Friends of the City of Raleigh Museum

Friends of the City of Raleigh Museum then.now.next. The Friends of the City of Raleigh Museum is a non-profit that supports the City of Raleigh Museum, as well as the M. T. Pope House Museum.

For more than 200 years, North Carolina’s capital city had no repository for its historical artifacts, no place to preserve its past, and no institution to educate its citizens and visitors. That all changed in 1993 when the COR Museum (formerly Raleigh City Museum) debuted its first exhibit. The COR Museum grew out of the dream of local historian Beth Crabtree, and after Beth’s death, the vision

and perseverance of Mary Cates, and countless dedicated volunteers. The museum operated as a nonprofit until July 2012, when the City of Raleigh assumed operational control. While the City remains in charge of the museum, it is also supported by the nonprofit Friends of the COR Museum. The COR Museum is an integral part of the community for the services it provides to the general public. As the state capital and as its own municipality, Raleigh has a unique history that is worth recognizing and sharing.

06/20/2026

Today at the Dr. M. T. Pope House we got to say hi to Dr. Pope's extended family!

Dr. Pope is the great, great uncle of Raleighites Bettina Pope and Jonas Pope IV, who stopped by on their way to celebrate the Canes' victory.

Raleigh by the numbers… 100 years ago! Did you know that in 1926, Raleigh had a population of around 35,000 people? Or t...
06/19/2026

Raleigh by the numbers… 100 years ago!

Did you know that in 1926, Raleigh had a population of around 35,000 people? Or that the city had nearly 7,000 telephones and only 55 miles of paved streets?

Published by the Chamber of Commerce, this brochure offers a snapshot of Raleigh nearly a century ago — documenting everything from schools and transportation to industry, technology, and daily life in the growing capital city.

What Raleigh fact surprised you the most?

Courtesy of the City of Raleigh Historic Resources and Museums Program — City of Raleigh Museum

If the Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup in 1872, what would the Parade route have looked like? The mural in our l...
06/18/2026

If the Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup in 1872, what would the Parade route have looked like? The mural in our lobby can tell you! Much of Downton Raleigh was residential in 1872, and there was no City Plaza where the Parade could end! All the streets (Hillsborough, Salisbury, Morgan and Fayetteville) occupied much the same places, but the Briggs Building, which houses the City of Raleigh Museum, wasn't built until 1874. Now, Briggs is lucky to have a prime spot to watch the Parade! We will be open regular operating hours Saturday, June 20th from 9am to 4pm, and GO CANES!

Gather at the Museum on July 18th for a dance workshop and powerful community arts experience celebrating many stories, ...
06/18/2026

Gather at the Museum on July 18th for a dance workshop and powerful community arts experience celebrating many stories, journeys, traditions, and lived experiences that shape our connections to America.

Through storytelling, movement, and collaborative artmaking, participants will explore personal histories, family journeys, and their own experiences in America through creative expression while contributing meaningful textile items such as fabric, scarves, T-shirts, and blankets. These collected materials may be incorporated as movement props or assembled into a temporary collaborative art installation featured during the final informal sharing. Together, participants will help weave a living reflection of memory, identity, resilience, and connection. This program is presented in partnership with Raleigh Arts and Arts Together.

Registration is required for this event! Search with keyword "Common" on Raleigh RecLink, or copy the link below: https://ncraleighweb.myvscloud.com/webtrac/web/iteminfo.html?Module=AR&FMID=543947698&InterfaceParameter=WebTrac

Update! The Dr. M.T. Pope House Museum now has a direct phone line. Please use (919)996-4190 for any questions regarding...
06/17/2026

Update! The Dr. M.T. Pope House Museum now has a direct phone line. Please use (919)996-4190 for any questions regarding the Pope House!

Join us in celebrating Juneteenth & learn more about its history! Special Deputy Attorney General Torrey Dixon, who bega...
06/17/2026

Join us in celebrating Juneteenth & learn more about its history!

Special Deputy Attorney General Torrey Dixon, who began his career as a civil rights attorney, will deliver the second of a two-part series on the legal and historical significance of Juneteenth in spoken word. This event is presented in partnership with Capital City Lawyers Association.

Sunday Spotlight ✨ Item of the WeekBold, graphic, and locally made.Created by Elemental Choice, these striking designs f...
06/14/2026

Sunday Spotlight ✨ Item of the Week

Bold, graphic, and locally made.
Created by Elemental Choice, these striking designs feature clean lines and intricate details that look great on notebooks, water bottles, or laptops. A fun way to support local creativity and take a piece of Raleigh’s art scene with you.

📍 Available in the City of Raleigh Museum gift shop
💲 $4.50

Support the Friends of the City of Raleigh Museum at Moore Square's Soccer Square Fan Fest. Enjoy a cold beer, root for ...
06/11/2026

Support the Friends of the City of Raleigh Museum at Moore Square's Soccer Square Fan Fest. Enjoy a cold beer, root for your favorite teams, and enter to win FREE WORLD CUP TICKETS!

See you June 11-14!

Winners must be physically present at Moore Square at the time of the drawing to receive their ticket
Winners will be announced at 8:30 pm on June 12th and 13th at Moore Square
Tickets are not re-sellable.
Physical tickets will be handed on the spot
A confirmation email will be received before leaving Moore Square
A photo of the winner with their ticket will be taken

Join us as we celebrate Juneteenth with “The Road from Emancipation to Freedom, Part II.”Presented by the Friends of the...
06/10/2026

Join us as we celebrate Juneteenth with “The Road from Emancipation to Freedom, Part II.”

Presented by the Friends of the City of Raleigh Museum in partnership with the Capital City Lawyers Association, this program features guest speaker Minister Attorney Torrey Dixon, J.D., M.Th.S.

Through spoken word, Dixon will explore the legal and historical significance of Juneteenth and reflect on the ongoing journey from emancipation to freedom.

June 19, 2026
2:00 PM
City of Raleigh Museum
220 Fayetteville St.

Join us for an afternoon of history, reflection, and community.

**New date! This Lunchbox Lecture has moved from June 11 to June 18.**Join us for our next Lunchbox Lecture with guest s...
06/10/2026

**New date! This Lunchbox Lecture has moved from June 11 to June 18.**

Join us for our next Lunchbox Lecture with guest speaker Katie Bushman as she shares “Mapping Raleigh’s LGBTQIA+ History.”

In spring 2025, graduate students from NC State University’s Public History program partnered with the City of Raleigh to create two story maps highlighting important sites connected to Raleigh’s LGBTQIA+ history.

Learn more about the project, their research process, and the stories uncovered along the way.

We hope to see you June 18 at 12pm!

Address

220 Fayetteville Street
Raleigh, NC
27601

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm
6pm - 9pm
Saturday 9am - 4pm
Sunday 1pm - 4pm

Telephone

+19199962220

Website

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