The Raeford Hoke Museum is located in Raeford, NC. It is located on 5 acres. The museum is housed…read morein a 1905 house referred to as the McLauchlin-McFadyen House. The house is around 6,000 square feet. There are two parking spots on the street, or you can park in between the trees in the longer driveway. The rooms have themed exhibits, and you can view the upstairs as well. There are also outside buildings to view, including the Parker-Ray house, a school, a red barn, a country store, an emergency building with the 1921 fire truck and a smokehouse. But these buildings were locked during my visit, even though I was told they would be open during museum hours. Besides the architectural history of the house, it was constructed of long-leaf pine that came from the property. Outside, there are the iconic columns and the portico roof. Inside, you will find the high ceilings and the wide central hall. The hand-carved mantels above the fireplaces shouldn't be missed. The house has two staircases, one for the owners and another for the black servants who worked there. The main hall also features a piano to show the importance of music in the home. You will find a military room with information about nearby Fort Liberty and the Raeford National Guard. One of the rooms is about the Civil War. The room contains uniforms and important documents. The Native American room features artifacts from indigenous peoples, especially the Lumbee Tribe. A custom-made Lumbee doll is one of the artifacts. The African American room pays tribute to the folks who made an impact in Hoke County. There is a photo of the servants who worked in the house. They were paid workers, not slaves. Some locals recreated this photo, so you will find that next to the original. A retired music teacher, Mary Archie McNeill, donated her dolls to the museum. The local government room tells you about the mayors of Hoke County and other important government officials. The upstairs bathroom was transformed into a wildlife room with local plants and animals in the area. There is a replica of the "Tornado", the first locomotive to arrive in Raleigh. The kitchen that was added to the house later was fun to view, as I enjoy seeing the old kitchen tools and trying to figure out how they were used. They had shifted from open fire cooking to wood stoves. One exhibit deals with turpentine, tobacco and cotton, as these were the major industries in Hoke County. There is a replica of a farm and detailed exhibits about the crops. The medical room is all about rural medicine with the country doctor bag, medical tools and apothecary bottles. You can read about the doctors, too. Quilts were a tradition for family legacies for both art and bedding. There are vintage sewing machines on display too. I enjoyed the display celebrating the Women of Hoke County. Mary Archie McNeill, the retired music teacher. Eliza Jane Pratt was the first woman from North Carolina elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Marcella Locklear, a member of the Lumbee Tribe, made the handcrafted Native American doll on display. The farm equipment room has smaller pieces like hand tools such as hammers, axes and saws. The Raeford Hoke Museum is a well done even without the fancier exhibits of other museums. It is well researched and documented. A museum in a historic house is the perfect setting for learning about Hoke County and the everyday people who played a part in it. Best of all, admission is free, although they did have a donation box near the entrance.

Staff is so nice and very knowledgeable of Raeford's town and history. Only open for a couple hours…read moreon Sunday so get there when they open so you can see everything outside as well.

The General William C. Lee Airborne Museum is in the Lee House built in 1903 in Dunn, NC. The Lees…read morebought the foreclosed three story Brownstone house in 1935. In 1984, the Lee Commission purchased and reconditioned the house with a new heating and air conditioning system. The museum is three stories, the first two levels are about General Lee and Airborne History and the renovated third floor is about WWII. It is listed on the National Registrar of Historic Places. The museum is free to visit but does accept donations. The museum is a short drive from I-95 and has its own parking lot as well. The museum is self guided so you can go at your own pace reading the displays. So who was General Lee? Lee was in WWI and stayed in the Army in Germany. After watching Hitler and the Germans developing airborne troops and through President Franklin Roosevelt , he organized the first airborne unit and became the "Father of the American Airborne". Lee became the first Commander of the 101st Airborne Division in Louisiana in 1942. He organized the D-Day air invasion and was going to be one of the jumpers but he had a heart attack so was sent back to Dunn. I really enjoyed visiting this museum and only stopped as it was on my way back from Fayetteville. I was not aware of General Lee and his contributions to history. I was impressed by the displays about the parachutes and how they evolved from the idea of Da Vinchi. I am glad the museum exists so that we can learn of this important individual. The historic house was a bonus.

The house itself is a magnificent thing. Huge, well laid out and with the creaky wood floors and…read morestairs expected in a turn of the last century home. What is inside is equally impressive. I walked in, greeted by a friendly tour guide who offered the story of how the museum came to be, and then left me to explore. It's a self-guiding tour, there's explanations accompanying the displays, so I could take all the time I needed. It's not a typical museum in that it was actually Lee's home and it still maintains the feel of a home. Because it's a nearly mid-twentieth century topic, the events and displays are not so old that it feels impersonal. It's kind of like being in your grandparents or great-grandparents home. The first floor is the personal story of Lee and his wife. The second floor contains the history of the airborne and the third floor has artifacts of the era. It's a fascinating museum and a low-key way to spend some time learning the origins of the Army Airborne.

This is a very nice museum and it is really well laid out. The staff are friendly and pleasant…read more Unfortunately, during my visit, they began to play loud music over the speakers which made it difficult to read and concentrate on the descriptions. If not for the distraction of the loud music, would've rated 5 stars.

Very well put together. What a great way to show our pride for these men and women who have served…read moreour great country. Thank you and god bless!!

Very lovely historic cottage located on its original foundation in Moore County, North Carolina. I…read morealways try to take my guests here. This is as historical as it gets in the Sandhills and I enjoy it every time I see it. From their website: The Shaw House is typical of the antebellum houses which followed the cabins of the early Sandhills settlers. It is less elaborate than the seacoast plantations and has the charm and sturdy simplicity which was characteristic of the Scottish families who settled in this region. The interior is highlighted by fine detail on two hand-carved fireplace mantels of unusual beauty, and by many outstanding early examples of Moore County pottery and "plain-style" pine furniture. A wing was added to the house in the mid-1800s and a kitchen was added sometime in the 1920s. Charles C. Shaw, a first-generation Scottish settler, acquired 2,500 acres and built the house around 1820. The date of 1842 on the chimney is thought to have been the year that the front porch and the two attached "travelers' rooms" were added. One of his 12 children, Charles Washington Shaw, inherited the property and lived in the house, becoming the first mayor of Southern Pines in 1887. The house remained in the Shaw family until it was acquired in 1946 by the newly formed Moore County Historical Association in a grassroots effort to ensure its preservation.

The Averasboro Battlefield Museum is a smaller museum but has detailed exhibits with Civil War…read moreartifacts. You will learn about the battle that occurred on the grounds. It is part of the North Carolina Civil War trail. You can see the battlefield for yourself rather than just reading about it. Outside on the barn, are quilt patterns used by escaped slaves to follow safe trails to freedom. There are 18 quilt patterns displayed as well as what each meant. The museum has restrooms outside that are cleaned and well maintained. Chicora Civil War Cemetery is down the road and is part of the museum. If you are in the area and enjoy history, make sure to check out this free museum.

The tour guide/owner was nice and full of information. Not a very large area, but is full of…read moreinteresting information.

Great theatre. Very clean, cheap movie tickets, very quiet. Plus it's next to everything in the…read moreplaza. Definitely come here.

We attended the Musical of Sister Act and can truly sum it up with the word AMAZING! These young…read morepeople showed high levels of talent, a commitment to improving their craft, and having fun with each other. The parking is a bit challenging if it is your first time going to the theater. I recommend parking down the left side of the theater or in the parking lot directly at the end of the block on the right. I also recommend getting there about 45min early to get decent parking as well as concessions. The cast were teenagers and were truly entertaining. I will definitely start adding this local theater company to my list of places to go on my weekends and support these talented young people.

I attended a production of Cinderella at this amazing little theater recently! I loved each and…read moreevery aspect of it. I purchased tickets on the website and was able to pick them up at will call. You can also have them sent electronically to you as well. Its in the very popular and very cramped Haymount area of town, so parking makes you get a little creative. We parked at a nearby restaurant that we frequently get brunch at. The box office area was smooth, as was the concession area where I got some popcorn and a water. We were shown to our seats by a wonderful staff member, and I had scored some amazing spots on the third row. The sets and the costumes were impeccable, the acting marvelous, and the experience outstanding. There was a small intermission, and I used the restroom, which was very clean. The entire night was just amazing. We learned that there is a huge expansion project starting this summer (2024), and all those additions sound pretty dope as well! Cant wait to see another play here!

This is a moderately sized museum, which is free. It also has some outdoor areas, including one you…read morehave to walk across a footbridge over the highway to get to. Brief perusal unveiled some interesting history; the Carolinas seem to care more about their colonial era, whereas I really don't recall the period prior to the American Revolution getting much coverage in any history I learned growing up. The outdoor spaces carry some intrigue, though you'll never get away from the traffic noise. More construction in the area is coming I think. I would not say go to Fayetteville for the museum scene, but having explored this one I thought it worth a stop if you are there.

The Museum of The Cape Fear is located in Fayetteville, NC. The museum offers a parking lot and…read morefree admission. They do have places to donate if you wish. The museum is on two levels and an elevator is available. The museum has exhibits on the American Indian, settlement to the area; the Civil War and textiles; slavery; transportation by steamboat and plank roads. The exhibits are very detailed. Arsenal Park is behind the museum and is four and a half acres. The park is where the Confederate had an arsenal that was destroyed by General Sherman in 1865. The Poe House is next door so make sure to check out all three when visiting the complex.