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Museums and Exhibits

Exhibits in the Visitor Center at Gorges State Park

Museums and Exhibits

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Most state parks have museums or exhibits in their visitor centers, and some have classrooms and discovery centers with hands-on exhibits.

Ranger-led events, self-guided events, and exhibits engage people in hands-on experiences that promote appreciation and understanding of our state's great cultural and natural resources. Check the Events Calendar to learn more.

Parks with museums or exhibit halls are listed below:

Carolina Beach State Park

Located in New Hanover County 10 miles south of Wilmington, Carolina Beach State Park is home to the Venus flytrap, a unique carnivorous plant. The park is known for habitats like Sugarloaf Dune, a 50-foot dune that once served as a navigational marker for river pilots, as well as three limesink ponds that each feature a unique plant community. The park's marina provides access to the Cape Fear River and the Intracoastal Waterway, making the area popular for boaters and anglers.
 

 910-458-8206

 carolina.beach@ncparks.gov

 Directions to visitor center

Address

1010 State Park Road, Carolina Beach, NC 28428

 

Camping:
Camper cabins; Tent sites; Trailer and RV sites (some with electric, water, and sewer hookups); Group tent sites; Dump station; Showers; Firewood
Activities:
Hiking (9 miles); Biking (1 mile); Paddling; Fishing; Picnicking
Amenities:
Boat ramp; Marina; Concession stand; Auditorium; Classroom; Visitor center; Exhibits; Kids TRACK Trail; Bathhouse
A private concessionaire in the park offers kayak, canoe, paddleboard, and bike rentals.
Accessibility:
The following amenities and facilities are wheelchair accessible: two trails (Flytrap and Fitness Trails); three campsites, one of which is an RV site with full hookups; the Centennial camper cabin; a picnic table; the fishing deck and boardwalk; the bathhouse; and the visitor center. Accessible parking and restrooms are provided.

Crowders Mountain State Park

Located in Gaston County 25 miles west of Charlotte, Crowders Mountain State Park boasts two mountain peaks that offer magnificent views of the surrounding Piedmont. Trails offer challenging hikes and towering cliffs — and even the opportunity to traverse two states through the Ridgeline Trail, which connects to Kings Mountain State Park and Kings Mountain National Military Park in South Carolina. A wide variety of resident birds, from songbirds to birds of prey, make the park a great spot for birdwatching.
 

 704-853-5375

 crowders.mountain@ncparks.gov

 Directions to visitor center

Addresses

Sparrow Springs access
and visitor center
Linwood Road access
Boulders access

 

522 Park Office Lane, Kings Mountain, NC 28086
 
4611 Linwood Road, Gastonia, NC 28086
108 Van Dyke Road, Kings Mountain, NC 28086

 

Camping:
Tent sites (backpacking sites); Group tent sites (backpacking sites); Firewood
Activities:
at Sparrow Springs
Hiking (20 miles); Paddling; Fishing; Picnicking
at Linwood
Hiking (4 miles); Picnicking; Rock climbing
at Boulders
Hiking (6 miles); Picnicking; Bouldering
Amenities:
Concession stand; Amphitheater; Auditorium; Classroom; Picnic shelters; Visitor center; Exhibits; Kids TRACK Trails
Accessibility:
The park has one tent campsite and one group tent campsite that are wheelchair accessible. The visitor center is also accessible. Accessible parking is available, but many parking areas are unpaved and made of hard-packed gravel.

Dismal Swamp State Park

Located in Camden County abutting the state's northeast border with Virginia, Dismal Swamp State Park provides access to the Great Dismal Swamp, the largest remaining swamp in the eastern United States. This area features unique and abundant plant life and wildlife, as well as a rich cultural history that intertwines with George Washington, the Underground Railroad, and Prohibition. The 22-mile Dismal Swamp Canal is a popular paddling destination and hosts the annual Paddle for the Border event.
 

 252-771-6593

 dismal.swamp@ncparks.gov

 Directions to visitor center

Address

2294 U.S. 17 N., South Mills, NC 27976

 

Camping:
None
Activities:
Hiking (21.5 miles); Biking (21.5 miles); Paddling; Fishing; Picnicking
Amenities:
Boat rentals; Bike rentals; Auditorium; Classroom; Visitor center; Exhibits; Kids TRACK Trail
Accessibility:
The Swamp Boardwalk, which is the Kids TRACK Trail, is wheelchair accessible. Accessible parking and restrooms are provided. The visitor center (including the auditorium, classroom, and exhibits) is accessible.

Fort Fisher State Recreation Area

Located in New Hanover County 20 miles south of Wilmington, Fort Fisher State Recreation Area is the only park in the system that allows four-wheel-drive beach access, making it popular for surf fishing. Warm weather months bring loggerhead sea turtles to nest along the park's sandy shores. A trail traverses the salt marsh and ends at an observation deck with views of Zeke's Island and the Cape Fear River. The marsh, brimming with wildlife, provides plenty of watching opportunities for birders and photographers year-round.
 

 910-458-5798

 fort.fisher@ncparks.gov

 Directions to park office

Address

1000 Loggerhead Road, Kure Beach, NC 28449

 

Camping:
none
Activities:
Hiking (1 mile); Paddling; Swimming; Fishing; Picnicking; Four-wheel-drive beach driving
Amenities:
Classroom; Beach access (ocean); Foot rinse station
A boat ramp managed by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission is located 2 miles away at the end of Fort Fisher Boulevard (U.S. 421) and provides boat access to the Cape Fear River. A private concessionaire in the park offers bike rentals, as well as beach chair and umbrella rentals.
Accessibility:
There is a boardwalk ramp that takes visitors to the park office and beach area. Some picnic tables at the park are wheelchair accessible. A beach wheelchair is available to rent for free from the park office. Accessible parking and restrooms are provided.

Fort Macon State Park

Located in Carteret County 40 miles southeast of New Bern, Fort Macon State Park is centered on an impeccably restored pre-Civil War fort that offers daily guided tours and cannon and musket demonstrations. Extensive exhibits educate visitors on fort history and the natural surroundings. The beach is perfect for swimming, beachcombing, or even spotting a dolphin or two. Trails traverse the salt marsh and dune fields and provide the opportunity to see one of the 312 species of birds found in the park.
 

 252-726-3775

 fort.macon@ncparks.gov

 Directions to visitor center

Address

2303 E. Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, NC 28512

 

Camping:
none
Activities:
Hiking (4 miles); Biking (4 miles); Paddling (ocean beach); Swimming; Fishing; Picnicking
Amenities:
Concession stand (seasonal); Visitor center; Exhibits; Beach accesses (ocean and inlet); Bathhouse (seasonal); Foot rinse station
Accessibility:
The following amenities and facilities are wheelchair accessible: the bathhouse and beachside concession and picnic areas; lower portions of the fort; and the visitor center. Accessible parking and restrooms are provided at the beach area and at the visitor center. A beach wheelchair is available to rent for free. Some exhibits and videos provide accessibility for those with hearing or vision loss.

Goose Creek State Park

Located in Beaufort County 30 miles southeast of Greenville, Goose Creek State Park offers a broad range of coastal experiences, from wetlands along the Pamlico Sound to a cypress swamp viewed from a long boardwalk. Remnants of boat piers, a trackless railroad bed, and burnt remains of tar kilns provide a glimpse of the heyday of a lumber industry that was once the center of life in the area. The park's estuarine habitats can be explored on foot or by paddling the Pamlico River.
 

 252-923-2191

 goose.creek@ncparks.gov

 Directions to visitor center

Address

2190 Camp Leach Road, Washington, NC 27889

 

Camping:
Camper cabins; Tent sites; Trailer and RV sites (all with electric, water, and sewer hookups); Group tent sites; Showers; Firewood
Activities:
Hiking (8.5 miles); Paddling; Swimming; Fishing; Picnicking
Amenities:
Boat ramp; Amphitheater; Auditorium; Outdoor classroom; Picnic shelters; Visitor center; Exhibits; Beach access (river); Bathhouse
Accessibility:
The following amenities and facilities are wheelchair accessible: the Palmetto Boardwalk Trail; one primitive campsite; one RV campsite with electric, water, and sewer hookups; one camper cabin; both group campsites; picnic shelters and tables; the outdoor classroom; and the visitor center. Accessible parking and restrooms are provided.

Gorges State Park

Located in Transylvania County near the tripoint where North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia meet, Gorges State Park sports plunging waterfalls, rugged river gorges and sheer rock precipices. Backcountry-style recreation is a hallmark of the park, from backpacking to horseback riding. This park located in the Blue Ridge Escarpment spans over 8,000 acres of temperate rainforest and hosts extraordinary biodiversity. The park features 26 waterfalls, the northern boundary of Lake Jocassee and a portion of the 70-mile Foothills Trail.
 

 828-966-9099

 gorges@ncparks.gov

 Directions to visitor center

Addresses

Grassy Ridge access
and visitor center
Frozen Creek access

 

976 Grassy Ridge Road, Sapphire, NC 28774
 
Frozen Creek Road, Brevard, NC 28712
GPS: 35.108689, -82.883731

 

Camping:
Tent sites (backpacking sites); Firewood
Activities:
Hiking (56 miles); Biking (17 miles); Horseback riding (12 miles); Fishing; Picnicking
Amenities:
Auditorium; Classroom; Picnic shelters; Visitor center; Exhibits
Accessibility:
The visitor center is wheelchair accessible and has exhibits that are accessible to those with vision loss. A few picnic tables can accommodate wheelchairs. Accessible parking and restrooms are provided.

Hanging Rock State Park

Located in Stokes County 30 miles north of Winston-Salem, Hanging Rock State Park started as a Civilian Conservation Corps project and has become a park that offers every part of a traditional outdoor experience. Trails lead to picturesque mountain views, rock outcrops, waterfalls, and even a mountain cave. Some are open to horseback riding and mountain biking, and a portion is part of the Mountains-to-Sea State Trail. Campgrounds, a swim lake and access to paddling on the Dan River complete the gamut of recreational opportunities.

 336-593-8480

 hanging.rock@ncparks.gov

 Directions to visitor center

Addresses

Park entrance
Visitor center
Lake bathhouse
Lower Cascades parking area
Dan River access
Tory's Den parking area
Climbing access
Mountain biking access

 

1790 Hanging Rock Park Road, Danbury, NC 27016
1005 Visitor Center Drive, Westfield, NC 27053
2847 Hanging Rock Park Road, Westfield, NC 27053
2143 Hall Road, Westfield, NC 27053
1258 Flinchum Road, Danbury, NC 27016
1185 Charlie Young Road, Westfield, NC 27053
1035 Climbing Access Drive, Westfield, NC 27053
2568 Moores Spring Road, Westfield, NC 27053

 

Camping:
Vacation cabins; Tent sites; Trailer and RV sites (no hookups); Group tent sites; Showers; Firewood
Activities:
Hiking (48 miles); Biking (15 miles); Horseback riding (6 miles); Paddling; Swimming (seasonal); Fishing; Picnicking; Rock climbing
Amenities:
Boat rentals (seasonal); Concession stand (seasonal); Amphitheater; Auditorium; Classroom; Picnic shelters; Visitor center; Exhibits; Kids TRACK Trail; Beach access (lake, seasonal); Bathhouse (seasonal)
Accessibility:
The following amenities and facilities are wheelchair accessible: one campsite; two vacation cabins; the bathhouse; a picnic shelter; fishing pier; and the visitor center. The Rock Garden Trail and the path from the swim lake parking lot to the fishing pier are both made of asphalt and are accessible. There is an accessible walkway from the bathhouse to the swim beach and boathouse. Accessible parking and restrooms are provided.

Jockey's Ridge State Park

Located in Dare County in the Outer Banks, Jockey's Ridge State Park is home to the tallest living sand dune system on the Atlantic coast and provides an ideal location for flying kites and watching sunsets. Hang gliding is a hallmark activity at the park, and a private concessionaire offers lessons. A second access area takes visitors through wetland habitats and allows for swimming, paddling, kiteboarding, and windsurfing on the Roanoke Sound. The park also marks the eastern terminus of the Mountains-to-Sea State Trail.
 

 252-441-7132

 jockeys.ridge@ncparks.gov

 Directions to visitor center

Addresses

Visitor center
Soundside access

 

300 W. Carolista Drive, Nags Head, NC 27959
330 W. Soundside Road, Nags Head, NC 27959

 

Camping:
none
Activities:
at main access
Hiking (1 mile); Picnicking; Hang gliding
at soundside access
Hiking (0.75 mile); Paddling; Swimming; Kiteboarding; Windsurfing
Amenities:
Auditorium; Picnic shelters; Visitor center; Exhibits; Kids TRACK Trail; Beach access (Roanoke Sound); Foot rinse station
A private concessionaire located inside the park provides hang gliding and kite flying lessons, as well as sandboard rentals.
Accessibility:
The visitor center is wheelchair accessible. Accessible parking and restrooms are provided. With 24-hour notice, park staff can provide a ride to the top of the dune on an all-terrain vehicle for those with limited mobility. Please contact the park office to schedule.

Jones Lake State Park

Located in Bladen County 40 miles southeast of Fayetteville, Jones Lake State Park opened as the first state park to welcome African Americans and has since been a community destination for picnicking, swimming, hiking, and paddling. Tea-colored waters hide the shallow depth of the lake, which reaches to just 8 feet. Jones Lake and the adjacent Salters Lake are two of the mysterious geological formations known as Carolina bays, a series of elliptical depressions along the Atlantic coast, the origins of which are unknown.
 

 910-588-4550

 jones.lake@ncparks.gov

 Directions to visitor center

Address

4117 N.C. 242 N., Elizabethtown, NC 28337

 

Camping:
Tent sites; Trailer and RV sites (some with electric, water and sewer hookups); Group tent sites; Showers; Firewood
Activities:
Hiking (6 miles); Paddling; Swimming; Fishing; Picnicking
Amenities:
Boat ramp; Boat rentals (seasonal); Concession stand (seasonal); Auditorium; Classroom; Picnic shelter; Visitor center; Exhibits; Beach access (lake); Bathhouse
Accessibility:
The following amenities and facilities are wheelchair accessible: two campsites (one with electric, water, and sewer hookups); the bathhouse; the picnic shelter; and the visitor center. Beach wheelchairs are available to rent for free to use on the lake beach area. Accessible parking and restrooms are provided. There is also braille signage on doors.