Cape Fear Museum

Since 1977, Cape Fear Museum of History and Science has been a department of New Hanover County. Its founding collection dates to 1898 and consists of over 57,000 artifacts. The Museum collects, preserves and interprets objects relating to the history, science and cultures of the Lower Cape Fear. In 2015, the Museum transformed a parking lot into a community park that features interactive exhibits, native plant gardens and a host of educational programs throughout the year.

Exhibits

The Museum’s core exhibit, Cape Fear Stories, provides an overview of the region’s history, cultures, and related science from prehistory through the end of the 20th century. This exhibition educates visitors through artifacts, hands-on activities, models, vignettes and interpretive text. Children and adults explore STEM concepts in Space Place, meet one of Cape Fear region’s oldest residents in Giant Ground Sloth and discover the ecosystems of the Cape Fear area through hands-on components in the Michael Jordan Discovery Gallery.

Changing exhibits rotate offerings several times per year. Current exhibits include:

FIRE!
May 20, 2022 - November 26, 2023
A dynamic, dramatic exhibition that uses images and artifacts from the Museum's collection - as well as videos and interactive experiences - to explore the history and science of fire and firefighting.

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