Lenoir

Caswell No. 1 Fire Station Museum
The Caswell No. 1 Fire Station Museum preserves the oldest municipal building in Lenoir County and the first brick building in Kinston, the original fire station built in 1895. The museum collects, preserves, displays, and interprets artifacts and images relating to fire fighting in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Collections include equipment and items original to the Caswell No 1 Fire Station - a 1922 American LaFrance pumper, part of Kinston's fire alarm box system (still operational), an array of local fire hydrants representative of many early types, and various documents and photos - as well as other artifacts, helmets, nozzles, hoses, ladders, fire extinguishers, and memorabilia spanning 100 years used to show the progression of fire fighting technology and techniques over time.

CSS Neuse State Historic Site and Gov. Richard Caswell Memorial
The CSS Neuse and Caswell Memorial State Historic Site preserves what remains of the CSS Neuse, the Confederate ironclad that was burned and sunk not far from Kinston in the Neuse River in March of 1865. This site also serves to honor Richard Caswell, the first governor of the state of North Carolina and founder of the town of Kinston.

Wilbur A. Tyndall Tractor Museum
The Wilbur A. Tyndall Tractor Museum collects and exhibits John Deere, Massey, and other brand tractors dating to the early 1900's, other farm implements, advertisements, signs, agriculture and rural life memorabilia, and local history artifacts from the Pink Hill area. Also exhibited in conjunction with the tractor museum are the c.1840 Tyndall Farm House, the Stephen H. Davenport General Store, and a collection of 1930's and '40's bicycles.

La Grange Public Library (Neuse Regional Library System)
La Grange Public Library Law Library Collection
The La Grange Branch Library, a branch of the Neuse Regional Library System, maintains a small local history and law library for its patrons' research needs. The law collection includes, but is not limited to, the General Statutes of North Carolina, Strong's North Carolina Index, and the South Eastern Reporter. The collection also includes North Carolina resource texts and a small local history newspaper clippings file.

Kinston-Lenoir County Public Library (Neuse Regional Library System)
Kinston-Lenoir County Public Library Reference
The Kinston-Lenoir County Library, the headquarters for the Neuse Regional Library System, maintains a small local history collection and the Henry Pearson Art Library and collection. The collection includes art catalogs, series on particular artists and art forms, and reference materials. The Pearson Collection also includes broadsides, Pearson's paintings, and sculpture by local artists.

Community Council for the Arts
The Arts Center
The Community Council for the Arts (CCA) strives to enrich the lives of Kinston and Lenoir County residents by providing services and educational opportunities in support of artists, art agencies, and audiences. The CCA oversees twelve local organizations engaged in the arts in areas including but not limited to woodturning, bluegrass music, model railroading, choral music and voice, theater, film, visual art, and quilting. The CCA owns and operates The Arts Center, a visual art gallery housed in and preserving a downtown Kinston historic building, the former Midyette's Hardware Store, built in 1910 by G. W. Sumrell and H. H. McCoy and once home to the bottling operation that produced Orange Crush and Pepsi Cola in Kinston. The Art Center's permanent collection of local art is exhibited here in the CCA's offices. The Arts Center showcases the work of approximately 500 artists each year in temporary rotating exhibits.

Lenoir County Historical Association
Harmony Hall
The Lenoir County Historical Association promotes the history of Lenoir County through educational programs and preservation of local historic sites including Harmony Hall. Harmony Hall was built in 1772 by Jesse Cobb and his wife, Elizabeth Heritage Cobb, and has served as a residence to prominent historical figures of Lenoir County. It housed the offices of James Glasgow, Secretary of State, until 1781. The State Board of War and other official meetings were held there at this time. During the Revolutionary period, it was owned by Richard Caswell, First Governor of North Carolina after Independence was gained from Great Britain. The house was also the site of a Civil War Hospital, Church Annex, Public Library, and Women's Club building. The house was remodeled around 1790, again in 1835, and the most recent restoration was completed in 1984. Harmony Hall is open to the public for tours and special occasions.

Lenoir Community College, Learning Resources Center
Lenoir Community College Heritage Place
Lenoir Community College's Heritage Place was established in 1988 on the campus of Lenoir Community College as part of the Learning Resources Center. Research material focuses primarily on eastern North Carolina, Old Dobbs County, and Greene, Jones, and Lenoir Counties but also extends to a large section of Virginia. Extensive microfilm holdings include all available census records for North Carolina and through 1850 for Virginia. Collections include original documents, maps, photographs, books, artifacts, memorabilia and more and are open to the public.

Kinston-Lenoir County Parks and Recreation
Neuseway Nature Center
Environmental Education programs at the Neuseway Nature Center revolve around a touch tank, indigenous plants and wildlife exhibits. A separate facility features hands-on health and science exhibits, a live butterfly and hummingbird habitat, a planetarium and an observation deck. A green roof garden and information on solar energy also contribute to the educational programming at the center.

Caswell Center
Museum
Caswell Center, established in 1911, is the oldest and largest residential mental retardation care facility of its kind in North Carolina. The museum and visitors center displays the history of the Caswell Center, featuring the everyday life of the residents, the residential farm, arts and crafts, and medical care at the center. Exhibits contain personal artifacts, medical equipment, art, historic photographs and documents.

The Black Heritage Society, Inc. Cultural Heritage Museum
The museum pays tribute to the more than 200,000 Black soldiers and their 7,000 white officers who fought with the Union forces in the American Civil War, with emphasis on the U.S. Colored Troops from North Carolina; it pays tribute to Black military veterans from all wars; Carl Long and the Negro Baseball League players; local heroes, Africa and Black History in general.