Transportation Museum
325 Franklin Street
Fayetteville, NC 28301
910-433-1457; 910-433-1548; 910-433-1944
Tues.-Sat. 10 am-5 pm
Closed Sun. and Mon.
The Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum is located in the restored 1890 Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley Railroad Depot. Two floors of exhibits highlight transportation and local history through guided tours, exhibitions, educational programs and media productions. The Historic Properties section manages city owned historic sites and buildings to include the Market House and oversight through the Fayetteville Historic Resources Commission of the two National Register Districts and Local Landmarks. Admission is free.
Transportation Museum Tours
The museum offers self-guided or guided tours and includes two educational videos. School groups and clubs up to 60 people are welcome and can be accommodated at one time.
Downtown Walking Tours
Group Walking Tours of 2-4 hours feature downtown historic sites and buildings and can be designed to fit a group’s particular needs and include sites the group requests. A place for tour members to stop and eat can be arranged during longer tours if necessary.
Local Government Programs
This program complements school classes or any group that wants to learn about our local government. Held inside City Council Chambers, this class allows students to learn the role of local government and how it operates. Students role-play various positions in the Council Chambers and are
allowed access to and given a tour of the Emergency 9-1-1 Center.
Research
The Historic Properties Section serves as a repository of local history information and offers directional guidance for people researching local history subjects.
Farmers Market
The Farmers Market is hosted on the museum grounds every Wed. and Sat. Fresh, locally grown vegetables, fruits, eggs, honey and other farm products are offered for sale. Other offerings include plants, flowers, crafts and much more. In conjunction with the Farmers Market, the museum
offers a special exhibit on Early Farm Life. The museum and annex is open to the public during market hours.
Wed. Market Day 3-7 pm
Sat. Market Day 9 am-1 pm
Fourth Friday at the Museum
The Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum is alive with activities on 4th Friday. In addition to the museum and annex being open, the grounds will host various venues of interest to the general public. The new location for Arts Alive will be in front of the museum and will feature artists and craftsmen exhibiting their work. Most 4th Friday’s will also feature vintage automobiles. Other venues may include live music or historical
demonstrations. The 4th Friday Program runs Jan.-Nov. from 6-10 pm, unless cancelled due to weather conditions.
Fourth Friday at the Market House
The Market House, which is Cumberland County’s only National Historic Landmark is open to the public on 4th Fridays from 6-10 pm, and will feature a different local history exhibit each month.
Upcoming 4th Friday Exhibits include:
Sept.: N.C. Veterans Park & Freedom Memorial ParkOct. Fayetteville During World War I
Nov.: A Victorian Christmas in Fayetteville
Dec.: NO 4th FRIDAY
Jan.: Fayetteville Architecture in the Downtown Historic District
Feb.: Fayetteville Black History
New and Rotating Exhibits
The Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum is constantly creating new exhibits, and adding new material and artifacts to old exhibits. New exhibits include:
• Last chance to view the Fayetteville Banking Exhibit which will end on Oct. 8. The exhibit includes a selection of old Fayetteville bank notes, ledgers, bonds, and other artifacts to showcase the colorful days when local banks printed their own money. From the earliest days of banking in North Carolina, Fayetteville was a leading center of commerce and banking.
• “Cumberland County Goes to War” is a new and large exhibit commemorating the sesqui-centennial anniversary of the American Civil War. This exhibit features artifacts, pictures, documents, and educational panels which explore Cumberland County’s war experience both on the battlefield as well as the sacrifices made on the home front.
• “Railroad Police, Railway Express, Crooks, and Hobos” is a new exhibit which examines crime and law enforcement on the railroads. This exhibit includes pictures, artifacts, and educational panels.
• “Fayetteville Druggists” is a new exhibit that traces the history of druggists in Fayetteville. This exhibit includes pictures, artifacts, and educational panels.
• “Heroes Homecoming” will open on Nov. 4 and serves as a tribute to local veterans who served during the Vietnam Conflict. The exhibit will include wall-mounted panels containing profiles of local Vietnam veterans, supplemented with a display of weapons, uniforms, military gear, and war trophies.
Historic Haunting
The Fayetteville Area Transportation & Local History Museum will be one of the stops on this years “Historic Hauntings.” This year, visitors will tour the grounds and old Cape Fear & Yadkin Valley Depot as they experience the brutal and gory incidents involved with railroading accidents. Historic Hauntings, an event sponsored by the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival is scheduled for Oct. 20-22 and 27-29. A special tour of Cross Creek Cemetery will also be offered. Dates and times for the Cemetery Tours are to be announced. For more information call the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival at 910-323-1934.
Veterans Day Vintage Car Show
The Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum, Cape Fear Mopars, and the Hope Mills Cruizers will sponsor a vintage car show on the museum grounds on Nov. 12 from 9 am-1 pm. The entry fee is free. Awards will be presented for the following three categories; “Best Car
or Truck pre1989”, “Best Car or Truck 1989 to Present” and “Best of Show”.
Historic Downtown Trolley Tours
The staff of the Fayetteville Area Transportation & Local History Museum will be working in conjunction with the Fayetteville Trolley in order to provide Historic Downtown Tours. Tours have been developed that include a “Historic Downtown Tour”, Historic Church Tour”, and a “Military Tour.” Customized historic tours may also be provided upon request. For more information on the Historic Trolley Tours call 1-800-779-8827.
Speakers Bureau
A Speaker’s Bureau is available for organizations in need f a program. The Museum staff can speak on any aspect of local Fayetteville/Cumberland County history and a wide range of military history topics related to the Fayetteville/Cumberland County Region.
Military Programming
The Museum specializes in early Fayetteville/Cumberland County Military History Programming, which includes living histories, lectures, and exhibits.
Museum Annex
The newly opened Museum Annex building focuses on the history of automobiles and airplanes in Fayetteville and Cumberland County. To ensure that a wide range of vintage vehicles can be seen by the visitor, the display vehicles will be changed out on a periodic schedule. Cars from the early 1910s to the late 1950s will be on display over the course of the up-coming year. Exhibits include display cases, narrative panels, and environmental displays to reveal a wide range of automotive and aviation history. The circa 1920s gas station exhibit recreates the look of a country gas station. Minor details like a checker board out front, a vintage telephone, and jars of preserved food on the shelves will take the visitor back in time. Attached to the gas station is a replica of an early service garage with tools and miscellaneous automotive items on display. Additional display cases and narrative panels explain the evolution of the automobile as it pertains to local history. Exhibits highlight local service stations, car dealerships, tires, major highways, and much more. Among the display cases is a, “Can you name it” case filled with old automotive items. This entertaining display will test your knowledge of automotive history. Included in the new Annex building are also displays on early aviation, public transportation, the Fayetteville Fire Department and local law enforcement. Additional exhibits cover the early years of Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base. These exhibits complete the picture of how transportation has evolved and changed our daily lives. The Annex building is open from 10 am-4 pm; Tues.-Sat.; admission is free.
