CURRENT EXHIBITS

Made to Order: Kit Homes in Raleigh
Beginning in the early 20th century, companies such as Sears & Roebuck, Aladdin, Montgomery Ward, and Harris Brothers sold build-it-yourself houses through their catalogs! View pictures of Raleigh's best examples of these types of homes and learn how the trend impacted our city and the nation. Co-curated with the Raleigh Historic Development Commission.

The [R]evolution of Media
The history of newspaper, radio, and television in Raleigh is an exciting exhibit exploring the evolution of the three different media, and the revolutionary roles they have played in our city’s history.

CORE EXHIBITS

The [R]evolution of Media Let Us March On: Raleigh's Journey Towards Civil Rights
Raleigh experienced a time of great conflict and change during the mid-1950s to the mid-1970s. Come explore a city's struggle and journey towards equality during a difficult time in this country's history.

It Started With 1000 Acres
Come explore Raleigh history through an expansive timeline that starts with the founding days of the city. When was the only time in history that Raleigh's population dropped? When did the Capitol catch fire? Come find out.

Raleigh's City Flag: Lost and Found
Did you know Raleigh is one of 450 cities with a flag? How did the flag come into existence? Who designed it and what does it mean? Come learn the story behind one of Raleigh's most visible symbols.

PAST EXHIBITS

The [R]evolution of Media Higher Education in Raleigh
This exhibit explored the foundations of the seven different institutions of higher learning that have existed in Raleigh's past.

Portraits of Raleigh
This exhibit asked local photographers to take a "Portrait of Raleigh." Hundreds of submissions followed; the juried results on display presented Raleigh's past, present, and future through the unique angle of a camera lens.

The Art of Business
The Art of Business was an artifact heavy display of commercial art from Raleigh’s past. With artifacts including signage, print collateral, packaging, and advertisements, museum visitors got a glimpse of the beautiful craft that went into designing the business identities of the past.

Portraits of Raleigh 2
Following the success of Portraits of Raleigh, the museum curated another juried exhibit of photographs celebrating the city's history, places, and people.

Painted Archives
The museum's first ever one-man show, Painted Archives presented local artist Pete Sack's colorful interpretations of the museum's photographic collection.

Nature Unleashed: Disasters in Raleigh
This exhibit detailed Raleigh's weather-related catastrophes and explored how our community predicted, dealt with, and recovered from natural disasters such as hurricanes, blizzards, and fires. In addition to historic information and photographs, the exhibit highlighted the April 2011 tornadoes.

Your Place is by His Side: WWI Posters in Raleigh
This exhibit explored World War I and its impact on Raleigh through the colorful medium of poster art. In an era without television and popular radio, posters were an effective means of mass communication. No matter the message, posters asked the same essential question: How will you contribute to the war effort?