Raleigh museums attract history buffs of all ages. Why not visit a unique museum in this North Carolina city while staying at a nearby Dunn bed and breakfast? Dunn, a city in Harnett County, is a short drive from Raleigh, the state's capital and second largest city. Known affectionately as the "City of Oaks," so named for its plethora of oak trees, Raleigh is one of the country's fastest growing cities. It's named after Sir Walter Raleigh, who sponsored the Colony of Roanoke. It's this piece of history, along with many others in its rich heritage, that makes Raleigh, North Carolina so special in terms of its legacy. It's easy to visit unique museums in this area simply because there are so many to choose from.
African American Cultural Center
355 Witherspoon Student Center
Box 7318
Raleigh, NC 27695-7318
(919) 515-5210
Located at the Witherspoon Student Center on the North Carolina State University Campus, the African American Cultural Center offers a Cultural Art Gallery which showcases the works of prominent African and African-American artists through changing and permanent exhibits. There's also an African American Library, where visitors can browse books and other materials promoting awareness of the roles African Americans have played in the city's history.
Joel Lane Museum House
728 W. Hargett St.
Raleigh, NC 27603
(919) 833-3431
The Joel Lane Museum House, constructed in the 1770s, is a landmark at the center of the old Wake Court House community. Dubbed the "Birthplace of Raleigh," it is so named after its owner, Joel Lane, who was a Revolutionary war soldier. In 1792, he sold 1,000 acres of his plantation to form the new state capital. Take a tour of this restored home, complete with period gardens and costumed guides. At only $5 for adults as of 2010, and free for children under six years old, this makes for an affordable day out.
Legends of Harley Drag Racing Museum
1126 S. Saunders St.
Raleigh, NC 27603
(919) 832-2261
Like Harley drag racing? You'll love visiting the only Harley-Davidson drag racing museum on the planet. Take a break from relaxing at your Dunn inn and head to S. Saunder Street where you'll find one of the biggest Harley dealerships in the country. On the second floor is the museum, a tribute to Ray Price, the world-famous drag racing champion. It's free to get in and is open every day of the week except Wednesdays.
North Carolina State University Insect Museum
4321 Gardner Hall
Box 7613
Raleigh, NC 27695
(919) 515-3595
One of the more unique Raleigh museums, the North Carolina State University Insect Museum features four main collections: NC State University Insect Collection; Genome Bank; NC State University Teaching Collection; and NC State University Outreach Collection. There are drawers and drawers of insects and cold storage collections for specimen use. It's recognized the world over for its internationally recognized systematic resource for insects and mites, so it's the place to go to learn anything you ever wanted to know about bugs.
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