museums of fuquay-varina

131 South Fuquay AvenueFuquay – Varina, North CarolinaIn preparation for the town of Fuquay‘s Centennial Celebration in 2009, a group of dedicated volunteers collected artifacts from citizens of the area. Memoirs of many townsfolk were recorded. The Town of Fuquay – Varina provided the former Town Hall as the location for the new Centennial Museum. Displays and artifacts were arranged by volunteers to enhance visitors understanding of the history of the town. The railways, the tobacco farming and the historical Fuquay Mineral Springs were detailed in the main museum. The Centennial Museum opened on June 6, 2009.Located in the museum park is a two room school house, the first post office and an authentic tobacco barn. Plans are now in the process to purchase a railroad caboose to place in the park.The Centennial Museum is open each Wednesday from 1 pm until 4 pm. The Museum is usually open during any special events or festivals in town. School groups, Senior Citizens organizations or other groups can arrange a special tour. Contact:The Museums of Fuquay-Varina 131 South Fuquay AvenueFuquay-Varina, North Carolina 27526919-552-5562Favorite exhibits in the museum seem to be the town jail, the quilt display, the Judd organ and the Heulon Dean Photograph collection. Other favorites include the Elliott’s Pharmacy cabinet and the Police Department, Fire Department and Rescue Squad displays. The Railroad buffs love the many railway artifacts. The Fuquay-Varina Museum has been designated as one of the 1800 Blue Star Museums across the United States.During the warmer months, visitors can walk the two short blocks to the Fuquay Mineral Springs Park to investigate the original spring site.After the completion of your historical tours, downtown Fuquay has a bakery, coffee shop, clothing stores, jewelry store, art store, antique shops and restaurants to explore!

This is one of those small town museums that can turn out to be great or horrible. This one is a definitely worth stopping for.The main museum is in the old town building that once housed the police and fire. There are artifacts from several aspects of the towns history: trains, tobacco, and the spring. There were also a variety of older items from prominent towns people. And there was the desk one of the mayors was shot at.Step into a jail cell, check out the newspaper archives or watch a video on the town. There are several out buildings including an old school house and the post office. Our tour guide did not have a key to the tobacco house.And they will tell you why the community has the name it has and how you are supposed to pronounce it. Pronunciation of the town name was something we had wondered about.

There is a playground for 2-5 yr olds about five steps from the barn. The barn is not marked by a sign or anything and there's no fence/barrier around it. My toddler went over and knocked on the barn door with a stick (toddler and knocking being the key words). All of a sudden there's yelling... Long story short, two elderly museum workers accuse my kid of damaging the barn door--the padlock (out of reach even with a stick, definitely not something knocking would damage regardless) AS WELL as placing some sort of graffiti even further up. I was so shocked and bewildered!! Not only this, but the elderly gentleman is demanding to know where I'm from several times. I wear a headscarf, but I have no accent as in a native speaker, so this is no curious question. Especially not amid accusations! He even came back when my kids were playing in the sand! He accused the kids of beating the barn again!!! And was so adamant again!!! Yes, the sand is by the playground which is right next to the barn. Kids play here in swarms all the time!! And while I'd never allow my kids to damage property, cmon! Knocking on the door?! Then getting yelled at and accusing a kid of breaking locks and marking up the middle part of a wall?! I pointed out that it wasn't possible to do these things and just got more attitude. The worst part was the total implausibility of it all, and their adamantly rude brusqueness. If you have children, keep them away from the barn. If they play in the sand nearby, be ready to hold your ground against exasperating accusations they've touched the barn again. Firm but polite did not work on these jerks. Blame the damage on someone plausible please, and be understanding of a kids curiosity when u place a barn without any indentification 4-5 steps away from a nice playground.