Tripadvisor
1 / 30#30. Mountain Farm Museum
- Rating: 4.6/5 (517 reviews)
- City: Cherokee North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
Highest-rated museums in North Carolina by visitors
Museums are popular tourist attractions because they provide fun ways to learn about history, science, and culture. As stewards of our civilization, they collect and exhibit items of significant importance, typically based around a theme, topic, or place. Many cover areas like art, natural history, or science, but some museums dedicate themselves to highly specific topics like mustard, play, hot air balloons, and even funeral history. Ultimately, museums present a window into different eras of society so people can learn about the past.
Collecting, preserving, and displaying items is not a new idea. The world's first museum dates to about 530 B.C., a project of Princess Ennigaldi-Nanna, a Babylonian who had a collection of Mesopotamian artifacts. The oldest public museums still in existence are the Capitoline Museums in Rome, a collection of art and archeology museums started in 1471. America's oldest museum predates our country's founding. The Charleston Museum, a preservation of South Carolinian Lowcountry history, opened in 1773.
Museums are important not just because they preserve important elements of our history and culture but also because they can improve our well-being. Naturally, museums promote education and learning and can also bring joy. Researchers studying art museums found that they can reduce depression and increase people's sense of belonging. Quiet museum environments allow people to slow down and relax, and looking at exhibits can reduce stress. Museums also foster community by hosting events, activities, and tours that encourage social interaction.
No wonder they attract nearly 900 million visits a year.
With over 30,000 museums in the country to choose from, there's something for everyone. Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated museums in North Carolina on Tripadvisor as of Aug. 11, 2025. Tripadvisor rankings factor in the average rating and number of reviews. Keep reading to see what museums are in your own home state.
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Tripadvisor
2 / 30#29. North Carolina Maritime Museum
- Rating: 4.7/5 (907 reviews)
- City: Beaufort North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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3 / 30#28. Lexington Glassworks
- Rating: 4.7/5 (986 reviews)
- City: Asheville North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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4 / 30#27. Woolworth Walk
- Rating: 4.4/5 (865 reviews)
- City: Asheville North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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5 / 30#26. North Carolina History Center - Tryon Palace
- Rating: 4.6/5 (971 reviews)
- City: New Bern North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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Tripadvisor
6 / 30#25. Reynolda House Museum of American Art
- Rating: 4.6/5 (671 reviews)
- City: Winston Salem North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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7 / 30#24. The Andy Griffith Museum
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1,080 reviews)
- City: Mount Airy North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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8 / 30#23. Museum of the Cherokee People
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,778 reviews)
- City: Cherokee North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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9 / 30#22. River Arts District
- Rating: 4.2/5 (1,326 reviews)
- City: Asheville North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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10 / 30#21. Whalehead in Historic Corolla
- Rating: 4.6/5 (697 reviews)
- City: Corolla Outer Banks North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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Tripadvisor
11 / 30#20. North Carolina Museum of History
- Rating: 4.6/5 (939 reviews)
- City: Raleigh North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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12 / 30#19. Grovewood Village
- Rating: 4.6/5 (599 reviews)
- City: Asheville North
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13 / 30#18. Airborne and Special Operations Museum
- Rating: 4.8/5 (1,098 reviews)
- City: Fayetteville North
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14 / 30#17. Marbles Kids Museum
- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,124 reviews)
- City: Raleigh North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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15 / 30#16. Asheville Pinball Museum
- Rating: 4.7/5 (963 reviews)
- City: Asheville North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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Tripadvisor
16 / 30#15. Bellamy Mansion
- Rating: 4.5/5 (654 reviews)
- City: Wilmington North
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17 / 30#14. Mint Museum Uptown
- Rating: 4.4/5 (506 reviews)
- City: Charlotte North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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18 / 30#13. Currituck Beach Lighthouse
- Rating: 4.6/5 (2,277 reviews)
- City: Corolla Outer Banks North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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19 / 30#12. Hendrick Motorsports Complex
- Rating: 4.6/5 (457 reviews)
- City: Charlotte North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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20 / 30#11. Wheels Through Time Transportation Museum
- Rating: 4.8/5 (1,463 reviews)
- City: Maggie Valley North
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Tripadvisor
21 / 30#10. Sullenberger Aviation Museum
- Rating: 4.4/5 (708 reviews)
- City: Charlotte North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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22 / 30#9. Greensboro Science Center
- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,329 reviews)
- City: Greensboro North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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23 / 30#8. Museum of Life + Science
- Rating: 4.7/5 (928 reviews)
- City: Durham North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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24 / 30#7. The Folk Art Center (Southern Highland Craft Guild)
- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,438 reviews)
- City: Asheville North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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25 / 30#6. Discovery Place Science
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,495 reviews)
- City: Charlotte North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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Tripadvisor
26 / 30#5. North Carolina Museum Of Art
- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,856 reviews)
- City: Raleigh North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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27 / 30#4. Wright Brothers National Memorial
- Rating: 4.6/5 (4,485 reviews)
- City: Kill Devil Hills Outer Banks North
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28 / 30#3. NASCAR Hall of Fame
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,515 reviews)
- City: Charlotte North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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29 / 30#2. North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
- Rating: 4.7/5 (2,351 reviews)
- City: Raleigh North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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30 / 30#1. Biltmore Estate
- Rating: 4.6/5 (27,830 reviews)
- City: Asheville North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.
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