Cape Fear Museum

09/04/2026

Step into Cape Fear Stories, our largest exhibition which is a deep dive into the rich history of the Lower Cape Fear region and the people who shaped it, including Althea Gibson, the first Black athlete to win a Grand Slam title. One local schoolteacher still teaches in one of the very same classrooms Althea once sat in. This isn't just history. It's our history. 🏛️✨

09/02/2026

If you missed out on NHC Resident Free Day ticket reservations, not to worry! You can still purchase admission tickets at our front desk on Sunday, 9/6.

And reservations are still available for Sunday, 10/4 by visiting CapeFearMuseum.com.

09/02/2026

Officers Macon and Marvin were on patrol through the galleries, and staff simply could NOT resist interrupting their shift for some belly rubs! 🐾 It was an instant dose of happiness for the whole team! As much as we LOVE our furry companions, please remember that only service dogs are allowed in the museum.

09/01/2026

Wow! You all showed up in a BIG way! 🎉 Our 1st New Hanover County Resident Free Day is officially SOLD OUT! Didn't snag a reservation this time? No worries…this is just the beginning and you can make reservations for October 4 by visiting CapeFearMuseum.com.

Mark your calendars: every 1st Sunday of the month is New Hanover County Free Day, so there's always another chance to join us. Tickets sell out quickly so reserve in advance. See you next time!

09/01/2026

8 months. Countless hours. One brand-new Cape Fear Museum. 🏛️✨ The construction chaos, the deep cleans, the exhibit installs, and finally... the doors swinging open! The journey has been nothing short of a wild ride and totally worth it! Your new Cape Fear Museum is one for the history books!💙

🕘 Mon–Sat: 9am–5pm
🕐 Sun: 1pm–5pm
📌 230 Grace Street, Wilmington, NC

08/26/2026

Thank you to all of our friends, sponsors, county commissioners, and more for joining us last Saturday, August 22, 2026 for our Grand Opening Summer Soiree! It was an event not to be missed and we had so much fun showing off our new museum. Enjoy this Flickr album with some of the highlights: https://www.flickr.com/photos/newhanoverco/albums/72177720335301500/

Explore this photo album by New Hanover County, NC on Flickr!

08/26/2026

IT'S NATIONAL DOG DAY 🐶 You knew this was coming. After giving the cats their moment, we couldn't leave our good boys and girls out so we're rounding up old photos of dogs from the Cape Fear Museum collection. Loyal companions, porch guardians, the occasional dog on a plane.👀

Drop your adorable doggie pics 📸 in the comments, we want to see every last one.🐾

08/25/2026

Check out our This Month in History column and learn more about Wilmington's waterfront urban renewal: https://www.flickr.com/photos/capefearmuseum/albums/72157686710045475

In the 1960s, Wilmington’s northern waterfront underwent a dramatic transition. For the first 60 years of the 20th century, the Atlantic Coastline Railroad (ACL) was the hub of the area. Then in 1955, the company announced it was moving its headquarters from Wilmington, to Jacksonville Florida, ta...

08/22/2026

Reminder: we're closing at 3 pm today, August 22 to get ready for our sold-out Grand Opening Soirée! 🎉 Looking forward to celebrating with 500 of our closest friends!