Welcome to the North Carolina National Guard Museum's Homepage!
The mission of the North Carolina National Guard Museum is to commemorate the history and tell the story of North Carolina’s National Guard. From its inception as a militia in 1663, to its contemporary mission as part of the modern National Guard system, this museum is devoted to preserving the rich heritage of the guardsmen from the Old North State.
Where We Stand Today…
The North Carolina National Guard Museum is currently in the final planning stages as we prepare to break ground and begin construction on a new building. When completed, this establishment will serve as an educational and cultural hub for the community to learn about the history and heritage of North Carolina National Guard. The scope of the museum will reach back to the earliest days of the guard from its founding as a militia with the Carolina Charter in 1663, through its contemporary duties as part of the National Guard system. The history of both the North Carolina Army National Guard and Air National Guard will be represented in this museum. The museum will be located near the campus of Joint Force Headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina at: 2109 Blue Ridge Road. In 2022, the NCNG worked with the NC Department of Agriculture and acquired a lot of land near the Museum of Art. In fall of 2023, legislature approved the budget and allocated funding to make a National Guard Museum a reality. In preparation for a new museum building, the previous structure at the site was demolished in the fall of 2025. When completed, the museum will tell of the story of North Carolina through artifacts, archival documents, and interactive displays. The museum will also include a dedicated space designed for special programs. Such events may include author talks, guest lectures, roundtable veteran discussions, and other educational programming.
FAQ:
How can I donate financially to the museum?
A new donation process is currently in development for the public to financially support the museum. Links will be added to this page and social media accounts when this process is completed.
When will the museum be open to the public?
The bulk of the design work for the new museum construction has been completed. Plans are underway to break ground at the museum site sometime in 2027. A more definitive timeline will be possible once the construction process is underway.
Would the museum like to have my collection of NCNG paraphernalia from my time in the guard?
Artifact and document donations are always welcomed, but there is a review process that all such items must go through. The museum’s collections and acquisitions process at this time is very selective about what it procures. Even though an artifact may have historical value, the museum cannot accommodate all objects that it is offered. Acquisitions policies must take into account conservation considerations, possible duplicates within the collection, and storage space limitations.
If I give a uniform or other object to the museum, will I see it on display when the museum opens?
Only a fraction of the museum’s artifacts will be on public display at any given time. Even though an object may be accepted and preserved in the collection, this does not necessarily mean that it will be used for immediate exhibition purposes. No artifact donor should have the expectation that their donation will be exhibited and then be disappointed if it is not.