Raleigh Attractions

The North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh offers long term and temporary exhibits on the history of the state. The museum offers informative displays on a variety of topics including the Civil War, Native Americans, women's history and more. The North Carolina Museum of History is also home to the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.

The J.S. Dorton Arena has been a fixture of the skyline of Raleigh for over 50 years. Groundbreaking and revolutionary in its design at the time of construction, the building still stands out as a unique aspect of the city. The J.S. Dorton Arena was listed as a National Historic Landmark in 1972. The arena seats 4750 people and has over 25,000 square feet of floor exhibition space.

The JC Raulston Arboretum is located on the grounds of the North Carolina State University. The plants on display here are considered the best examples of plants suited to the climate of the southeastern United States. The pleasant grounds of the JC Raulston Arboretum are a wonderful place to wander around and the gardening staff does a great job of ensuring that the flowerbeds are well maintained.

Fans of early American architecture will want to be sure to stop by Joel Lane House when in Raleigh. This home was built in the late 18th Century and has been carefully restored to its original appearance complete with décor of the times and period furniture. The home is on the National Register of Historic Places and is managed by the National Society of Colonial Dames of America.

Marbles Kids Museum is a hands-on, interactive attraction for children. There are five galleries and two outdoor escapes for kids from infant to age 12, and their families. The Wachovia IMAX Theatre, at the Marbles Kids Museum, features a 267-seat giant-screen experience with the only 3D capable IMAX theatre in North Carolina.

When touring Raleigh, be sure to stop in and see the North Carolina State Capital Building. Located on the historic Trolley Tour, the North Carolina State Capital Building is considered one of the best-preserved examples of Greek revival architecture. The Capital Building was completed in 1840 and is one of Raleigh's best-loved landmarks. The North Carolina State Capital Building is a National Historic Landmark.

THIS ATTRACTION IS CLOSED. SEE MARBLES KIDS MUSEUM.

The aptly named attraction of Playspace makes for a great afternoon out for young and old alike. Located in Raleigh, Playspace is a non-profit children's museum designed for children in infancy through until 11 years old. Playspace has many interesting features including a bank, art room, café, castle, block room, fire truck & car, grocery store, hospital exhibit, music & movement room, Puppet Theater, stage and dress ups, train & depot, and a water park.

One of America's largest think tanks is the "Research Triangle" in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area, where famous universities and research institutes abound.
The Research Triangle is more commonly referred to as simply "The Triangle".

The Coats Museum began in an effort to capture the history of the small town of Coats. The museum features themed displays on the military, 4-H, and aviators; historic furniture; farm and household items as well as family genealogy. On the grounds of Coats Museum is the Cotton Museum, which presents the whole cotton process from seed to product.

The House in the Horseshoe State Historic Site located near Sanford is a historical gem. Built in the late 18th Century, the home is considered one of the first houses of the North Carolina frontier country. The home is outfitted in the styles of the period and interesting artifacts are on display. The House in the Horseshoe State Historic Site has several events throughout the year; of particular note is the Annual Revolutionary War Battle Reenactment, held in early August.

For fans of this actress, the Ava Gardner Museum in Smithfield is a must-see. Ava Gardner has a lengthy and successful career spanning 44 years. In that time she starred in over 60 movies. The Ava Gardner Museum contains articles of interest from her life and also presents an accurate visual biography for her legions of fans. Of particular note are the paintings of Ava Gardner by Bert Pfeiffer.