8 unique North Carolina museums you may not have visited

The state of North Carolina is home to hundreds of museums that showcase art, history, science, and discovery. 

Here are some of the unique and special ones you should visit this year.

American Museum of the House Cat in Sylva

Cat enthusiast Harold Sims has created a museum of cat memorabilia aimed at teaching visitors about what its website calls “the unique five million year relationship between man and the domesticated feline.” The site is open daily. Admission is $10 for adults, $8.50 for college students, $7.50 for teens ages 13-17, $5 for children ages 6-12, and free for ages 5 and under.

For more information, visit wnccatmuseum.org or call 828-476-9376.

Appalachian Pinball Museum in Hendersonville

Want to play? This museum has a collection of vintage and modern pinball machines and classic video games. A flat daily entry fee of $15 per adult, $13 for kids includes unlimited games. Open every day but Thursdays. 

For more information, visit facebook.com/pinballplayers or call 828-702-9277.

Ava Gardner Museum in Smithfield

North Carolina native Ava Gardner was an Academy Award-nominated film and television star. To learn about her life and career, visit this museum Tuesdays through Sundays. Admission is $14 for adults ages 18-64, $12 for military, college students, and those ages 65 and up, $8 for children ages 6-17, and free for children under age 6.

For more information, visit johnstoncountync.org/ava-gardner or call 919-934-5830. 

Country Doctor Museum in Bailey

This museum calls itself “the oldest museum in the United States dedicated to the history of America’s rural health care.” The museum has over 5,000 medical artifacts and historic texts. Open Tuesday through Saturday, admission costs $10.68 for adults, $8.54 for those ages 55 or older, and $5.34 for students ages 5-18 or with a college ID.

For more information, visit countrydoctormuseum.org or call 252-235-4165.

McCandless Collection in Burlington

This car museum transports visitors back to “The Forward Look Era” with vintage automobiles from 1955-1961, as well as signs, clocks, and other automobile memorabilia. The museum is open Monday through Saturday, by appointment only.  

For more information, visit mccandlesscollection.com or call 336-792-2254.

Moogseum in Asheville

Robert Moog was a pioneer in the development of the synthesizer. His foundation created what it calls a “one-of-a-kind immersive, interactive museum” to introduce visitors to Moog’s legacy and electronic music. Open daily, admission is $11.75 and free for kids ages 7 and under.

For more information, visit moogseum.org or call 828-258-1262. 

Museum of the Bizarre in Wilmington

“If it’s strange, weird, unusual or a collectible oddity, (YOU’LL SEE IT HERE!)” is the slogan of this museum. Its exhibits include a laser vault, trilobites, and an array of artifacts. Open daily, admission is $3. 

For more information, visit museumbizarre.com or call 910-399-2641.

Richard Petty Museum in Randleman

Since 1988, the Petty Museum has shown visitors the history of NASCAR and the life of stock car racing legend Richard Petty. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for those ages 65 and up, $7 for children ages 4-12, $10 for military with ID, and free for kids ages 3 and under. The museum is open on weekdays. 
For more information, visit richardpettymuseum.com or call 336-495-1143.