Visit these Charlotte museums and learn about the Dark Passage, firefighting in the early 1900s, why we credit owls with “wisdom,” and more! Don’t miss these fun and entertaining museums in Charlotte:

     

  1. Mint Museum

    2. This must-see attraction actually incorporates two museums: the Mint Museum of Art and the Mint Museum of Craft & Design. North Carolina was the site of America’s first Gold Rush. The Charlotte Mint opened in 1835 to handle all of the gold discovered in Mecklenburg County. The current Mint Museum of Art and the Mint Museum of Craft & Design make use of the old site of the first branch of the U.S. Mint. To learn more about these museums in Charlotte please visit: www.MintMuseum.org.


     

  2. Discovery Place

    3. This ambitious museum includes the Charlotte Nature Museum and showcases exhibits like the Butterfly Pavilion, Insect Alley, and the Paw Paw Nature Trail. Interact with explosive science exhibits, watch an IMAX movie in the large domed theater, or learn about physics in the Machine Shop. To see more about one of the most interactive Charlotte museums, please visit: www.DiscoveryPlace.org.

     

  3. Charlotte Museum of History

    4. The Charlotte Museum of History not only chronicles Carolina history; it owns several buildings that make up the Hezekiah Alexander Homesite. Take a tour of these structures and learn what it was like to live in Charlotte in the 1700s. The Hezekiah Alexander House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is the oldest surviving structure in Mecklenburg County. For more about this fascinating museum please visit: www.CharlotteMuseum.org.

     

  4. Center for African American Arts & Culture

    5. The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts & Culture in Charlotte houses a wealth of information about the African American experience in North Carolina. View outstanding exhibits designed to teach you about the cultural journey from Africa to the Americas. See vintage photographs, artwork, and maps that help illuminate the African American cultural experience in America. As one of the most important museums in Charlotte, the Center for African American Arts & Culture is a must see attraction! To learn more about this valuable resource please visit: www.AACC-Charlotte.org.

     

  5. Billy Graham Library

    6. North Carolina was the birthplace of famous Evangelist Billy Graham. At the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, watch state-of-the-art films about Billy Graham’s life and how God worked through him to bring about change in the world. View exhibits, tour the restored Graham homestead, or eat an ice cream treat at the Graham Brothers Dairy Bar. For more information about Billy Graham and his library please visit: www.BillyGraham.org.

     

  6. Levine Museum of the New South

    7. The Levine Museum of the New South houses the award-winning exhibit: Cotton Fields to Skyscrapers. This interactive display puts North Carolina and Charlotte history in context and allows you to see the changes in technology, agriculture, and societal norms right before your eyes! For more information about one of the best Charlotte museums please visit: www.MuseumoftheNewSouth.org.

     

  7. Carolinas Aviation Museum

    8. The “first flight” state is home to a museum that celebrates many years of aviation history. Their collection of military and commercial aircraft documents the Carolinas’ role in aviation technology. Visit the Carolinas Aviation Museum and get a chance to sit in the pilot’s seat! For more information about one of the most interesting museums in Charlotte please visit: www.CarolinaSaviation.org.

     

  8. Charlotte Mecklenburg Fire Education Center and Museum

    9. This historic museum is located in a 79-year-old fire station in Uptown Charlotte. Displaying newspaper clippings, photographs, and memorials to fallen firefighters, this museum will teach you about fire history in Charlotte. In addition, the museum showcases a 1900s steamer horse-drawn pumper, a Mack Fire Engine from 1948, and a 1940s switchboard. For more information about one of the most interesting Charlotte museums please visit: www.Charmeck.org.

     

  9. ImaginOn

    10. This museum combines a children’s museum with a library. The result is a fun, interactive, educational museum and children’s theater that inspires and touches the hearts of children and teens. The Loft for teens and the Spangler Library for children offer cool, educational resources for a variety of different interests and ages. For more information about one of the most innovative Charlotte museums please visit: www.Imaginon.org.

     

  10. Carolina Raptor Center

    11. Just 15 minutes from Uptown Charlotte is the home of one of the country’s most extensive collections of birds of prey. Featuring bald eagles, owls, raptors – and more – the center is not only a museum but a wildlife refuge, recovery and rehabilitation center, and rescue and release facility. For more information about one of the most humanitarian Charlotte museums please visit: www.CarolinaRaptorCenter.org.