The North Carolina Museum of History is introducing a new brand identity that looks ahead to the museum’s next chapter while staying rooted in the work that has defined it for generations. The museum is part of the Division of State History Museums within the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
“The North Carolina Museum of History is one of the true gems of our state,” said Pamela B. Cashwell, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. “This new brand honors the museum’s history while helping carry its work forward for the people of North Carolina.”
Before closing for renovation, the museum welcomed around half a million visitors each year, including more than 83,000 schoolchildren. Those visitors came for field trips, festivals, exhibitions, programs and family memories. Many also remember the Wright Flyer in the lobby, a familiar part of the museum experience and a symbol now carried into the new brand.
The new logo is a refreshed Wright Flyer, keeping a symbol familiar to many museum visitors. The color palette pulls from North Carolina’s natural landscape, with deep, rich tones inspired by the mountains, sandhills, and coast. These new brand elements continue to build on the museum’s mission to collect, preserve and interpret the state’s history.
“This brand feels fresh and bold, but it also feels true to who we are,” said C.J. Roberts, director of the Division of State History Museums. “It reflects the pride people feel in this museum and the trust placed in us to care for North Carolina’s stories.”
While the building is closed for renovation, the museum continues to serve audiences through exhibitions, educational programs, public events and outreach across the state. When the museum reopens, in 2028, the renovation will expand the building and create more space to share artifacts and stories from across North Carolina.
Audiences will begin seeing the new brand across the museum’s website, social media, programs and outreach materials in the coming weeks.
To learn more, visit ncmuseumofhistory.org.
About the N.C. Museum of History
The North Carolina Museum of History connects the people of our state with the past. Through the collection, preservation and interpretation of North Carolina’s history, the museum cares for more than 150,000 artifacts and shares stories from across the state through exhibitions, educational programs and statewide outreach. The museum is currently closed for renovation and is scheduled to reopen in 2028 with updated infrastructure improvements and additional gallery space. During this time, the museum continues to engage audiences through in-person programs, virtual offerings and partnerships across North Carolina. The museum is part of the Division of State History Museums within the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. At more than 100 sites across the state, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.
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