Greensboro History Museum
130 Summit Ave, Greensboro, NC 27401 - United States
In partnership with the community, the Greensboro History Museum – a Smithsonian Affiliate – collects the city's diverse history and connects people to that history and one another through engaging exhibits, educational programs and community dialogue. Its main building is an expanded historic church building that has over 20,000 square feet devoted to sharing stories and experiences. Adjacent to the main museum is the Mary Lynn Richardson Park which includes the historic Isley and McNairy Houses, as well as the Hockett Blacksmith and Woodworking Shops, and the First Presbyterian Church Cemetery.
The Greensboro History Museum holds and cares for more than 30,000 objects collected over a century. These tangible pieces of history illustrate the social, economic and cultural life of the Greensboro and Guilford County area. They also connect the city to important North Carolina, national and world stories. Noteworthy collections include military history, decorative arts, textiles, business and manufacturing. Some objects represent individuals with Greensboro connections, such as First Lady Dolley Madison, short story author O. Henry and NC Supreme Court Justice Henry Frye. Others highlight historic events, from the establishment of textile mills to landmark moments in the civil rights struggle, or bring together a single collector's lifetime work or the collective energy of people in the community.
The Greensboro History Museum is a division of the City of Greensboro Library Department and operates as a public-private partnership with the nonprofit GHM Inc. Through this support, museum admittance and programs are free to the public
Exhibits
Visitors can see permanent exhibitions "Voices of a City", a chronicle of Greensboro history from pre-colonial times to the early 2000s, and "Welcome to the Gate City", a re-creation of early-20th century Greensboro town square for all ages. Currently, visitors can see our new "NC Democracy: Eleven Elections" exhibition. Explore choices and change across 11 elections between 1776 and 2010. "NC Democracy: Eleven Elections" illustrates the twists and turns of who could participate, how voters cast their ballots, and what influenced decisions that continue to shape what democracy means today. What has democracy meant to different people at different moments in NC history? What was at stake in elections in 1835, 1898, 1920 or 1990? How do decisions then continue to matter now?
You’ll discover the documents that transformed how our state’s democracy has worked. You’ll confront changing values about what or who was important. You’ll follow the actions that have opened up and shut down opportunities for equal participation.
Participation in Museum Day is open to any tax-exempt or governmental museum or cultural venue on a voluntary basis. Smithsonian magazine encourages museum visitation, but is not responsible for and does not endorse the content of the participating museums and cultural venues, and does not subsidize museums that participate.