Cool place! Owner is a nice guy , and the museum has very interesting things to see. Also they…read moresell fun t-shirts and other stuff. I look forward to going back. Definitely recommend!

I got a headache in this place from the minute I walked in. Overheard the guy at the counter…read moretelling another guest some people get headaches and other physical sensations because they're more "sensitive" to paranormal stuff, but I think it was more from the overwhelming smell of cat pee and mold.

We stopped by here for a road trip pit stop since it participates in the ASTC reciprocity program…read more The kids' area was much smaller than I had anticipated (though my kids still had fun!), and unfortunately the planetarium was closed for renovations. The special exhibit was about bikes and the natural history portion was a weird mix of taxidermy and fake animals. We also checked out the art area which had a good collection by local artists and school children. Very laid back place to visit and stretch your legs, but I'm glad we didn't go out of our way to check it out.

It was such a joy to stop here to break up our trip back home. This is the perfect place to spend…read morehours with kiddos young and old. They have lots of natural discovery zones for little ones to go to and immerse themselves in learning and play. They hd numerous lego stations with guided learning or just independent play. A huge sized connect 4 game offers a delightful opportunity to play with hand sized discs and drop them into the slots with your partner or kid. My husband and I played several rounds of this together! Then there's the planetarium with several shows planned throughout the day. While the show was a bit pixelated for modern-day technology, it was completely fascinating and enjoyable. The program walked us through the spring sky and the constellations we could find. The program was designed with specific memory clues that were repeated a few times so that even an adult with challenged short-term memory would come away with new knowledge and tricks to recover the information again and again. Read the blip about Pathagaras and how math and music work together... then follow the sheet music and tap the colored pipes with flip-flops to play familiar songs! Y'all I can't say enough wonderful things about this place. The museum area had so much entertainment that we never had the chance to make it to the art gallery side of the building so I can't speak to that. But let me say, this was so worth it! We spent 2 & a half hours there and could have stayed for another two in the museum alone. Each one of us was sad to leave. It is apparent that the museum staff is incredibly dedicated to what they are doing there. Each person was glad to be there and was joyful that they were giving kids the opportunity to expand their imaginations. I do hope to come back again soon!

An intensive tour of the Riddick Folly House, our tour guide who's been working and curating the…read morepieces for over thirty year's was informative, funny, and a passionate guide. Be prepared for an hour and thirty minute tour, but it's worth it.

We had such an amazing tour! Lee was so personable and knowledgable and really took his time…read moretaking us through every room in the house.

My boyfriend and I stopped by here on our way back from the bird center nearby. We were pleasantly…read moresurprised with what we found inside. After paying a $7 admission fee, we were taken around on a personal tour by one of the owners. He took us around the entire museum and showed us each piece one-by-one, sharing tidbits of knowledge and interesting facts. For someone who is interested in geology, this is a good place to go. It is beyond evident owners know what they're talking about and are highly passionate and knowledgeable on the topic. We learned so many new facts that day. There's also a gift shop where you can purchase various items, including beautifully crafted jewelry, many of which are made in-house. You can also sign up for classes - kids and adults - where you get to help cut pretty rocks into pieces produced for jewelry (I forgot all of the technical terms). In addition to rocks and stones, there are also fossils as well as a really unique and cool old glass bottle collection. Check it out next time you're in the area!

Great Museum! Was visiting the area from Virginia Beach yesterday. Didn't get to stay as long as…read moreI was wanting to, because I had to be home by a certain time for an event that evening. The owners are such nice people! The gentleman gave us a guided tour where I got to see a lot of fascinating things. They also have a great gift shop where the lady showed me some of the items. I highly recommend this museum! I am definitely going back when I have more time to see everything.

I was very impressed with the art here at the museum. It's free too, which is great since the…read moreexhibits were quite varied and interesting! Two floors of art and spent most of my time on the second floor. Didn't have time to have a detailed look on the first, but the glass exhibit and Eastern arts were cool. The museum itself is very pretty too. Would love to come back again if I have time.

The Chrysler is such an amazing and beautiful museum in the local area, that's free. I often visit…read moreto check out some new exhibits and also get some steps in! The staff is always so friendly; they great you at the door. A few things I've learned is that events are hosted here, sometimes for a fee, that allow you to be at the museum during the late evening a nights. I've attended an event that had a DJ and was fully decorated; I had a blast! I know also that they do host weddings! Overall I believe it to be a wonderful, well taken care of museum! There is also a glass shop across that street that I still have not checked out, but I heard it's great!

The Barker House in Edenton, North Carolina, is a storied landmark that blends architectural…read moreelegance with deep historical resonance. Built in 1782 for Thomas and Penelope Barker, the home originally stood two blocks north of its current location and began as a modest Federal-style parlor wing and half hall. Penelope Barker is best known for organizing the Edenton Tea Party in 1774, a bold act of protest in which 51 women signed a petition against British taxation--making it one of the earliest political demonstrations by women in America. Unlike the Boston Tea Party, these women signed their names and sent the petition directly to King George III, drawing international attention and criticism from British newspapers. Since relocated (yes, they moved it two blocks), it now serves as Edenton's Welcome Center and the headquarters of the Edenton Historical Commission. Stop in for information about Edenton sights and history. I wasn't staying long here, but I was helped by friendly folks who clearly love their town. [Review 839 of 2025 - 4269 in North Carolina - 24398 overall]

We were greeted by an excellent curator that provided us a very warm Welcome into the Barker House…read more The house is a beautiful step back in time with period antiques and a very nice gift shop. I purchased a Tea House cookbook and was amazed by the recipes along with beautiful historical notes of the area. You must stop in while visiting Edenton!

The Museum of the Albemarle, a hidden gem in Elizabeth City that goes above and beyond what one…read moremight anticipate for a town of its size, is tucked away along the shoreline. The size and caliber of the displays immediately establish that this is not a little local collection but rather a well designed area that reflects the richness and complexity of the history of northeastern North Carolina. Despite my short time today, I was amazed by the depth of the exhibits, which cover centuries of local history, from colonial colonization and Indigenous cultures to maritime heritage and contemporary municipal development. The museum's layout is expansive, with high ceilings and spacious galleries that invite deeper exploration. It's the kind of place where you could easily spend several hours and still feel like there's more to uncover. [Review 887 of 2025 - 4309 in North Carolina - 24444 overall]

The Museum of the Albermarle is located in Downtown Elizabeth City. Admission is free and the…read moremuseum has its own parking lot or you can park in other lots in town and walk to the museum. The museum has a ramp or stairs in the front to get to the entrance. The museum is large and is on two levels and covers all 13 of the Albemarle counties. (Northampton; Hertford; Dare; Bertie; Gates; Perquimans; Chowan; Pasquotank; Camden; Currituck; Washington; Tyrell; and Hyde), pretty much all of the northeast corner of the state. You can take the stairs up to the second level for a better look at the shad boat and quilts or use the elevator. Restrooms are located on both levels. The first floor had some traveling exhibits and the gift shop. The second floor had the permanent exhibits with the history of the area. I liked that the museum covered so many topics from the beginning to different periods of time from when Native Americans were in the region to the slavery and the Underground Railroad, Railroads; Automobiles; Firefighting; Farming; the World Wars and the Civil War; Civil Rights; the Vietnam War; the Coast Guard; different industries and tourism. The museum has many artifacts and information boards to read. The waterfowl exhibit with the bird decoys was great and showed the details of the carvings. The floating theatre inspired Show Boat. Hannah Crafts was inspiring. This museum showcases the importance of the Albemarle Sound and the region and they did a great job of preserving history and stories for future generations. I highly recommend visiting this wonderful museum.

A hidden gem! Friendly, knowledgeable staff, excellent exhibits, great kid section on the top…read morefloor, neat options in the gift shop. All with no admissions fee!

What a well done museum in an unexpected place!! We were looking for a day trip from our home in…read moreNorfolk and saw this one on TripAdvisor. Since it is only about 20 miles from the bridge tunnel up the shore (one of my favorite places on earth!), we decided to check it out. SO glad we did! And since admission is free, it made the bridge tunnel toll worth it! When you walk in you are greeted by the most friendly docent who gives you a brief background of the museum and what it's about. She told us they have several films and asked if we wanted to watch any of them. We did - "Our Island Home" gives you a terrific view of what life on Hog Island was like before it was abandoned from people who were actually born there. After whatever movie(s) you want to watch, you are "free range" to explore the museum. It is SO well done. I could have roamed around for longer than the 2 hours we were there (but I'm a museum reader - I have to check out everything!). Definitely allow yourself a couple of hours to explore. The exhibits are fantastic and laid out well. All artifacts were donated or on loan from actual island families - they don't purchase their artifacts. I like that. Shows the love for the community that these people have. Definitely check out the attic! There are hands on things for the kids - it's hot up there in the summer though! I was fascinated by the twisted chimney (not going to tell you why it was built that way - you'll have to go find out for yourself!). This is a GREAT little stop if you are looking for something cool to do on your way up or down Rt. 13 on your way to your vacation or a great day trip from the VA Beach area. With all their many activities and programs, we will definitely be back!

What great place to tour and staff was so nice.. once we paid and started tour the gentleman put a…read moreball up a tube that went into this cool artistic display of how a rain drop forms and the lifecycle.. it went into a cloud around room which simulated atmosphere and into rivers and big bodies of water it was cool. Then we sat in on 12 min film on estuaries.. then self guided tour .. for $5 it's worth price of admission . Lots of rooms to go thru.. live animals like snake , crab, alligator to see.. and you can walk outside on the deck see beauty of the waterfront area. Enjoyed my visit and highly recommend to anyone in area.

The North Carolina Estuarium is located in Downtown Washington, NC. It is the first estuarium in…read morethe world and focuses on the environment. The NC Estuarium offers ferry rides on the Tar and Pamlico Rivers at various times during the year. I really enjoy the rides as you might see some wildlife besides the plant life. The captain provide fun facts along the way too. The museum is 12,500 square foot and serves as an education center. It provides a great overview of the estuaries and coastal rivers which are an important part of the ecosystem where fresh water and salt water mix. 90% of NC seafood comes from estuaries. We need to keep these waterways clean. In the lobby the display is large and shows the different parts of North Carolina. The NC Esturium is part museum and part aquarium. The aquarium focuses just on estuary species. It has over 200 exhibits and a lot are hands on. The part about the hurricanes was informative and showed the damage done from the rising sea levels. I highly recommend visiting this unique museum.