9 Top-Rated Museums to Visit in Greensboro, North Carolina (2024)
Centrally located in the heart of North Carolina lies the thriving city of Greensboro. As the third-largest city in North Carolina, Greensboro is often described as the complete package since it offers a nice mixture of historical attractions and modern-day conveniences. Since people love living in Greensboro so much it is no surprise that everyone wants to move here. Plus, only 67 miles away from the capital city of Raleigh, Greensboro is truly found in the perfect location for some prime real estate. Over the years Greensboro has gone through many changes but the city’s ability to adapt to growth makes it not only an interesting place to live with lots to do but a dynamic city that appeals to all age groups. From museums and art galleries to outdoor green spaces and local events, never run out of fun things to do when living in Greensboro.
9 Top-Rated Museums to Visit in Greensboro, North Carolina
Without further ado, here is our list of the famous museums you can visit in Greensboro, North Carolina!
1. International Civil Rights Center and Museum
Located in a building that was once a site of a non-violent protest during the Civil Rights Movement, the International Civil Rights Center and Museum is a very educational and moving experience. In the year 1960, four African American students decided to sit at a segregated lunch counter called Woolworth’s and refused to leave after they were denied service. Considered to be the birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement, this moment in history went on to inspire others across the country and college students throughout the south to participate in sit-ins to fight for social justice and against racial segregation. This museum was then founded in 1993 and is a must-see for anyone interested in learning about Civil Rights History, particularly in Greensboro.
Timings: 10am-6pm.
2. Greensboro History Museum:
If you’re planning an exciting family holiday in Greensboro anytime soon, you might want to make your itinerary even more exciting by adding the Greensboro History Museum on your list of places to visit. Located in Summit Avenue, this informative attraction is where you’ll find the Smith Memorial Building and Presbyterian Church of Greensboro. It has fascinating exhibits and galleries that tell the history of Guilford County and Greensboro. Also, it offers educational programs for interested parties who want to dig deeper into the history of this side of America.
Timings: Tue-Sat: 10am-5pm; Sun: 2pm-5pm (closed on Mon).
3. Weatherspoon Art Museum:
For tourists who are into the art scene of Greensboro, Weatherspoon Art Museum is a fascinating attraction that you must not miss out on while in the city. The museum is nestled at the University of North Carolina. It houses a vast collection of breathtaking contemporary American art. It also bills itself as the home to the most extensive collection of 20th and 21st-century American art forms in the whole southeastern side of the country. Some of the collections you’ll find here include the collections from the University of North Carolina, The Lenoir C. Wright collection, The Claribel and Etta Cone collection, and more.
Timings: Tue, Wed, Fri: 10am – 5pm; Thu: 10am – 9pm; Sat – Sun: 1am – 5pm (closed on Mon).
4. Greensboro Children’s Museum:
If you are traveling to Greensboro with your family with the young kids in tow, be sure to take them to Greensboro Children’s Museum for a fun-filled day full of information and games. The museum aims to impart knowledge to younger generations by providing them with a vast playground with games and activities that result in hands-on learning. It showcases a total of 20 colorful and interesting permanent exhibits, including Pizza Pan, The Market, Health Center, Construction Zone, Post Office, and others. Plus, it also features an outdoor garden as an added teaching facility.
Timings: Mon: 9am – 12pm; Tue – Sat: 9am – 5pm; Sun: 1pm – 5pm.
5. Elsewhere:
If you have a soft spot for interesting eclectic art worth appreciating for its deeper meaning, Elsewhere Museum is the place for you. Nesting in a former thrift store, this fascinating museum houses diverse creative objects, paintings, and art installations that will surely pull a heartstring. What’s even more interesting about it is that it hosts various crafts from different artists, professional talents, and also the budding ones. More so, Elsewhere Museum offers internship programs for people who want to hone their craft.
Timings: Fri: 4pm-9pm; Sat: 11am-9pm; Sun: 12pm-5pm (closed on Mon-Thu).
6. Greensboro Science Centre:
A haven for science geeks and enthusiasts, Greensboro Science Center was established in 1957. It is both a science museum and a zoological park. It has lots of attractions inside for families, friends, and even couples on a romantic getaway. Greensboro Science Center features entertaining adventure theatre and OmniSphere shows. More so, the zoo has terrariums and aquariums that are home to fascinating land, sea, and air animals. It shelters tigers, golden lion tamarins, slender-tailed meerkats, red pandas, black howler monkeys, peacocks, turtles, a wide range of fishes, and so many more.
Timings: 9am-5pm.
7. Blandwood Museum:
The Blandwood Museum is a historic mansion that was originally built in 1795. This historic four-room Italianate farmhouse was once the home of North Carolina governor John Motley Morehead. Now a National Historic Landmark, this home and museum are open to the public for tours to learn more about the history of the home and what life was like as a high-income family in the 1800s. The grounds of this museum can also be rented out for weddings and special events.
Timings: 11am-4pm.
8. David Caldwell Historic Park:
David Caldwell Historic Park used to be the home of one of the founding fathers of Greensboro. It was built in the 18th-century, and it features a lovely vintage home and a grain mill replica. Also, the property is adjacent to the Tanger Family Bicentennial Gardens. The David Caldwell Historic Park has several amenities, including meeting rooms and public art where Dr. Caldwell used to teach the locals about the history of the country through visual art. Lots of tourists come to this place to admire nature and do their routine cardio exercises since it features tranquil walking trails and lovely views.
Timings: Tue, Sat: 10am-5pm (closed on Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun).
9. Tannenbaum Historic Park:
The last but not the least of remarkable museums to visit in Greensboro is Tannenbaum Historic Park. A museum and a park in one, it is an attraction located in New Garden Road, parallel to Guilford Courthouse National Military Park. It is an interesting place that showcases the people’s lifestyle in North Carolina during the 18th century. The park used to be the residence of the Hoskins family. At present, guests get to see a log cabin, a barn, an old kitchen, the Colonial Heritage Center, and a museum with archives of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse when they visit.
Timings: 8:30am – 5pm.
The museums in Greensboro give the very essence of its citizens and rich culture. If you are looking for something deeper and more meaningful, head to the museums in the city. Explore the cultural, artistic, scientific, or historical side of Greensboro with these museums. We have curated a variety of the best and free museums in the city, besides the usual arts or historical ones. Explore and engage yourself with the wonders of science at the museum of science in Greensboro. Get fascinated by the exceptional stories of heroes at war museums or memorials. You can go “WOW” with your kids at the history museums or enjoy some time at the children’s museum in Greensboro.