Family Attractions
Historical & Educational Sites
Visit historical and educational sites across Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill.
Stagville State Historic Site
5828 Old Oxford, Highway, Durham, NC 27712
Historic Stagville, located in Durham, NC, preserves the history of one of North Carolina’s largest plantations in the 19th century, where over 900 enslaved individuals lived and worked. The site includes the Bennehan family house, built in 1799, the Horton Grove slave quarters from 1851, and a barn from 1860. Spanning 165 acres, Stagville offers visitors a chance to learn about the history of slavery in the region through research, preservation, and descendant engagement. The site is free for outdoor self-guided tours, with guided tours available for a small fee.
🚘 Distance: 215.5 miles away
E. Carroll Joyner Park
701 Harris Rd, Wake Forest, NC 27587
Experience the rich history and natural beauty of Wake Forest at E. Carroll Joyner Park. This scenic 117-acre park features restored farm buildings, a pecan grove, and a 1,000-seat amphitheater for the Six Sundays in Spring concert series. Visitors can explore tranquil spaces like the Walker Garden and Performance Garden, along with three miles of walking trails and a stunning 2,000-foot stone ribbon wall. The state-of-the-art Joyner Park Community Center blends seamlessly with its surroundings, offering a modern gym, walking track, dance studio, and versatile activity rooms, while preserving the park’s rustic charm.
🚘 Distance: 218.0 miles away
Wake Forest Historical Museum
414 N. Main Street, Wake Forest, NC, 27587
The new museum, located behind the historic Calvin Jones House, combines modern architecture with a nod to the past. The space is designed to resemble a nineteenth-century barn and features high windows, exposed beams, and climate-controlled areas to protect the museum’s valuable exhibits. The museum includes an auditorium, exhibit hall, library, and the Edwin G. Wilson Reception Gallery, named in honor of Wake Forest University Provost Emeritus, Edwin G. Wilson.
🚘 Distance: 218.7 miles away
Hugh Mangum Museum of Photography
5101 N Roxboro St, Durham, NC 27704
The Hugh Mangum Museum of Photography is located at West Point on the Eno, a 404-acre park in Durham, NC. The museum showcases the historic photography of Hugh Mangum, a Durham photographer active in the early 20th century. Visitors can explore Mangum's portraits, which capture the lives of people in the rural South. The museum is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from mid-January to mid-December, with free admission. It is a part of the park's historical offerings, alongside the West Point Mill and other preserved sites.
🚘 Distance: 219.8 miles away
Duke Homestead
2828 Duke Homestead Rd, Durham, NC 27705
Duke Homestead State Historic Site in Durham, NC, preserves the historic home, farm, and tobacco factory of Washington Duke and his family. The site showcases the early farming life and the beginnings of their tobacco manufacturing business. Visitors can explore historic structures, including a tobacco curing barn, pack house, and the Duke family's home. The museum features exhibits on the history of tobacco farming, manufacturing, and advertising. Guided tours are available, and the site also offers educational programs and field trips. Admission is free, with a small fee for guided tours.
🚘 Distance: 222.2 miles away
Bennett Place
4409 Bennett Memorial Rd., Durham, NC, 27705
Step back in time at Bennett Place, the historic Durham site of the Civil War's largest Confederate surrender in 1865. This meticulously reconstructed farmstead features James Bennett's original home, kitchen, and smokehouse, offering visitors an authentic glimpse into Civil War-era Southern farm life. As part of the Civil War Trails and NC Historic Sites, this landmark preserves the pivotal meeting place of Generals Johnston and Sherman.
🚘 Distance: 223.7 miles away
SEEDS
706 Gilbert Street, Durham, NC 27701
Founded in 1994, SEEDS is a two-acre urban garden and kitchen classroom in the heart of Durham. SEEDS develops the capacity of young people to respect life, the earth, and each other through growing, cooking, and sharing food. We offer classes and workshops for adults and children, summer camp, volunteer opportunities, youth internships, festivals, field trips and educational outreach, community garden beds and support, and rental spaces. Or, if you simply want to use the garden as a space to relax and get away from the world, that's fine too. Check out our website for everything that's available! Come out and visit us! Hours: Tuesday - Thursday: 9 am - 2 pm Friday: 9 am - 12 pm Saturdays and Sundays: Check our calendar for select open hours
🚘 Distance: 224.2 miles away
Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice
906 Carroll St, Durham, NC 27701
The Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice, located in Durham, NC, honors the life and legacy of Pauli Murray, a groundbreaking figure in civil rights, law, feminism, and LGBTQ+ rights. The center is housed in Murray's childhood home, a National Historic Landmark, and offers programs that promote justice, equity, and activism through history, arts, and community engagement. The center's educational efforts focus on Pauli Murray's significant contributions to desegregation, women's rights, and LGBTQ+ equality. Visitors can explore exhibits, participate in community dialogues, and attend workshops that connect Murray's work to contemporary social justice issues.
🚘 Distance: 224.9 miles away
Robertson Millpond Preserve
6333 Robertson Pond Road, Wendell, NC, 27591
The StoryWalk® Project invites families to enjoy children's books while exploring nature. Featured at several Wake County park locations, StoryWalk® displays pages of a book along a park path, creating an interactive and educational experience. Visitors can engage in this self-paced activity while walking and enjoying the outdoors. Each month, different books are highlighted at various parks, making each visit a unique adventure for kids and families.
🚘 Distance: 228.6 miles away
Wright Brothers National Memorial
1000 N Croatan Hwy, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948
The Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kitty Hawk, NC, commemorates the historic achievement of Wilbur and Orville Wright, who made the first successful powered flight on December 17, 1903. This site preserves the location where their courageous experimentation in aviation began, changing the world forever. Visitors can explore the memorial, learn about the Wright brothers’ journey, and view exhibits on the history of flight. The park also offers educational programs and events, including a celebration of the First Flight each December.
🚘 Distance: 231.7 miles away
North Carolina Museum of Art
2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh, NC, 27607
The North Carolina Museum of Art redefines cultural education through innovative programs and immersive experiences. Our pioneering 'flipped museum' model combines digital engagement with in-person exploration, while our bilingual take-home activity kits bring artistic discovery directly to families. Through compelling exhibitions and collaborative learning opportunities, we're making art accessible to diverse communities across North Carolina, fostering creativity and cultural understanding for visitors of all ages.
🚘 Distance: 232.1 miles away
Lake Crabtree County Park
1400 Aviation Parkway, Morrisville, NC, 27560
Lake Crabtree County Park is a 215-acre public park along the shores of a 520-acre lake in Wake County, North Carolina, offering outdoor recreation and natural beauty for visitors of all ages. The park features waterfront access with boat rentals and fishing (catch-and-release), picnic areas and shelters, playgrounds, volleyball courts, environmental education programs, and scenic trails for walking, hiking and biking. It also connects to regional greenway networks and provides space to enjoy wildlife viewing and water activities like kayaking and sailing.
🚘 Distance: 232.3 miles away