The Story of North Carolina, the largest exhibit ever produced at the NC Museum of History in Raleigh, opened to rave reviews in 2011. This exhibit, that closed on October 6, 2024, traced life in North Carolina from its earliest inhabitants through the 20th century. 

More than 14,000 years of the state’s history unfold through fascinating artifacts, multimedia presentations, dioramas, and hands-on interactive components. Additionally, two full-size historic houses and several re-created environments immerse museum visitors in places where North Carolinians have lived and worked. Yet the heart of The Story of North Carolina focuses on the people—both well-known and everyday citizens—who shaped the Tar Heel State.

Highlights in the first part of The Story of North Carolina included American Indian life, European settlement, piracy, the American Revolution, and early 1800s farm life. The exhibit continues through the antebellum era, the Civil War, the rise of industry, the Great Depression, the two World Wars, and the Civil Rights movement.

Couldn’t make it to the museum in person? Check out this 360˚ tour of our largest exhibit! 

Click on the large white circles to move through the space, and use your mouse or your arrow keys to maneuver around. You can view full screen, zoom in, and spin around, too. Be sure to keep an eye out for some of our staff. They’re waiting throughout the exhibit to introduce you to new sections as you “stroll” through.

The North Carolina Museum of History Foundation received funding for these virtual tours in an NC CARES: Humanities Relief Grant from the North Carolina Humanities Council, nchumanities.org; funding for NC CARES was provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act economic stabilization plan.