | 1850s home, factories, tobacco farm and museum | |
| Duplin County Veterans Museum | Duplin | Piedmont | Military | website | |
| Metro Charlotte | Biographical | Life of musician Earl Scruggs, history and culture of the American South | |||
| Eastern Carolina Village & Farm Museum | Inner Banks | Open air | website, depicts buildings and agriculture history from 1840 - 1940 | ||
| Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society Museum | Cabarrus | Metro Charlotte | Local history | [31] | |
| Edgecombe County Veterans Military Museum | Tarboro | Edgecombe | Inner Banks | Military | website |
| Surry | Foothills | Historic house | Early 19th-century house, operated by the Surry County Historical Society | ||
| Elsewhere Artist Collaborative | Greensboro | Guilford | Piedmont Triad | Art | website, changing, interactive environment of artworks, objects, and events in a former thrift store |
| EnergyExplorium | Huntersville | Mecklenburg | Metro Charlotte | Science | website, located at McGuire Nuclear Station, exhibits about electricity |
| Erwin History Museum | Harnett | The Triangle | Local history | [32] WEBSITE | |
| Fair Bluff Depot Museum | Columbus | Piedmont | Local history | Operated by the Greater Fair Bluff Historical Society[33] | |
| Faison Museum | Duplin | Piedmont | Local history | Displays in the Faison branch library[34] | |
| Fascinate-U Children's Museum | Fayetteville | Cumberland | Fayetteville metro area | Children's | website |
| Fayetteville | Cumberland | Fayetteville metro area | Transportation | Located in a historic depot, displays include railroads, cars, local history | |
| Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry Armory and Museum | Fayetteville | Cumberland | Fayetteville metro area | Military | website, history of the private militia, open by appointment |
| Fifth Avenue Mask Museum | Hendersonville | Henderson | Western | Anthropology | Native masks, dolls dressed in native garb and locally produced textiles, open by appointment[35] [36] |
| Watauga | Western | Historic house | |||
| Asheville | Buncombe | Western | Art | Appalachian folk art, crafts and culture, operated by the Southern Highland Craft Guild | |
| Foothills Arts Council | Surry | Foothills | Art | Includes a regional art gallery[37] | |
| Caldwell | Western | Historic house | 1792 home of Revolutionary general William Lenoir | ||
| Iredell | Metro Charlotte | Military | Remains of the 18th-century fort from the French and Indian War era | ||
| Inner Banks | Military | Confederate earthen fort | |||
| New Hanover | Lower Cape Fear | Military | Restored fort and museum | ||
| Beaufort | Carteret | Crystal Coast | Military | Restored fort and museum | |
| Dare | Outer Banks | History | Includes history of Sir Walter Raleigh's "Lost Colony" and local history | ||
| Jones | Inner Banks | Historic house | website, early 19th-century plantation house | ||
| Franklin Gem & Mineral Museum | Macon | Western | Natural history | website, gems, minerals, fossils, Indian artifacts, fluorescent mineral display, sea shells, located in a former jail | |
| Fremont Heritage Museum | Wayne | Piedmont | Local history | Operated by the Fremont Historical Society[38] | |
| Dare | Outer Banks | Multiple | website, Native American artifacts, art, and culture, natural history displays | ||
| Fuquay-Varina Museums Complex | Wake | The Triangle | Local history | website, includes the First Fuquay Post Office, the "Squire" Ballentine Schoolhouse, and the Centennial Museum | |
| Gaston County Museum | Gaston | Metro Charlotte | Multiple | website, art, transportation, textiles, historic hotel | |
| General William C. Lee Airborne Museum | Dunn | Harnett | The Triangle | Biographical | website, former home and military history of General William C. Lee |
| Mount Airy | Surry | Foothills | Historic house | Depicts early 20th century life | |
| GI Memorial House Museum | Cabarrus | Metro Charlotte | Historic house | 1945 house built for WWII veterans, operated by the Kannapolis History Associates[39] | |
| Gibsonville Museum | Alamance | Piedmont Triad | Local history | [40] | |
| Gold Hill Mines Historic Park | Rowan | Piedmont | Mining | website, includes Assay Museum, jail and mine shafts | |
| Gourd Museum | Harnett | The Triangle | Commodity | Gourd crafts from around the world[41] | |
| Graham County Museum of Prehistoric Relics | Graham | Western | Archaeology | Located at the Hike Inn, pre-historic artifacts from North, Central and South America[42] | |
| Graham Historical Museum | Graham | Alamance | Piedmont Triad | Local history | Located in the 1914 Graham Fire House[43] [44] |
| Grandfather Mountain Nature Museum | Avery | Western | Natural history | website, animals, plants and geology of Grandfather Mountain and surrounding area | |
| Granite Falls History & Transportation Museum | Western | Local history | website, located in the 1790s Andrew Baird House, local history and transportation, art exhibits | ||
| Piedmont | Local history | website, operated by the Granville County Historical Society in the former county jail | |||
| Dare | Outer Banks | Maritime | maritime history and shipwrecks of the Outer Banks | ||
| Greensboro | Guilford | Piedmont Triad | Art | website, visual arts center with exhibitions of contemporary art and a family gallery | |
| Greene County Museum | Inner Banks | Multiple | website, local and regional art and local history | ||
| Greensboro Children's Museum | Greensboro | Guilford | Piedmont Triad | Children's | website |
| Greensboro College Art Galleries | Greensboro | Guilford | Piedmont Triad | Art | Anne Rudd Galyon & Irene Cullis Galleries, located in Cowan Humanities Building [45] |
| Greensboro | Guilford | Piedmont Triad | Local history | Exhibits include O. Henry, First Lady Dolley Madison, the Greensboro Sit-ins, period displays, also late 18th century McNairy House and early 19th century Isley House | |
| Greensboro | Guilford | Piedmont Triad | Natural history | Natural history and science museum, zoo and aquarium | |
| Greenville | Pitt | Inner Banks | Art | website, collections focuses on works by North Carolina artists and noted American Landscape artists from 1860 to present | |
| Raleigh | Wake | The Triangle | Art | website, part of North Carolina State University, applied and decorative arts including textiles, ceramics, outsider/folk art, paintings, photography, sculpture, architectural drawings, archaeological artifacts, ethnographic materials and modern furniture | |
| Grifton Historical Museum | Pitt | Inner Banks | Local history | website, includes tools and equipment for office, shop, farm and kitchen, Tuscorora artifacts, military displays, natural history, Catechna Indian Village replica | |
| Guilford College Art Gallery | Greensboro | Guilford | Piedmont Triad | Art | [46] |
| Greensboro | Guilford | Piedmont Triad | Military | Revolutionary War battlefield and museum | |
| Hammerstone Scout Museum | Harnett | The Triangle | Scouting | website, memorabilia of Scouting pioneers and heroes, open by appointment | |
| Hands On! | Hendersonville | Henderson | Western | Children's | website |
| Hanes Art Gallery | Winston-Salem | Forsyth | Piedmont Triad | Art | website, part of Wake Forest University, located in the Scales Fine Arts Center |
| Kinston | Lenoir | Inner Banks | Historic house | Operated by the Lenoir County Historical Association, 18th-century house with 19th-century Victorian furnishings | |
| Piedmont | Open air | Includes 18th-century house, schoolhouse, two restored country stores, a chapel, corn-crib, external kitchen, log cabin and a gatehouse | |||
| Harnett County Indian Museum | The Triangle | Native American | Includes a craft shop, Native American artifacts, open by appointment | ||
| Harper House/Hickory History Center | Hickory | Catawba | Western | Historic house | website, operated by the Historical Association of Catawba County, late 19th-century Queen Anne house, adjacent Bonniwell-Lyerly House in the Craftsman style |
| Harris Hall Museum | Oxford | Granville | Piedmont | Multiple | website, changing exhibits of science, history, art, and culture, operated by the Granville County Historical Society |
| Charlotte | Mecklenburg | Art | Works by African American artists, located in the Levine Center for the Arts | ||
| Buxton | Dare | Outer Banks | History | Archaeological artifacts, history and culture of Hatteras Island | |
| Havelock Tourist & Event Center | Crystal Coast | Aviation | website, features exhibits about the Marine Corps history and aircraft | ||
| Alamance | Piedmont Triad | Local history | |||
| Raleigh | Wake | The Triangle | Historic house | Historic home of John Haywood | |
| Hendersonville | Henderson | Western | Local history | ||
| Vance | Western | African American | History of the former African American school and its graduates[47] | ||
| Hendersonville Antique Toy Museum | Hendersonville | Henderson | Western | Toy | Toys, dolls, dollhouses, model trains[48] |
| Hendersonville Depot | Hendersonville | Henderson | Western | Railroad | Late 19th-century train depot, home to the Apple Valley Model Railroad Club with model trail layout[49] [50] |
| Hendrick Motorsports Museum | Cabarrus | Metro Charlotte | Automotive | website, cars, trophies, and memorabilia from the Hendrick Motorsports racing teams | |
| Catawba | Western | Aviation | Historic military aircraft, aircraft weapons, flight suits, art, models | ||
| Hickory | Catawba | Western | Art | American art including paintings, contemporary, folk, outsider, studio art glass and pottery | |
| Boone | Watauga | Western | Living | Located on the grounds of the Horn in the West, Revolutionary War mountain community | |
| Western | Multiple | Includes Victorian Lucas Mansion and art gallery, doll collection from the 19th century, native gems and minerals | |||
| Highlands Historical Village | Macon | Western | Local history | website, operated by the Highlands Historical Society, includes the House-Boynton-Trapier-Wright Home ("the Prince House"), the Highlands Historical Museum and Archives, and Bug Hill Cottage | |
| Highlands Nature Center | Highlands | Macon | Western | Natural history | website, part of Highlands Biological Station that includes a botanical garden |
| High Point Museum | Guilford | Piedmont Triad | Multiple | website, includes local history museum with exhibits about the area furniture industry, 1801 Hoggatt House, 1786 Haley House and a blacksmith shop | |
| Beaufort | Inner Banks | Open air | Includes guided tours of the Palmer-Marsh House, Van Der Veer House, Bonner House | ||
| Historic Edenton | Edenton | Chowan | Inner Banks | Open air | website, tours include the James Iredell House, Roanoke River Light, Barker House, Cupola House, Chowan County Courthouse and St. Paul's Episcopal Church |
| History Museum of Burke County | Morganton | Burke | Western | Local history | website |
| Winston-Salem | Forsyth | Piedmont Triad | Open air | Site of first settlement by members of the Moravian Church in 1753 | |
| Inner Banks | Open air | website, includes visitor center museum, several 18th & early 19th century historic houses, tavern, tap room, Clerk of Court's Office, Jail and the Montfort archaeological exhibit | |||
| Inner Banks | Historic house | Includes the 1803 Hope Mansion and 1763 King-Bazemore House | |||
| Historic Johnson Farm | Hendersonville | Henderson | Western | Farm | website, includes farm house, boarding house, barn loft museum, animals; heritage education center owned by Henderson County Public Schools |
| Huntersville | Mecklenburg | Metro Charlotte | Living | 1800 cotton plantation and living history farm | |
| Raleigh | Wake | The Triangle | Farm | Includes agriculture exhibit, 1855 farmhouse and detached kitchen, livestock barn, carriage house, and turn-of-the-20th-century cotton gin | |
| Historic Rockwell Museum | Rowan | Metro Charlotte | Local history | [51] | |
| Charlotte | Mecklenburg | Metro Charlotte | Historic house | 13 room antebellum plantation and gardens | |
| Durham | Durham | The Triangle | Open air | 18th century plantation house, slave cabins, farmer's house, visitor center and barn | |
| Historic Vance House & Civil War Museum | Iredell | Metro Charlotte | Historic house | information, home Zebulon Vance | |
| Raleigh | Wake | The Triangle | Mill | History gristmill and exhibits on the park's natural and cultural history | |
| History House Museum | Halifax | Inner Banks | Local history | website, history of 1930s New Deal African American resettlement farm | |
| History Museum of Carteret County | Carteret | Crystal Coast | Local history | website, operated by the Carteret County Historical Society, includes textiles, period clothing, furniture, military memorabilia, glassware and artwork | |
| Chapel Hill | Orange | The Triangle | Art | Changing exhibits presented by the Preservation Society of Chapel Hill | |
| Stokes | Foothills | Farm | Depicts 1900-1910 farm life | ||
| Hickory | Catawba | Western | Religious | Operated by the Hickory Landmarks Society, late 19th century church, open by appointment | |
| Moore | Sandhills | Historic house | Late 18th century period plantation home | ||
| House of Flags Museum | Western | History | website, historic American flags, military service and religious flags, flags of our founding countries and the Revolutionary War era | ||
| Hudson Depot Museum | Caldwell | Western | Local history | History of the town of Hudson and the local railroad industry, open during special events and to school classes[52] [53] | |
| Durham | The Triangle | History | Historic and contemporary photographs of Durham and its citizens | ||
| Hugh Torrance House and Store | Huntersville | Mecklenburg | Metro Charlotte | Historic house | website, early 19th-century period house and store |
| Wilson | Wilson | Inner Banks | Science | ||
| Rocky Mount | Nash | The Triangle | Multiple | website, includes the Maria V. Howard Arts Center and the Rocky Mount Children's Museum and Science Center | |
| Brunswick | Lower Cape Fear | Science | Planetarium and science exhibits | ||
| Greensboro | Guilford | Piedmont Triad | History | History of the American civil rights movement | |
| International Lineman's Museum | Shelby | Cleveland | Metro Charlotte | Industry | website, history of linemen and the electrical utility industry |
| Iredell | Metro Charlotte | Multiple | website, three sites: Court Street Gallery for art exhibits, Gregory Creek Homestead with 9 cabins and living history events, Kids@Play children's museum | ||
| Metro Charlotte | History | History of the development of the alphabet and written languages | |||
| Union | Metro Charlotte | Biographical | Papers and works of Senator Jesse Helms, promotes "principles of free enterprise, representative democracy, traditional American values, and a strong national defense" | ||
| Dare | Outer Banks | Natural history | Visitor center museum | ||
| Raleigh | Wake | The Triangle | Historic house | Operated by the National Society of Colonial Dames of America, late 18th century period home | |
| Scotland | Sandhills | Multiple | Includes the 1890s John Blue House, sawmill, several 19th century cabins, late 19th century general store, a half mile, 18 gauge railroad, a cotton gin, and the Historical Museum of Scotland County which includes antique vehicles | ||
| John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Museum | Cumberland | Fayetteville metro area | Military | website, information, regimental museum for Special Forces, Military Information Support Operations and Civil Affairs units | |
| Johnston County Heritage Center | Smithfield | Johnston | Inner Banks | Local history | website, exhibits housed in the Holding-Richardson Exhibit Hall or in the Visitors Bureau Gallery |
| Hickory | Catawba | Western | Historic house | Operated by the Hickory Landmarks Society, late 19th century Victorian house | |
| Jugtown Pottery and Museum | Seagrove | Randolph | Piedmont Triad | Art | Includes museum of area pottery |
| Junaluska Museum and Memorial Site | Graham | Western | Native American | Located at the burial site of Cherokee Warrior Junaluska, Cherokee history and culture[54] [55] | |
| Kernersville Museum | Kernersville | Forsyth | Piedmont Triad | Local History | website |
| KidSenses | Rutherford | Western | Children's | website | |
| Chapel Hill | Orange | The Triangle | Children's | Interactive exhibit for ages 0–8 | |
| Kings Mountain Historical Fire Museum | Gaston | Metro Charlotte | Firefighting | website | |
| Gaston | Metro Charlotte | Local history | |||
| Kinston Arts Center | Kinston | Lenoir | Inner Banks | Art | website, changing exhibits and model railroad display |
| Kirby Gallery | Person | Piedmont | Art | Regional art gallery[56] | |
| Forsyth | Piedmont Triad | Historic house | Unusual historic mansion | ||
| Lower Cape Fear | Local history | ||||
| New Hanover | Lower Cape Fear | Historic house | website, operated by the Lower Cape Fear Historical Society, Victorian period home | ||
| Lawndale Museum | Metro Charlotte | Local history | Operated by the Lawndale Historical Society[57] | ||
| Raleigh | Wake | The Triangle | Transportation | Displays of Harley-Davidson drag racing motorcycles and memorabilia | |
| Asheville | Western | Video Game | Website, Displays of video gaming consoles from the 1970s to present day. | ||
| Charlotte | Mecklenburg | Metro Charlotte | History | Southern and regional history and culture since the Civil War | |
| Duplin | Piedmont | Historic house | Late 18th century plantation house | ||
| Light Factory | Charlotte | Mecklenburg | Metro Charlotte | Art | website, photography and film and related light-generated mediums |
| Randolph | Piedmont Triad | Multiple | website, includes tours of 21st-century Linbrook Hall mansion, Neal Agricultural and Industrial Museum, early 20th-century Hoover farmshouse | ||
| Lincoln County Museum of History | Metro Charlotte | Local history | website, operated by the Lincoln County Historical Association | ||
| Locust Historical Society and Museum | Stanly | Metro Charlotte | Local history | [58] | |
| Louisburg College Art Galleries | Franklin | The Triangle | Art | [59] | |
| Lumbee Indian Museum | Scotland | Sandhills | Native American | [60] | |
| Harnett | The Triangle | Natural history | Part of Campbell University in the Lundy-Fetterman School of Business, mounted game animals, seashells, university memorabilia | ||
| Franklin | Macon | Western | Local history | Exhibits include Cherokee arrowheads and artifacts, early medical instruments and supplies, period clothing | |
| Madison Dry Goods Museum | Rockingham | Foothills | History | website, exhibits include early 20th century hardware, hotel and funeral chapel displays | |
| Hickory | Catawba | Western | Historic house | Operated by the Hickory Landmarks Society, late 19th century Victorian house | |
| Raleigh | Wake | The Triangle | Formerly Exploris Museum | ||
| Matthews Heritage Museum | Mecklenburg | Metro Charlotte | Local history | website, located in the 1880 Massey-Clark House, operated by the Matthews Historical Foundation | |
| Maxton Museum | Robeson | Piedmont | Local history | Operated by the Maxton Historical Society[61] | |
| May Museum and Park | Pitt | Inner Banks | Local history | website | |
| Charlotte | Mecklenburg | Metro Charlotte | Art | website, includes a contemporary craft gallery | |
| Morganton | Burke | Western | Historic house | Operated by the Historic Burke Foundation, 1812 period house | |
| Memory Lane Museum | Metro Charlotte | Automotive | website, retired NASCAR and vintage race cars, memorabilia, antique toys, pedal cars, bicycles, gas pumps, movie cars, tractors and vintage motorcycles | ||
| Guilford | Piedmont Triad | Historic house | 1811 Quaker homeplace and plantation buildings | ||
| Raleigh | Wake | The Triangle | Art | Part of Meredith College | |
| Waxhaw | Union | Metro Charlotte | Ethnic | Mexican culture and Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico's president from 1934 to 1940 | |
| Hendersonville | Henderson | Western | Natural history | Minerals, rocks, fossils, Native American artifacts | |
| Charlotte | Mecklenburg | Metro Charlotte | Art | Located in a former U.S. mint, includes art of the ancient Americas, ceramics and decorative arts, fashion, European and African art | |
| Charlotte | Mecklenburg | Metro Charlotte | Art | Located in the Levine Center for the Arts, crafts, design, collections of American, contemporary, and European art | |
| Missiles and More Museum | Pender | Lower Cape Fear | Local history | website, operated by the Historical Society of Topsail Island, exhibits include Operation Bumblebee, Camp Davis, pirates, Native Americans, natural history and the V-22 Osprey aircraft | |
| Davidson | Piedmont Triad | History | History of the Mills Home orphanage, open by appointment | ||
| Inner Banks | Military | History of the Montford Point Marines, the first African American Marines, located at Camp Gilbert H. Johnson | |||
| Western | Biographical | website, small space dedicated to the history and legacy of synthesizer inventor Bob Moog, run by the Moog Foundation | |||
| Pender | Lower Cape Fear | Military | Revolutionary War battlefield and museum | ||
| Mooresville Museum | Iredell | Metro Charlotte | Local history | website | |
| Raleigh | Wake | The Triangle | Historic house | Antebellum plantation home | |
| Chapel Hill | Orange | The Triangle | Science | Part of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | |
| Metro Charlotte | Local history | Includes museum of local cultural and natural history and a restored historic house | |||
| Swain | Western | Open air | Includes reconstructed late 19th century log farm buildings and a historic corn grist mill | ||
| Western | Local history | website, part of Western Carolina University, natural and cultural heritage of the southern Appalachian region | |||
| McDowell | Western | Local history | Regional branch of the North Carolina Museum of History, culture and heritage of the southern Appalachians | ||
| Mount Airy | Surry | Foothills | Local history | website, Native Americans, pioneers, home life, exhibits on Donna Fargo, Tommy Jarrell, Andy Griffith and Chang and Eng Bunker | |
| Yancey | Western | Multiple | Includes exhibits about the park's natural, cultural and historical heritage | ||
| Murfreesboro | Hertford | Inner Banks | Multiple | Operates the William Rea Museum, Brady C. Jefcoat Museum, tours of the Dr. Walter Reed House, John Wheeler House, shops and the Agriculture and Transportation Museum | |
| Newton | Catawba | The Triangle | Mill | Operated by the Catawba County Historical Association | |
| Museum & Archives of Rockingham County | Rockingham | Foothills | Local history | website, operated by the Rockingham County Historical Society | |
| Museum of American Cut & Engraved Glass | Highlands | Macon | Western | Art | Cut and engraved glass primarily from the American Brilliant Period, 1876-1916[62] |
| Granville | The Triangle | Art | Located at Cedar Creek Gallery, works by family and studio potters | ||
| Winston-Salem | Forsyth | Piedmont Triad | Anthropology | website, artifacts and art from Americas, Africa, Asia, and Oceania | |
| Western | Local history | Located in the historic former county courthouse | |||
| Brunswick | Lower Cape Fear | Natural history | Natural science, environment, and cultural history of the Coastal Carolina region | ||
| Museum of Colerain | Bertie | Inner Banks | Local history | [63] | |
| Winston-Salem | Forsyth | Piedmont Triad | Decorative arts | Part of Old Salem Museums & Gardens | |
| Durham | Durham | The Triangle | Formerly North Carolina Museum of Life and Science, science and natural history exhibits | ||
| Museum of North Carolina Minerals | Spruce Pine | Mitchell | Western | Natural history | Minerals and gems found in the area and state[64] [65] |
| Museum of North Carolina Traditional Pottery | Seagrove | Randolph | Piedmont Triad | Art | Features displays from surrounding area potteries[66] |
| Museum of Old Domestic Life | High Point | Guilford | Piedmont Triad | History | 19th-century household items, tools and everyday artifacts from Quaker homes, open by appointment[67] |
| Pasquotank | Inner Banks | Local history | Regional branch of the North Carolina Museum of History | ||
| Fayetteville | Cumberland | Fayetteville metro area | Local history | Regional branch of the North Carolina Museum of History, also features the 1897 Poe House and Arsenal Park | |
| Swain | Western | Native American | , history and culture of the Cherokee | ||
| Onslow | Inner Banks | Military | Planned museum | ||
| Robeson | Piedmont | Native American | website, part of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, prehistory, history, culture, art and contemporary issues of American Indians, with special emphasis on the Robeson County Native American community | ||
| Museum of the Waxhaws | Waxhaw | Union | Metro Charlotte | Local history | website, includes exhibits on President Andrew Jackson |
| Museum of World Cultures | New Hanover | Lower Cape Fear | Art | website, "museum without walls", public display in various buildings at University of North Carolina at Wilmington, includes clothing, textiles, jewelry, pottery, furniture, figures, drawings, photographs, prints and scrolls from all over the world | |
| Mystery Hill | Blowing Rock | Watauga | Western | Multiple | website, includes historic house furnished for turn-of-the-20th-century life, science exhibits, Native American artifacts, and the house |
| Charlotte | Mecklenburg | Metro Charlotte | Sports | History and heritage of NASCAR | |
| Durham | Durham | The Triangle | Art | Part of Duke University, collections include Medieval art, art of the Americas (largely pre-Columbian), classical antiquities, modern and international contemporary art, with a concentration in art from the African diaspora | |
| Richmond | Sandhills | Railroad | Includes railroad artifacts and model train layout | ||
| NC Museum of Dolls, Toys & Miniatures | Rowan | Metro Charlotte | Toy | website, includes dolls, Tinker Toys, model trains and trucks, dollhouses, miniatures and cap guns | |
| Neal John Deere Tractor Museum | Randolph | Piedmont Triad | Agriculture | Located at Linbrook Heritage Estate, includes rare tractors and industrial equipment, John Deere toys and memorabilia, engines, antique electrical apparatus[68] | |
| New Bern Firemen's Museum | Craven | Inner Banks | Firefighting | website | |
| New London Museum | Stanly | Metro Charlotte | Local history | [69] | |
| Inner Banks | Historic house | Colonial Quaker home | |||
| Wake | The Triangle | Railroad | Heritage railway and North Carolina Railway Museum | ||
| Kinston | Lenoir | Inner Banks | Multiple | Includes the Neuse Planetarium, Health & Science Museum and the Exchange Nature Center | |
| Norlina Train Museum | Warren | Piedmont | Railroad | website | |
| Iredell | Metro Charlotte | Automotive | website, includes over 40 race cars dedicated to all types of auto racing | ||
| Randolph | Piedmont Triad | Aviation | Restored aircraft, models, uniforms, memorabilia | ||
| Wilson | Wilson | Inner Banks | Sports | Located at Fleming Stadium | |
| Durham | Durham | The Triangle | Art | website, part of North Carolina Central University, focus is African-American and African art | |
| North Carolina Collection Gallery | Chapel Hill | Orange | The Triangle | History | Part of the Wilson Library at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, includes literature, photographs, artifacts about North Carolina history, and three historic rooms with furnishings |
| North Carolina Cotton Museum | Wayne | Piedmont | Agriculture | Also known as the Northern Wayne Heritage Museum[70] | |
| North Carolina Estuarium | Beaufort | Inner Banks | Natural history | website, ecology of North Carolina's estuaries, operated by Partnership for the Sounds | |
| Beaufort | Carteret | Crystal Coast | Regional branch of the North Carolina Museum of History | ||
| Brunswick | Lower Cape Fear | Maritime | Regional branch of the North Carolina Museum of History | ||
| Dare | Outer Banks | Maritime | Regional branch of the North Carolina Museum of History, also known as Roanoke Island Maritime Museum | ||
| Raleigh | Wake | The Triangle | Art | Collection includes European paintings from the Renaissance to the 19th century, Egyptian funerary art, sculpture and vase painting from ancient Greece and Rome, American art of the 18th through 20th centuries, international contemporary art, African, ancient American, pre-Columbian, and Oceanic art, and Jewish ceremonial objects | |
| Raleigh | Wake | The Triangle | History | Exhibits include state's military history, decorative arts, the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, transportation and changing exhibits of state history and culture | |
| Raleigh | Wake | The Triangle | Natural history | Themes include dinosaurs, health and medicine, animals, fish, habitats, water, minerals, climate and weather, science, live animals | |
| Columbus | Piedmont | Natural history | Natural history and cultural heritage of our forests and forestry, formerly known as the North Carolina Museum of Forestry | ||
| Kannapolis | Cabarrus | Metro Charlotte | Music | Located at the Curb Museum, honors state performers and non-performers in the music industry | |
| Seagrove | Randolph | Piedmont Triad | Art | website | |
| Morganton | Burke | Western | Education | History of the school | |
| Raleigh | Wake | The Triangle | Historic site | ||
| Rowan | Metro Charlotte | Transportation | Railroad, aviation and automobiles | ||
| North Carolina Wesleyan College Galleries | Nash | The Triangle | Art | Includes the Mims Gallery and Four Sisters Gallery | |
| Northampton County Museum | Inner Banks | Local history | [71] [72] | ||
| Norwood Museum | Stanly | Metro Charlotte | Local history | [73] [74] | |
| Caswell Beach | Brunswick | Lower Cape Fear | Maritime | Lighthouse open for tour | |
| Oakboro Railroad Museum | Stanly | Metro Charlotte | Railroad | [75] | |
| Oakboro Regional Museum of History | Oakboro | Stanly | Metro Charlotte | Local history | |
| Swain | Western | Native American | Replica of an 18th-century eastern Cherokee community | ||
| Ocracoke Museum | Outer Banks | Multiple | website, operated by the Ocracoke Preservation Society in the David Williams House, local history, period displays, art exhibits, duck decoys, fishing, boat and lighthouse models | ||
| Lower Cape Fear | Maritime | Reconstructed lighthouse keeper's quarters and local history museum, and tours of lighthouse | |||
| Old Bridge Preservation Society Museum | Brunswick | Lower Cape Fear | Transportation | website, preserved swing bridge and tender house, and museum about its history and area transportation | |
| Old Brunswick County Jail | Southport | Brunswick | Lower Cape Fear | website, operated by the Southport Historical Society | |
| Old City Jail | Mount Airy | Surry | Foothills | Media | Re-creation of "The Courthouse" from the Andy Griffith Show[76] |
| Old Fort Railroad Museum | McDowell | Western | Railroad | Historic depot with railroad displays and visitor center[77] [78] | |
| Old Jail Museum | Alexander | Western | Prison | [79] | |
| Burke | Western | Railroad | Also known as the Piedmont & Western Railroad Museum, includes model train layouts and railroad memorabilia, operated by the Piedmont and Western Railroad Club | ||
| Winston-Salem | Forsyth | Piedmont Triad | Living | 18th and 19th century Moravian village | |
| Winston-Salem | Forsyth | Piedmont Triad | Toy | Part of Old Salem Museums & Gardens, includes toys, dolls, teddy bears, puppets, doll houses, toy zoos, automobiles and planes | |
| Wayne | Piedmont | Open air | website, includes nine historic buildings[80] | ||
| Oliver Nestus Freeman Roundhouse Museum | Wilson | Wilson | Inner Banks | African American | website, contributions of local African Americans |
| Onslow County Museum | Onslow | Inner Banks | Local history | website, features area fossils | |
| Orange County History Museum | Orange | The Triangle | Local history | website | |
| Oriental's History Museum | Inner Banks | Local history | [81] | ||
| Brunswick | Lower Cape Fear | Historic house | Southern plantation, outbuildings and gardens | ||
| Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education | Corolla | Currituck | Outer Banks | Natural history | website, coastal North Carolina's wildlife, natural history and cultural heritage, operated by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission |
| Nags Head | Dare | Outer Banks | Natural history | Collection of beach glass, feathers, shells, sand, bricks and bottles, located in a historic store | |
| Outer Banks History Center | Manteo | Dare | Outer Banks | Local history | website, regional archives with changing exhibits |
| Wake | The Triangle | Multiple | Local history and changing art exhibits | ||
| Bath | Beaufort | Inner Banks | Historic house | 1744 home | |
| Pamlico County History Museum | Pamlico | Inner Banks | Open air | website, heritage village, operated by the Pamlico County Historical Association | |
| Beaufort | Inner Banks | Local history | |||
| Pender County Museum | Pender | Lower Cape Fear | Local history | website | |
| Penderlea Homestead Museum | Burgaw | Lower Cape Fear | Historic house | website, homestead community farm of the Depression era | |
| Western | Art | Includes exhibit gallery | |||
| Person County Museum of History | Piedmont | Open air | Complex includes a local history museum in the Governor W. W. Kitchin House, the Male Academy/Parsonage, Woodsdale General Store, Dr. John H. Merritt's office, a tobacco barn, and the Van Hook Subscription School[82] | ||
| Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education | Transylvania | Western | Natural history | website, mountain wildlife and habitats, freshwater fish, operated by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission | |
| Polk County History Museum | Western | Local history | [83] | ||
| Pender | Lower Cape Fear | Historic house | 19th century plantation homestead and outbuildings | ||
| Raleigh | Wake | The Triangle | Historic house | ||
| Port Discover | Inner Banks | Science | website | ||
| Washington | Inner Banks | Civil War | Located in a restored depot, Civil War military artifacts | ||
| Mecklenburg | Metro Charlotte | Biographical | Includes visitor center with exhibits about James K. Polk, reconstructions of an early 19th-century log house, separate kitchen and barn | ||
| Presidential Culinary Museum | Cleveland | Metro Charlotte | History | website, memorabilia from White House chefs, located at the Inn of the Patriots | |
| Raeford-Hoke Museum | Hoke | Sandhills | Local history | website, located in the McLauchlin-McFadyen House, also includes "The Parker-Ray House," an emergency service museum, doll house, school house, and country store | |
| Lee | Piedmont | Local history | Late 19th-century house with local history displays | ||
| Raleigh Fire Museum | Raleigh | Wake | The Triangle | Firefighting | Open on the second Saturday of each month[84] |
| Rankin Museum of American Heritage | Richmond | Sandhills | Multiple | website, natural history, paleontology, local history, Native American artifacts | |
| Red Barn Mountain Museum | Waynesville | Haywood | Western | Local history | History of area rural mountain life[85] [86] |
| Red Springs Museum | Robeson | Piedmont | Local history | [87] | |
| Cabarrus | Metro Charlotte | Mining | Gold mining museum and tunnels | ||
| Winston-Salem | Forsyth | Piedmont Triad | American art from colonial era to the present | ||
| Richard Childress Racing Museum | Davidson | Piedmont Triad | Automotive | website, includes over 50 cars of Richard Childress Racing | |
| Richard Gwyn Museum | Surry | Foothills | Local history | Operated by the Jonathan Hunt Chapter of the D.A.R., includes farm tools, domestic artifacts[88] [89] information | |
| Randolph | Piedmont | Automotive | Race car driver Richard Petty and vintage cars | ||
| Richmond-Miles History Museum | Caswell | Piedmont Triad | Local history | website, located in the Graves-Florance-Gatewood House, operated by the Caswell County Historical Association | |
| Right Track Toy Train Museum | Rutherford | Western | Toy | Model trains from the early 1900s to the present[90] | |
| Halifax | Inner Banks | Transportation | website, history of the Roanoke River Valley, the engineering feats of the Roanoke Canal and its later use as a source of hydroelectric power | ||
| Roanoke/Cashie River Center | Bertie | Inner Banks | Natural history | ||
| Manteo | Dare | Outer Banks | Multiple | Includes a museum ship, colonial and Native American living history site, local history museum, art exhibits | |
| Robeson County History Museum | Piedmont | Local history | website | ||
| Valdese | Burke | Western | Art | Community art galleries, operated by the Rock School Arts Foundation | |
| Rocky Mount Fire Museum | Rocky Mount | Nash | The Triangle | Firefighting | [91] |
| Rosetta C. Baldwin Museum | High Point | Guilford | Piedmont Triad | African American | Contributions of African Americans in local history[92] |
| Salisbury | Rowan | Metro Charlotte | History | Includes local history museum in a historic courthouse, the Old Stone House and the Utzman Chambers House | |
| Ruby City Gems & Minerals | Franklin | Macon | Western | Natural history | website, store with museum display of gems, minerals and fossils, Native American and pre-Columbian artifacts |
| Forsyth | Piedmont Triad | Railroad | Open for special events | ||
| Rural Hill Farm | Huntersville | Mecklenburg | Metro Charlotte | Open air | website, includes 265acres historic farm with eight historic structures and three reproductions |
| Rural Heritage Museum | Madison | Western | History | Part of Mars Hill University in Montague Hall, Southern Appalachian mountain culture and history[93] | |
| Burnsville | Yancey | Western | Local history | Located in the McElroy House, include period furniture and local history exhibits | |
| Rutherford County Farm Museum | Rutherford | Western | Agriculture | Antique farm and home equipment[94] [95] | |
| Rutherford Hospital Museum | Rutherford | Western | Medical | Historic medical equipment and hospital history[96] | |
| Sam Bass Gallery | Concord | Cabarrus | Metro Charlotte | Art | website, motorsports art by Sam Bass |
| Sampson County History Museum | Local history | website | |||
| Gaston | Metro Charlotte | Natural history | website | ||
| Winston-Salem | Forsyth | Piedmont Triad | Science | Science and natural history | |
| Scottish Heritage Center | Sandhills | Ethnic | website, part of the library of St. Andrews University, includes exhibits about the Scottish settlement of southeastern North Carolina | ||
| Scottish Tartans Museum | Franklin | Macon | Western | Ethnic | website, history of tartans, Scottish history, culture, dress, migration and military |
| Second Ward Alumni House Museum | Charlotte | Mecklenburg | Metro Charlotte | African American | Memorabilia of Second Ward High School and other Charlotte neighborhoods that were home to the black community[97] |
| Sechrest Gallery | High Point | Guilford | Piedmont Triad | Art | Part of High Point University[98] |
| Morganton | Burke | Western | Biographical | website, life, memorabilia and papers of Sam J. Ervin Jr., located on the campus of Western Piedmont Community College | |
| Moore | Sandhills | Historic house | website, operated by the Moore County Historical Association, includes the antebellum Shaw House, Garner House and Britt Sanders Cabin | ||
| Haywood | Western | Historic house | Includes decorative arts, handicrafts and furniture created by North Carolina artists | ||
| Haywood | Western | Historic house | Located in the Shook-Welch-Smathers House | ||
| Asheville | Buncombe | Western | Historic house | Victorian mansion and history exhibits | |
| Swain | Western | Railroad | Operated by the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, features Lionel model train engines, cars and accessories, large model train layout | ||
| Inner Banks | Open air | 1830 antebellum plantation and outbuildings | |||
| Winston-Salem | Forsyth | Piedmont Triad | Art | Contemporary art gallery | |
| Southern Appalachian Radio Museum | Asheville | Buncombe | Western | Technology | website, antique radios, equipment and history, located on the campus of the Asheville–Buncombe Technical Community College |
| Spring Hope Historical Museum | Nash | The Triangle | Local history | [99] [100] | |
| Martin | Inner Banks | Decorative arts | Includes original furnishings, southern folk art, antique duck decoys, quilts | ||
| Randolph | Piedmont Triad | Local history | Located in the St. Paul Methodist Episcopal Church, operated by the North Randolph Historical Society | ||
| Stanly | Metro Charlotte | Multiple | Includes local history exhibits, 1840s period Freeman-Marks House, 19th century I.W. Snuggs House | ||
| START Gallery | Winston-Salem | Forsyth | Piedmont Triad | Art | Part of Wake Forest University, student art gallery[101] |
| Stokes County Historical Museum | Foothills | Local history | website, located in the 1859 Wilson Fulton House, antique furniture and decorative items | ||
| Wilkesboro | Wilkes | Western | Multiple | Includes Mountain Culture Exhibit and mid-19th century Hutchinson Homestead | |
| Rocky Mount | Nash | The Triangle | Historic house | website, antebellum plantation home | |
| Swain County Heritage Museum | Swain | Western | Local history | Located in the Swain County Courthouse[102] [103] | |
| Black Mountain | Buncombe | Western | Local history | website | |
| Tannenbaum Historic Park | Greensboro | Guilford | Piedmont Triad | Open air | Includes Colonial Heritage Center, 1813 Hoskins House, restored 1830s barn, a replica kitchen and blacksmith shop; adjacent to the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park[104] |
| Tarkil Branch Farm's Homestead Museum | Duplin | Piedmont | Open air | website, 19th century homestead, includes 1830s Dogtrot house, smokehouse, tobacco barn, corn cribs, chicken house and other structures with exhibits | |
| Teach's Hole Blackbeard Exhibit and Pirate Specialty Shop | Hyde | Outer Banks | History | website, shop and exhibit about Blackbeard and pirates | |
| Textile Heritage Center at Cooleemee | Davie | Piedmont | Industry | Located in the Zachary House, history of the area textile industry, includes nearby Mill House Museum, set up for a typical mill worker's family[105] | |
| Alamance | Piedmont | Industry | website, features history and machinery of the textile industry, textile history of Alamance County, the Piedmont, and beyond | ||
| High Point | Guilford | Piedmont Triad | Art | website | |
| Things From Yesteryear Museum | Lenoir | Inner Banks | History | Open by appointment, includes antique appliances, cars, typewriters, cameras, medical equipment and Fostoria glassware[106] [107] | |
| Asheville | Buncombe | Western | Historic house | Victorian boyhood home of author Thomas Wolfe | |
| Davidson | Metro Charlotte | Local history | |||
| Tobacco Farm Life Museum | Johnston | Inner Banks | Agriculture | website | |
| Montgomery | Sandhills | Archaeology | Historic Pee Dee ceremonial mound with visitor center, two temples, a burial house, palisade wall and residence | ||
| Trail of Faith | Valdese | Burke | Western | Open air | website, fifteen open-air exhibits and replicas that trace the history of the Waldensians, a Christian spiritual movement |
| Transylvania Heritage Museum | Transylvania | Western | Local history | website | |
| Tryon Arts & Crafts School | Polk | Western | Art | website, exhibits include student work and area artists | |
| Craven | Inner Banks | Historic house | Modern reconstruction of the historical colonial governors' mansion of the Province of North Carolina | ||
| Boone | Watauga | Western | Art | website, operated by Appalachian State University | |
| Twin County Museum and Hall of Fame | Rocky Mount | Nash | The Triangle | Local history | History, culture, people, and accomplishments of Nash and Edgecombe Counties, located inside the train station[108] |
| UNC Charlotte Galleries | Charlotte | Mecklenburg | Metro Charlotte | Art | Two major exhibition spaces on the university's main campus and a gallery in the UNC Charlotte Center City building[109] |
| University of North Carolina at Asheville Galleries | Asheville | Buncombe | Western | Art | Includes Blowers Gallery at the Ramsey Library, S. Tucker Cooke Gallery in Owen Hall,[110] Highsmith Art and Intercultural Gallery[111] |
| New Hanover | Lower Cape Fear | Maritime | World War II battleship | ||
| Weaverville | Buncombe | Western | Historic house | Reconstructed late 18th century log house and farmstead outbuildings, birthplace of Governor Zebulon Baird Vance | |
| Vance County Historical Museum | Vance | Western | Local history | ||
| Van Every/Smith Galleries | Davidson | Metro Charlotte | Art | website, part of Davidson College in the Belk Visual Art Center | |
| Wilson | Inner Banks | Art | Sculpture park and museum[112] | ||
| Wake | The Triangle | Local history | website, includes Calvin Jones House and museum of history of Wake Forest College and local history | ||
| Waldensian Heritage Museum | Valdese | Burke | Western | Religious | |
| Walter L. Stasavich Science and Nature Center | Greenville | Pitt | Inner Banks | Natural history | Located in River Park North, includes an aquarium, live animals, wildlife dioramas, shells[113] |
| Waterworks Visual Arts Center | Salisbury | Rowan | Metro Charlotte | Art | website |
| Wayne | Piedmont | Local history | website | ||
| Greensboro | Guilford | Piedmont Triad | Art | Part of University of North Carolina at Greensboro, modern and contemporary art | |
| Weizenblatt Gallery | Madison | Western | Art | Part of Mars Hill University[114] | |
| Welcome Home Veterans Living Military Museum | Mooresville | Iredell | Metro Charlotte | Local history | website, located in Richard's Coffee Shop, includes photos, paintings, memorabilia |
| Charlotte | Mecklenburg | Metro Charlotte | History | Company history, gold mining, 19th-century stagecoach, bank branch model, coins | |
| Wellington B. Gray Gallery | Greenville | Pitt | Inner Banks | Art | Part of East Carolina University in the Jenkins Fine Arts Center[115] |
| Western Carolina University Fine Art Museum | Jackson | Western | Art | website, contemporary art, part of Western Carolina University in the John W. Bardo Fine & Performing Arts Center | |
| Western North Carolina Air Museum | Hendersonville | Henderson | Western | Aviation | website, historic aircraft and memorabilia |
| Durham | The Triangle | Mill | Reconstructed working grist mill, located in West Point on the Eno park | ||
| Southern Pines | Moore | Sandhills | Natural history | Longleaf pine forest, including geology, plants, animals and the use of prescribed fires | |
| Corolla | Currituck | Outer Banks | Historic house | 1925 Art Nouveau mansion | |
| Wheels Through Time Museum | Haywood | Western | Motorcycle | website, over 300 historic American motorcycles | |
| Whippoorwill Academy and Village | Wilkes | Western | Open air | website, includes Tom Dooley Museum, Daniel Boone replica cabin, an art gallery, store, jail, schoolhouse, chapel | |
| Whistlestop Exhibit at Company Shops Station | Burlington | Alamance | Piedmont Triad | Railroad | History of the North Carolina Railroad Company[116] |
| Wilbur A. Tyndall Tractor Museum | Lenoir | Inner Banks | Agriculture | Open by appointment, tractors, farm equipment and implements, advertisements, signs, agriculture and rural life memorabilia[117] | |
| Wilderness Taxidermy and Wildlife Museum | Franklin | Macon | Western | Natural history | Collection of taxidermied animals from around the world[118] |
| Wilkes Art Gallery | Wilkes | Piedmont Triad | Art | website | |
| Wilkes | Western | Multiple | Includes tours of the Old Wilkes Jail, Robert Cleveland Log House, and exhibits about early settlement, military history, industry, agriculture, medicine, communication, education, entertainment, and transportation | ||
| Wilmington Railroad Museum | New Hanover | Lower Cape Fear | Railroad | website | |
| Wilson Arts Center | Wilson | Wilson | Inner Banks | Art | website |
| World Methodist Museum | Lake Junaluska | Haywood | Western | Religious | |
| Dare | Outer Banks | Aviation | Includes museum, test site with outdoor displays and monument | ||
| Rockingham | Foothills | Historic site | Open by appointment with the Rockingham County Historical Society | ||
| Wrightsville Beach Museum of History | New Hanover | Lower Cape Fear | Local history | website | |
| Asheville | Buncombe | Western | African American | website | |
| Jackson | Western | Historic house | Operated by the Cashiers Historical Society, features a collection of hand-crafted 'plain-style' furniture | ||