Charlotte Museum of History now a Smithsonian affiliate

CHARLOTTE MUSEUM OF HISTORY

The Hezekiah Alexander House’s interior on the Charlotte Museum of History campus in east Charlotte. The museum has been designation as a Smithsonian Institution affiliate.

The Charlotte Museum of History is on a roll moving into the United States’ 250th anniversary.

The museum has been confirmed as an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, making it part of a network of more than 200 cultural, educational and research organizations from the U.S., Puerto Rico and Panama. The designation will open access to Smithsonian assets, including traveling exhibitions, artifact loans, research and educational materials that connect local audiences to national and global perspectives.

“This partnership opens the door to bring Smithsonian-caliber exhibits and resources to Charlotte while sharing the Queen City’s powerful stories with a national audience,” Charlotte Museum of History President and CEO Terri White said in a statement. “As we prepare to open our biggest-ever exhibit this spring, ‘The American Revolution Experience,’ our Smithsonian affiliation is yet another landmark achievement toward our goal of becoming one of the best history museums in the country.”

Said Kara Blond, director of the Smithsonian’s Traveling Exhibition Service and affiliations: “We are delighted to start this new Affiliate relationship with the Charlotte Museum of History. We look forward to collaborating on programs that help illuminate the American experience and to expanding learning and discovery opportunities throughout the Charlotte community.”

The 8-acre campus is home to the 1774 Alexander Rock House, the oldest structure in Mecklenburg County and the only one left from the Revolutionary War period. The Alexander House last month was granted statewide historic significance status, making it one of only 10 other properties in North Carolina. The Rock House is now the second existing property in Mecklenburg County to be recognized by the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office. The Johnston Building, which dates back to 1924, is the other. 

The home’s original owner, Hezekiah Alexander, helped frame North Carolina’s first constitution and bill of rights.

The campus is also home to the restored Siloam School, a schoolhouse for early 20th century education of Black students in the South. 

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