North Carolina is home to over 500 historical societies, preservation organizations, and heritage groups. From major institutions in Raleigh to small-town societies preserving local heritage, these organizations maintain vital connections to North Carolina's rich past.
Featured Historical Societies
North Carolina Museum of History
Location: Raleigh, NC
Founded: 1902
State's premier history museum exploring North Carolina from pre-colonial times to present. Features exhibits on Native American heritage, Civil War, folk arts, sports history, and the state's diverse cultural traditions.
Website: ncmuseumofhistory.org
Tryon Palace
Location: New Bern, NC
Founded: 1770 (palace), Museum 1959
Restored colonial capital and governor's mansion, North Carolina's first state capitol. Features period furnishings, gardens, and exhibits on colonial and early American life in the Carolinas.
Website: tryonpalace.org
Old Salem Museums & Gardens
Location: Winston-Salem, NC
Founded: 1950
Living history museum preserving the 18th-century Moravian settlement. Features original buildings, costumed interpreters, and exhibits on Moravian culture, crafts, and early North Carolina Piedmont history.
Website: oldsalem.org
Submit a Society
Know of other North Carolina historical societies? Help us expand this directory by submitting organizations you're familiar with.
Submit a Society →Additional North Carolina History Resources
- North Carolina Historical Society - Statewide history organization
- North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office - State historic preservation programs
- State Archives of North Carolina - State archives in Raleigh