Written by:
Penny Robinson, REALTOR®, Broker
Keller Williams Realty
Phone: 919.791.7070
Email: pennyrobinson@kw.com
The Smithsonian of the South
Did you know that Raleigh, North Carolina is referred to as the Smithsonian of the south due to its unique concentration of museums? This capital city of North Carolina has an amazing mix of culture and has something for everyone interested in the arts. Below is a list of some of my favorite museums to visit in the Raleigh area.
North Carolina Museum of Art
Housing over 5,000 years of artistic heritage, this museum collections include African, Oceanic, New World, Egyptian, Greek and Roman, 20th-century and Jewish ceremonial art. The collection of Renaissance and Baroque paintings, with works by Van Dyck, Jan Brueghel and Raphael, is internationally recognized. Significant American paintings include works by John Singleton Copley, Winslow Homer and Georgia O'Keeffe. Admission to the museum and the permanent collection is free. There is a charge for select special exhibitions.
The Museum also has a park which consists of 164 acres of woodlands, open areas, trails, and monumental works of art. This is a rare opportunity to explore nature and art together.
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
Highlights of the Museum include; Willo, the world's only dinosaur with a fossilized heart, a real Acrocanthosaurus skeleton is on display and known as the "Terror of the South", four great whale skeletons in Costal Carolina, and an exhibit recreating North Carolina habitats including real animals and a 20 foot high waterfall.
The Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibit is to run from June 28 to December 28, 2008. Among the scrolls are some that date back 2,000 years, are 207 biblical manuscripts that represent every book in the Hebrew Bible. Four have never been on public display before and because of there fragile state, some may never go on exhibit again. Admission to the museum and the permanent exhibits is free. There is a charge for select special exhibitions.
North Carolina Museum of History & North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame
The collection contains more than 250,000 artifacts representing exhibits on agriculture, politics, folk life and the state's rich heritage. Located within the North Carolina Museum of History, the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame exhibits personal items donated by many of the 200 inductees. From Richard Petty's #43 racecar to Charlie "Choo Choo" Justice's #22 football jersey, this exhibit is a treat for all sports fans. Admission is free.
Sauratown Woman - outside of the NC Museum of History
North Carolina Railroad Museum
Visitors are invited to view the collection of train equipment, including a recently restored Vulcan Tank Steam Locomotive. The equipment on display at the museum is available for viewing during normal daylight hours - however the museum is only staffed on Work Days. Train Ride Days and Group Ride Days. To ride the rails, catch a one-hour adventure from Bonsal to New Hill and back. From May through November, guests can board the train the first Sunday of each month. Special holiday trains including the spooky "Halloween Express" in October and "Christmas Train" featuring Santa in December are always a hit. Admission charged for train rides only.
Raleigh City Museum
The city opened it's first exhibit in 1973, after 200 years of North Carolina's capital city having no repository for its cultural artifacts and no place to preserve its past. Since then, the Raleigh City Museum has dedicated itself to helping people understand the city's present through knowledge of its past by collecting, preserving and interpreting materials pertaining to Raleigh's unique history and culture. Admission is free.
African American Cultural Complex (AACC)
The African American Cultural Complex displays a collection that recounts the story of African-American contributions and is housed in a picturesque setting. One permanent exhibit highlights everyday items that were invented or include components of inventions made by African-Americans, including an ice cream cone, a bottle of peanut oil and an eggbeater. A replica of the Amistad slave ship is on display year round, although it shines July 19-22 and July 26-29, during the 9th annual production of the only outdoor drama written, produced and directed by and about African Americans in the U.S., The Amistad Saga: Reflections. Admission to the museum is free; there is a charge for the Amistad performance.
Marbles Kids Museum/IMAX Theatre
Across the Street from the Marbles Kids Museum
Marbles Kids Museum is a hands-on, interactive museum that inspires children to be creative thinkers, active learners and confident individuals in today's world. Some of the goings on this summer are Peter Pan Saturdays, Family Fun Night, Marbles Olympics, and Kickoff to Kindergarden. The IMAX Theatre at Exploris provides a medium to introduce new places, new people and new ideas to visitors of all ages. Admission charged.
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Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope to see you at some local arts events...
Penny Robinson
Phone: 919.791.7070
Website: http://www.pennyisyouragent.com
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed by those who are part of the ActiveRain community, including those providing comments relating to this blog, are their opinions and their alone - and do NOT reflect the opinions of Penny Robinson and Keller Williams Realty. Penny Robinson and Keller Williams Realty are not responsible for the accuracy (or lack thereof) or content provided by others.
Penny Robinson
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