The North Carolina Museum of History provides this list as a general resource. Hours, fees, and exhibit schedules are subject to change. Admission is free unless otherwise noted.
Coastal Plain
Cape Fear Museum
814 Market Street, Wilmington
Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 9:00 A.M.–5:00 P.M.; Sunday 1:00–5:00 P.M.; also open Monday, 9:00 A.M.–5:00 P.M., Memorial Day–Labor Day
Fee: Adults, $6; seniors and college students, $5; chidren 3-17, $3; children under 3, free. Groups of 12 or more may be eligible for a discount.
910-341-4350
http://www.capefearmuseum.com/
A small section of the museum deals with the roles of area citizens in the Second World War.
Dare County Regional Airport Museum
410 Airport Road, Manteo
Hours: 8:00 A.M.–7:00 P.M. daily
252-473-2600
http://www.co.dare.nc.us/airport/museum.htm
This museum, located inside the terminal, features artifacts from Civil Air Patrol Coastal Patrol Base 16 at Skyco, the airport’s original site, and Naval Auxiliary Air Station, Manteo, both established during World War II.
Duplin County Veterans Memorial Museum
119 East Hill Street, Warsaw
Hours: Thursday–Friday, 1:00–4:00 P.M.; Saturday, by appointment
910-293-2190
http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/2485
View photographs, uniforms, artifacts, and memorabilia donated by Duplin County veterans who fought in World War II.
Fort Fisher State Historic Site
1610 Ft. Fisher Blvd. South, Kure Beach
Hours: October 1–March 31, Tuesday–Saturday, 9:00 A.M.–5:00 P.M.; April 1–September 30, Monday–Saturday, 9:00 A.M.–5:00 P.M.; Sunday 1:00 P.M.–5:00 P.M.
910-458-5538
http://www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/hs/fisher/fisher.htm
The visitor center features a case exhibit on Camp Davis, a World War II army antiaircraft training center located northeast of Wilmington.
Fort Macon State Park
East Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach
Hours: March, April, May, September and October, 8:00 A.M.–7:00 P.M. daily; June–August, 8:00 A.M.–8:00 P.M. daily
252-726-3775
http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/foma/main.php
The U.S. Army manned Fort Macon during the Second World War. See one room of the fort restored as a World War II barracks.
Museum of the Albemarle
501 South Water Street, Elizabeth City
Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 9:00 A.M.–5:00 P.M.; Sunday, 2:00–5:00 P.M.
919-335-1453
http://www.albemarle-nc.com/MOA
This regional museum of the North Carolina Museum of History looks at the role of the Elizabeth City Coast Guard base during World War II.
North Carolina Maritime Museum
315 Front Street, Beaufort
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 A.M.–5:00 P.M.; Saturday, 10:00 A.M.–5:00 P.M.; Sunday, 1:00–5:00 P.M.
252-728-7317
http://www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/maritime
Learn about World War II vessels at this museum.
North Carolina Military History Museum
National Guard Training Center
116 Air Force Way, Kure Beach
Hours: Before Labor Day, 1:00–5:00 P.M. daily; after Labor Day, 1:00–5:00 P.M. weekends
910-251-7325
The museum features exhibits and artifacts from past conflicts including World War II.
USS North Carolina
Eagles Island, Wilmington
Hours: Memorial Day through Labor Day, 8:00 A.M.–8:00 P.M. daily; After Labor Day weekend to the Thursday before Memorial Day weekend, 8:00 A.M.–5:00 P.M. daily
Fee: 12 and over, $12; seniors and mililtary, $10; children 6-11, $6; children 5 and under, free.
http://www.battleshipnc.com
This living memorial tells the story of the battleship and its crew in the Pacific theater during World War II.
Piedmont
Airborne and Special Operations Museum
100 Bragg Boulevard, Fayetteville
Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 10:00 A.M.–5:00 P.M.; Sunday, noon–5:00 P.M.
910-483-3003
http://asomf.org
The newest museum in the United States Army museum system has exhibits and programs highlighting the history, equipment, technology, legend, art, and weaponry of the army’s airborne and special operations units in World War II.
Ava Gardner Museum
325 East Market Street, Smithfield
Hours: Monday–Saturday, 9:00 A.M.–5:00 P.M.; Sunday, 2:00–5:00 P.M.
Admission fee: Adults, $6; seniors and teens 13-16, $5; children 3-12, $4; children under 3, free
919-934-5830
http://www.avagardner.org
The museum, which houses a large collection of Ava Gardner memorabilia, has posters and photographs of movies Gardner made during World War II.
Carolinas Aviation Museum
4672 First Flight Drive, Charlotte
Hours: Monday–Friday, 10:00 A.M.–4:00 P.M.; Saturday, 10:00 A.M.–5:00 P.M.; Sunday closed
Admission fee: Adults, $11.00; seniors, $9; students and active military, $7; children under 6 free
704-359-8442
http://www.carolinasaviation.org/
Located near Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, this museum has several airworthy World War II–era planes.
Eighty-second Airborne Division War Memorial Museum
Gela and Ardennes Streets, Fort Bragg
Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 10:00 A.M.–4:30 P.M.
910-432-3443
https://82ndairbornedivisionmuseum.com/
Learn about the role of the Eighty-second Airborne in Europe and the division’s major engagements during World War II.
Greensboro Historical Museum
130 Summit Avenue, Greensboro
Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 10:00 A.M.–5:00 P.M.; Sunday, 2:00–5:00 P.M.
336-373-2043
http://www.greensborohistory.org
The museum has information about and memorabilia related to World War II fighter ace George Preddy and pilot Mary Nicholson.
High Point Museum and Historical Park
1859 East Lexington Avenue, High Point
Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 10:00 A.M.–4:30 P.M.; Sunday 1:00–4:30 P.M.
336-885-1859
http://www.highpointmuseum.org
A small section of the museum looks at the roles played by area citizens in the Second World War.
JFK Special Warfare Museum
Ardennes and Marion Streets, Fort Bragg
Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 11:00 A.M.–4:00 P.M.
910-432-4272
http://www.soc.mil/swcs/museum/visiting.html
See exhibits on unconventional World War II warfare groups such as Darby’s Rangers, Merrill’s Marauders, First Special Service Force, the Office of Strategic Services, and the Alamo Scouts.
North Carolina Museum of History
5 East Edenton Street, Raleigh
Hours: Monday–Saturday, 9:00 A.M.–5:00 P.M.; Sunday, 1:00–5:00 P.M.
919-807-7900
http://ncmuseumofhistory.org
The museum exhibits A Call to Arms and David Marshall “Carbine” Williams contain World War II–related artifacts.
North Carolina Transportation Museum
Highway 29, Spencer
Hours: May 1–October 31, Monday-Saturday, 9:00 A.M.–5:00 P.M.; Sunday, 1:00–5:00 P.M.; November 1–April 30, Tuesday–Saturday, 9 A.M.–5 P.M.; Sunday, 1–5 P.M.
877-628-6386
http://www.nctrans.org/
The museum features trains and cars that date to the 1940s.
General William C. Lee Airborne Museum
209 West Devine Street, Dunn
Hours: Monday–Friday, 10:00 A.M.–4:00 P.M.; Saturday, 11:00 A.M.–4:00 P.M.
There is a small fee for admission.
910-892-1947
http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/aviation/lee.htm
Lee, a native of Dunn and “father” of the Airborne, helped establish the American paratrooper program shortly before the war’s outbreak. This museum in Lee’s former home contains numerous World War II artifacts such as uniforms and weapons, as well as personal belongings.
Mountain Region
Cleveland County Museum
Court Square, Shelby
Hours: Tuesday–Friday, 9:00 A.M.–4:00 P.M.
Admission fee
704-482-8186
http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/shelby/cle.htm
A small section of the museum looks at the roles of area citizens in World War II.
North Carolina Aviation Museum
2222 Pilot's View Road, Asheboro
Call for hours and admission fees.
336-625-0170
This museum’s collection includes World War II military aircraft, uniforms, and newspaper features.
Western North Carolina Air Museum
Hendersonville Airport, Hendersonville
Hours: April-October: Wednesday and Sunday, noon–5:00 P.M.; Saturday, 10:00 A.M.–5:00 P.M.; November-March: Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday, noon–5:00 P.M.
828-698-2482
http://www.wncairmuseum.com
This museum houses a number of World War II–era aircraft.