Updated: 4/11/2011 
Charlotte Museum of History and Hezekiah Alexander Homesite
Charlotte, North Carolina
Description

Located on a beautiful 8 acre park-like setting, the Charlotte Museum of History has been called "the most entertaining one-stop, two-hour history lesson in the Piedmont." The museum offers a comprehensive look at life in the Charlotte region from the Revoultionary War times to the present. Four galleries lead visitors from the early settlement days to the first U.S. gold rush, to the dark days of slavery, the Civil War and the rise of textiles and banking. The museum includes changing exhibits and hands-on learning for children as well.

In addition to the museum, multiple treasures on seven picturesque, park-like acres include:

- The Hezekiah Alexander Homesite, a fully-restored 1774 rock house (Mecklenburg Co.'s oldest surviving home), springhouse and kitchen house, as well as reconstructed barn, where daily tours and interpretive programs enable visitors to imagine themselves in the days of the Revolutionary War;

- The American Freedom Bell, the largest cast bell in the world viewed at eye level, created to honor those who dedicated their lives to the cause of freedom, and symbolizing the patriotic heritage of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and the Carolinas;

- The Backcountry Patriot Statue & Historic Gardens, a life-size bronze sculpture honoring Alexander and other patriots who supported the cause of independence, surrounded by gardens featuring plants used by 17th and 18th century American Indians for medicine, worship and food.

History

The Charlotte Museum of History offers Charlotte’s history over three centuries through a rich diversity of learning experiences. Originally founded to preserve the 1774 Hezekiah Alexander Homesite, the museum today offers living history programs on the historic grounds as well as exhibits and events at our spacious museum building. The Charlotte Museum of History receives over 50,000 visitors each year and caters to a wide variety of guests including those who participate in our daily living history tours and guided tours for school groups. The museum also hosts a variety of lecture series, educational opportunities, and partners with many local organizations for events and programs.

Artifact Collections

With over 10,000 objects, photographs and archives, the museum collections reflect the regions' rich history. Most noteable are the 18th century furnishings found in the Hezekiah Alexander House.

Programs

The Charlotte Museum of History offers extensive programming throughout the year. Regularly scheduled tours of the fully restored and furnished Hezekiah Alexander Home(circa 1774) are provided by costumed docents with mornings reserved for group visits.
Curriculum based educational materials, kits and outreach services are offered in addition to public tours and programs.

Governance

private not for profit

Library

Access: General Public

Appointment required: True

Services
Gift Shop
Event Rental
DISCLAIMER
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MUSEUM CONFERENCES

April 27 - April 29, 2025

Oregon Museum Association 2025 Conference

TBA

Independence, Oregon

Beginning in 2025, the OMA annual conference will be held in Spring rather than Fall

The conference this year is all about trying new things. We are hoping to organize the conference into the following four tracks: Collections Care, Leadership, Emergency Preparedness, and Tourism

Check our website for more details in early 2025

The OMA newsletter is emailed every month with updates on OMA events, museum news, other events, trainings, jobs, grants and more for the museum community in Oregon.

For more information, please email connect@oregonmuseums.org.

October 1 - October 4, 2025

Western Museums Association’s (WMA) 2025 Annual Meeting

TBA

Reno, Nevada

Save the Date for WMA 202

As we celebrate our 90th anniversary, join us to build relationships and soar higher than ever before. With the theme of ELEVATE, WMA 2025 will explore ways to lift up the experiences of cultural professionals and the communities they serve.

In Reno, Nevada, 4,400 feet above sea level, we will forward the progress of museums by looking to the future.

May 6 - May 9, 2025

2025 American Alliance of Museums (AAM) ANNUAL MEETING & MUSEUMEXPO

Los Angeles Convention Center

Los Angeles, California

AAM 2025 will focus on the theme, Museums & Trust.

Museums have long inspired high levels of public trust, surpassing news outlets, government organizations, researchers and scientists, corporations, and social media platforms. This consistent finding underscores our institutions’ unique position in society as stewards of knowledge, culture, science, and history—areas where credibility and reliability are paramount

In an era marked by mistrust and misinformation, museums have a rare ability to counterbalance the proliferation of false narratives and polarized perspectives. Using our trusted position, we can cultivate a more healthy, empathetic, and informed society.

But to do so, we must maintain our credibility proactively, embracing thoughtful, transparent, and collaborative practices that will defend against influences like bias, resource challenges, abuse of power, and social injustice

An Incredible MuseumExpo

AAM is again partnering this year with the Museum Store Association to host an incredible combined expo hall. Find the most innovative services, products, and solutions in the museum field. With 350 exhibitors, you are bound to find the right partner for your museum’s current challenges and opportunities.

May 5 - May 9, 2025

Museum Store Association FORWARD 2025 in LA

The Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles, California

Join MSA in LA

We’re excited about our next MSA FORWARD Conference & Expo in “The City of Angels” – Los Angeles, California in conjunction with the American Alliance of Museums

Join the Museum Store Association (MSA) and hundreds of nonprofit retail professionals for the 70th Annual MSA FORWARD Retail Conference & Expo, taking place May 5-9, 2025 at The Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California

Once again, MSA FORWARD will be held in conjunction with the 2025 American Alliance of Museums (AAM) Annual Meeting & Expo

Learn best practices and new ideas for store merchandising, operations, marketing, and sale

Participate in dedicated networking events and create connections that will inspire new ideas

Meet with over 200 MSA vendors about your product needs

Hear from knowledgeable industry experts during session breakouts and keynote presentations

Network with AAM attendees and exhibitor

September 10 - September 13, 2025

2025 Am Assoc for State and Local History Annual Conference

TBD

Cincinnati, Ohio

The 2025 AASLH Annual Conference, in partnership with Ohio Local History Alliance, will take place as the history field makes the final preparations to kickoff off the 250th commemoration of the founding of the United States.

The 2025 conference theme, inspired by AASLH’s Making History at 250: The Field Guide for Semiquincentennial, is an opportunity to broadly explore one of the guide’s themes, The American Experiment. For many in the American colonies in 1776, independence from Britain represented a “leap into the dark” into an unknown future

We are excited for you to join us in Cincinnati as we encourage discussion about our democracy and civic institutions and how they can help strengthen understanding, inspire action, and reveal ways that all of us can participate in and shape the ongoing American experiment.

For more information, please call 615-320-3203 or email info@aaslh.org.

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