Raleigh City Museum

The Raleigh City Museum presents the history of North Carolina's capital through photographs, documents, and objects from different periods. The collection spans from the city's founding era through its modern development, showing how Raleigh grew and changed over generations.

The building dates to 1874 and originally served as a hardware store with distinctive architectural features like a preserved tin ceiling. The museum opened in 1990 and has operated in this historic structure ever since.

The museum documents how people from different backgrounds shaped Raleigh and influenced its growth through their work and presence in the community. Visitors can see how various groups contributed to the way the city developed and changed over time.

The museum sits on Fayetteville Street in the downtown area and is easy to reach on foot. Plan your visit with the opening hours in mind, as they vary by day of the week.

The building was a well-known hardware store for many years before being converted into a museum, giving the structure a second life. This transformation shows how older buildings can find new purpose in a growing city.

Location: Raleigh

Inception: 1990

Website: https://raleighnc.gov/places/city-raleigh-museum

GPS coordinates: 35.77760,-78.63940

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:44