How does the museum’s collection grow? The great majority of the museum’s collection has come to us through the generosity and foresight of people who want to see the story of Charlotte-Mecklenburg and its people preserved.

What the museum Does collect:

  • Items that belonged to a local family, business or organization

  • Items that were made or published locally

  • Items or publications that mention local people, places or happenings


What the museum Does Not collect:

  • Historical artifacts from some other part of the country

    • The museum may be able to help you find a museum or historical society from that place. If the items are of a particular type, such as quilts or old clothing, perhaps a quilt collection or textile museum would be a better home.

  • Items that were purchased at an antique store or auction, where a local connection cannot be proven

  • Animal or plant specimens – these need to go to a natural history museum

  • Large machinery or furniture that would not fit into our limited storage space

  • Artwork - unless it depicts events or people of regional significance


Making a Donation:

If you have items of local or regional historical significance that you would like to donate to the museum, please call 704-568-1774 during normal business hours and ask to speak to the Collections Manager or the Curator.

When you call, describe what your items are and where they came from. You may be asked if you can provide photographs or copies for the curator to look at. If you cannot bring the items to the museum yourself, museum staff will want to visit you to see the items and either take them on temporary deposit or photograph them. Anything that is offered has to be evaluated for its condition and for its suitability to our mission and programming.

If the museum decides to keep your items for either the permanent or education collections, or the research library, you will be asked to sign a gift agreement which says that you are the legal owner of this item or collection, and that you are transferring all interest in and ownership of it to the museum. As a charitable donation, your gift is tax-deductible; however, the museum is not allowed to tell you what your items are worth. Speak to your tax preparer about how to establish the value of a donation. And rest assured that your old stuff will take on new life as part of a growing documentary of the life and history of Charlotte-Mecklenburg.

The Charlotte Museum of History & Hezekiah Alexander Homesite
3500 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, NC 28215
Phone: 704.568.1774
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