Mecklenburg

Hugh Torance House and Store
The oldest standing store building in North Carolina, the Hugh Torance House and Store is one of Mecklenburg's few remaining 18th century structures. The log portion of the house was built c. 1779 with a storehouse addition c. 1787 and a Federal addition c. 1805. Hugh Torance House and Store, Inc. is a non-profit organization responsible for restoring and preserving this historical site. Tours of the site focus on the life of Hugh Torance and his son James. Hugh was a merchant and planter and James operated a store from this site 1805-1825. His store records survive. Interior woodwork is similar to that found in Latta Plantation.

Historic Rosedale Plantation
Historic Rosedale Plantation is dedicated to preserving and promoting the heritage of the Southern Piedmont through the preservation, exhibition, and interpretation of the architecture, decorative arts and lifestyle of the 19th century Catawba region. Rosedale, an example of Federal period architecture, was built in 1815 by Charlotte merchant Archibald Frew and occupied in the 1830s by D.T. Caldwell and his family. In addition to his medical practice, Dr. Caldwell ran the plantation with the support of 20 slaves. Features of the historic house include faux-grained woodwork, hand-carved wooden moldings, and French wallpaper that survives in three rooms.

Discovery Place, Inc.
Discovery Place, Inc, is an ever-changing, ever-growing, cutting edge science and technology center operating the IMAX Dome Theater; a variety of interactive Discovery Halls; educational programs including workshops and classes for children, adults, and families; and the Charlotte Nature Museum, an urban science center that exhibits the animals and plants of the Piedmont. Discover Place also houses various timely and relevant traveling and temporary exhibits in its state-of-the-art downtown facility. Discovery Place is dedicated to exploration and discovery of the scientific and technological in the world around us.

Carolinas Historic Aviation Commission & Museum
The Carolinas Aviation Museum is housed in the original hangar built for Charlotte's first municipal airport. Numerous aircraft are on exhibit including an operational DC-3 built in 1942 and restored in 1987 by Piedmont Airlines. There are also rotating exhibits of aviation memorabilia and artifacts. The Aviation Museum Library collects, preserves, and makes accessible books, periodicals, technical manuals, photographs, artifacts, and other items related to aviation.

Matthews Historical Foundation
Reid House
The Reid House was built in 1890 by Edward Solomon Reid, a businessman in Matthews, and sold to his sister Ellen in 1893, the year she married Dr. Thomas Neely Reid. Dr. Reid's youngest child, Miss Nancy Reid, born 1898, lived in this house until her death in 1986. The Reid House is a unique example of Victorian Queen Anne style architecture in the area and features a Chinese Chippendale porch railing, rounded turret, and ornate gingerbread cupola. This historic home is open to the public by appointment and is a charming setting available for public and private special events.

President James K. Polk State Historic Site
This site is located on land once owned by the parents of James K. Polk, the 11th U.S. president. Born in 1795 on the 250-acre farm worked by his parents, Jane and Samuel, James Knox Polk spent most of his childhood among these gently rolling hills of Mecklenburg County. The museum here interprets significant events in the Polk administration: the Mexican War, settlement of the Oregon boundary dispute, and the annexation of California, and exhibits artifacts from the Polk family, the local area, and the career of James K. Polk. Reconstructions of typical homestead buildingsΓÇöa log house, separate kitchen, and barnΓÇöare authentically furnished and are open to the public. The Visitor Center features a film on Polk's life and civic contributions.

Historic Latta Plantation
Historic Latta Plantation is an early 19th century living history farm featuring the Latta plantation house built in 1800 by James Latta. A successful cotton plantation, the Latta plantation is interpretted much as it would have been in the years prior to the Civil War. The site is open to the public and special events are held throughout the year. Recent exhibits and programs focus on African American life and the lives of women on the plantation and have expanded the time period covered to include the late 18th century and the post-war eras.

Mint Museums
The Mint Museum of Art features a rich collection of American fine and decorative arts with particular strengths in pre-Columbian art and traditional European ceramics; while the Mint Museum of Craft + Design presents the ever-evolving field of international studio craft and design.

Davidson College
Van Every/Smith Galleries
On either side of the front entrance of the Belk Visual Arts Center are the William H. Van Every, Jr. and Edward M. Smith Galleries, providing over 2,000 square feet for exhibitions. The College's 2,700-piece permanent collection is housed in climate-controlled quarters in the basement with adjoining rooms for preparation and materials storage. These areas are managed by the Gallery Director. Gallery exhibitions by student, faculty, regional, national, and international artists change about every six weeks.

Levine Museum of the New South
The mission of the Levine Museum of the New South is to engage a broad-based audience in the exploration and appreciation of the diverse history of the American South since the Civil War, with a focus on Charlotte and the surrounding Carolina Piedmont. The centerpiece of the Museum is the award-winning exhibition, Cotton Fields to Skyscrapers: Charlotte and the Carolina Piedmont in the New South. Covering 8,000 square feet, the exhibit features Charlotte and its 13 surrounding counties as a case study to illustrate the profound changes in the South since the Civil War. The Levine Museum also features rotating exhibitions as well as a variety of programs, festivals, and events, that present opportunities for all ages to explore the history of the New South.

Charlotte Museum of History & Hezekiah Alexander Homesite
The Charlotte Museum of History, an educational organization, captures and shares the story of the Charlotte region from settlement forward through exhibits and programs. The museum collects, preserves, researches, and interprets regional artifacts, including the oldest surviving house in Mecklenburg County, the 1774 Hezekiah Alexander Homesite.

UNC-Charlotte
Special Collections, Atkins Library
The Special Collections Department preserves and makes available original research materials for UNC Charlotte faculty and students and for members of the local and scholarly communities. The unit was established in 1973 to administer the library's rare book and manuscript collections and the University Archives. Since that time the unite has grown to include an oral history collection and to administer both the Local Documents Collection and the University Art Collections.

Johnson C. Smith University
Inez Moore Parker Archives and Research Center
The Inez Moore Parker Archives and Research Center preserves, selects, and makes accessible vital information pertaining to the University's history, administrative operations, and the Black experience. The archives is a place where the preservation of materials are kept for administrative and researchers' use.

Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church
Archives
The Archives of the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church preserves the records of the Western North Carolina Annual Conference and its antecedents and fosters historical research and archival preservation in the local churches of the Annual Conference. They collect records of local churches that have closed, but not of active churches.

Mint Hill Historical Society
Mint Hill Country Doctor's Museum
The Mint Hill Historical Society preserves and makes available to the public historical records and artifacts pertaining to historic rural life in the Mint Hill area, in order to promote interest and pride in the history of the area, while also providing opportunities for cultural education to the community at large. The Mint Hill Country Doctor Museum, a project of the Mint Hill Historical Society, interprets a country doctor's office including an obstetrical room and compounding area. Artifacts on display tell the story of the country doctor and provide a picture of the practice of medicine in the Piedmont area of North Carolina. Also on the museum site is the Ira V. Ferguson Country Store, which is furnished with memorabilia from the turn of the century.

Charlotte Jewish Archives at the Levine Sklut Judaic Library and Resource Center
The Levine-Sklut Judaic Library and Resource Center houses the collections of the Charlotte Jewish Archives. The prurpose of the archives (formerly the Charlotte Jewish Historical Society) is to actively collect, record, document, and preserve the history of the Charlotte Jewish community. The collections include written records, documents, photographs, and video oral histories of prominent individuals and institutions in the Jewish community. The Charlotte Jewish Archives is one part of the entire Levine-Sklut Judaic Library and Resource Center which provides access to Jewish educational services to an area network of Jewish schools, congregations, community centers, organnizations and families.

Duke Energy Archives
The Duke Energy Archives collects, preserves, and houses the corporate records of the Duke Energy Corporation. The collection includes many artifacts illustrating the evolution of electrification in Charlotte and Piedmont North Carolina, some of which are on display in the Levine Museum of the New South. The Duke Energy Archives are open by appointment only to approved researchers.

Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte
Archives
The Diocesan Archives is the official repository for the administrative records of Bishops, Diocesan offices and departments, institutions, agencies, priests, permanent deacons, and religious orders. In addition, it contains the annual reports of parishes and schools, deeds, construction files, blueprints, photographs, microfilmed sacramental records, and permanent financial records. A vertical file of historical information and a reference library are available. Access to the Archives is encouraged for scholarly research in keeping with the precepts of canon and civil law, and the protection of legitimate rights to privacy and confidentiality.

Davidson College
Archives
The Davidson College Archives serves the Davidson College community in the preservation and administration of institutional records and manuscript collections. The primary purpose of the Archives is to collect, preserve, maintain and make available institutional records of administrative, legal, fiscal, or historical value. The Archives also serves as a repository for manuscript collections which are related to the College and the town of Davidson, or relevant to the College's curriculum. In conjunction with the preservation of historically valuable records, the Archives administers the College's records retention program overseeing the offsite storage, reference use of inactive records, and timely destruction of outdated records.

Queens University of Charlotte
Archives
The Barton Jackson Cathey Archives houses materials relating to the history of Queens University of Charlotte and its antecedent institutions. It also contains materials relating to the Presbyterian Church's connection with the college at its various stages. In addition, some items reflect the history of the Charlotte area and include a limited number of personal collections. The Archives serves the Queens University of Charlotte academic community, alumni, and interested researchers by preserving, administering, and providing access to institutional records and manuscript collections. The Archives preserves materials relating to the University's origin and development, as well as evidence of its contribution to our cultural and intellectual heritage.

Hendrick Motorsports Museum
The Hendrick Motorsports Museum preserves and exhibits cars, trophies, and memorabilia from the Hendrick Motorsports racing teams including those of Rick Hendrick, Tim Richmond, Geoffrey Bodine, Jeff Gordon, Terry Labonte, Jimmy Johnson, Brian Vickers and Kyle Busch. Visitors can also get a behind the scenes view of several of the teams working on racecars in the team shops.

Mecklenburg County Mapping-GIS Services
The Land Records Management Division creates, maintains, and disseminates Mecklenburg County geographic information tp support internal and external land planning, land management efforts, and general research for the public. Originally designed to supply the public with accurate base mapping, our geographic information system (GIS) has since evolved into the Mecklenburg County's main source for tax parcel mapping, digital aerial photography, topographic/DTM information, planimetric base mapping, City/County street addressing, survey information and numerous other location-based information and support services. Mecklenburg County Mapping GIS also collects historic maps of the area for inclusion in their GIS database and digital resource.

Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County
Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room
The Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room, a department in the Main Library, houses historical information on Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and North Carolina as well as genealogical and current information, especially resources focusing on the eastern part of the United States. The Library's special collections, including sound recordings related to North Carolina, photographs of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, archives and manuscripts, surname and biography files local and state government documents, public and private school publications and area maps are housed in the Carolina Room. Patrons will find a large collection of both print and electronic resources including census microfilm, indexes and abstracts, and a variety of CDs of genealogical interest.

Catawba Valley Scottish Society, Inc.
Rural Hill Farm
Rural Hill Farm is the historic homestead of Major John and Violet (Wilson) Davidson. John Davidson was an American officer serving in the Revolutionary War and a signer of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. Rural Hill Farm, established in 1760 and encompassing some 265 acres, is the oldest and largest public historic site in Mecklenburg County. It is also a center for the study of Scottish heritage and interpreting the Davidson plantation/farm (lasting six consecutive generations), providing historical, agricultural and environmental programming. The Catawba Valley Scottish Society (CVSS) hosts such heritage and cultural events as the Loch Norman Highland Games, the Battle of Cowan's Ford reenactment, the Amazing Maize Maze and the Rural Hill Sheep Dog Trials. Rural Hill Farm is open for daily visitation and tours Monday-Saturday, 10am-4pm.

Town of Matthews
Matthews Historic Depot Museum
The historic Matthews depot was built in the late 1880's shortly after the first train, the Carolina Central Rail Way, came through town. This restored building is now home to the Matthews Chamber of Commerce and a small history museum celebrating the heritage of Matthews. The museum is open to the public.

Wadsworth House
The George Pierce Wadsworth House is located at 400 South Summit Avenue in the Wesley Heights neighborhood within walking distance of uptown Charlotte. Louis H. Asbury designed the house in 1910 for Wadsworth, a local businessman who lived in the house until 1930. The house belonged to James and Pearl Ramsey from 1940 to 1967, then it was turned into a funeral parlor from 1969 to 2000. Judge Shirley L. Fulton who had organized a nonprofit community development organization to revitalize the Wesley Heights neighborhood, bought the house in 2000. The house was restored, maintaining most of its original features, and was reopened as the Wadsworth Conference and Events Center on August 21, 2001. Tours of the house are available by appointment.

Reedy Creek Nature Center
Reedy Creek Nature Center serves as the gateway to the 727-acre Reedy Creek Nature Preserve and is the source for educational programs and information on the preserve's natural communities, flora, and fauna. The preserve protects the major tributaries of Reedy Creek, a natural heritage site, and areas of cultural significance including the ruins of the Robinson Rockhouse. The Nature Center has a teaching collection of taxidermy animals as well as documents and artifacts relating to the Robinson Rockhouse.

Second Ward High School National Alumni Foundation, Inc.
Second Ward Alumni House Museum
Second Ward High School (1923-1969) was the first public high school for Blacks in Charlotte-Mecklenburg. While the original building does not survive, alumni -- through the Foundation -- purchased a house and designated it "The Alumni House/Museum" to store and display documents, artifacts and memorabilia. There are also exhibitions focussing on the eight Black communities in Charlotte that had an impact on Second Ward High School.

Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation Department
Alexandriana
Site of the signing of the controversial Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence.

Afro-American Cultural Center
Through comprehensive programs and presentations in the visual arts, performing arts and through innovative educational programs, the Afro-American Cultural Center (AACC) preserves, promotes, and presents African-American art, history, and culture to all citizens of Charlotte-Mecklenburg, the surrounding counties and the nation. The Afro-American Cultural Center exists to be a reflective prism of the African-American Experience, be a catalyst for cultural, social-political and artistic development, celebrate and nurture the creative process, be a resource for historic and cultural inquiry, be an engine for community development, and instill pride while educating others. The Center, as part of its mission, preserves and exhibits its main structure, the restored former Little Rock AME Zion Church, and two traditional shotgun houses on its property.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fire Education Center and Museum
Housed in a building that served as Charlotte Fire Station #4 from 1925 to the early 1970s, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fire Museum is a joint effort between the Charlotte Fire Department and the Mecklenburg County Volunteer Fire Departments to exhibit fire equipment and memorabilia, as well as educating the public in fire safety. Displays include a communications switchboard from the 1940s, a firebox that used to stand on a Charlotte sidewalk, a horse drawn steamer from the 1890s, and a 1948 Mack Fire Engine.

Central Piedmont Community College
Libraries, Richard H. Hagemeyer Learning Resources Center, College Archives
CPCC's College Archives seeks to collect, preserve, and make available manuscripts, publications, photographs, and college records documenting the history of Central Piedmont Community College, including material documenting the early histories of Charlotte College, Carver College, and later Mecklenburg College, precursors to CPCC.

Wing Haven Gardens and Bird Sanctuary
Elizabeth and Edwin Clarkson built their home in the Myers Park neighborhood of Charlotte in 1927 and resided there until 1988. The grounds encompass three acres and include gardens and a bird sanctuary. The Clarkson's home is open for touring and serves as the reception place for visitors to the gardens.

ImaginOn
"Colorful, whimsical and unexpected." "What I found knocked my socks off." "A true leap of imagination." These are just some of the comments made by visitors to ImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin Center, a nationally unique destination for families which opened in October 2005. A 102,000 square foot facility spanning an entire block of downtown Charlotte, ImaginOn is the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg county's first free-standing library for youth and the home of the Children's Theatre of Charlotte. ImaginOn combines innovative library services, collections and education programs with award-winning professional theatre, and brings stories to life throug hextraordinary experiences that challenge, inspire and excite young minds.

Charlotte Trolley, Inc.
Charlotte Trolley Museum
Charlotte Trolley, Inc. is a volunteer driven non-profit organization whose goal is to preserve vintage trolley service for education, neighborhood improvement, and economic development. Housed in the trolley barn, the Charlotte Trolley Museum explains the role of the electric streetcars in the development of Charlotte beyond the inner city at the turn of the 20th century.

Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation Department
Dowd House
Built in 1879, this historic home was once at the center of a 250-acre farm. The childhood home of Willis Frank Dowd, founder of Charlotte Pipe and Foundry, and William Carey Dowd, former publisher of The Charlotte News, the Dowd house also served as the U.S. Army's headquarters during the construction of the 2,500 acre Camp Greene, which housed more than 60,000 soldiers during World War I.

Johnson and Wales University
Library
The library houses a collection of cooking related pamphlets and more than 4,000 old cookbooks donated to the library from the collection of DeeJay Strope. This collection includes items such as a cookbook created during the Berlin Blockade, a cookbook of recipes from the White House and a 1902 cookbook with chapters on the rights and responsibilities of domestic servants. This collection is open to the public for research by appointment.