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03/18/2021 2:35 pm

An exterior shot of the Pope House museum

Pope House Museum

Updated: Mar 18, 2021

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Overview History Rentals Events & Exhibits Education Program Offerings Volunteering Membership Artifacts

The Pope House Museum, built in 1901, is located in downtown Raleigh mere blocks away from the capitol building.

Contact

 

Ernest Dollar | 919-996-2220

Historic Resources and Museum Program

Address

Pope House Museum
511 South Wilmington Street
Raleigh, NC 27601

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Overview

The exterior of the Pope House Museum surrounded by green trees

Hours

  • Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 4 p.m.
  • Tours are by appointment only, must be scheduled at least 30 minutes prior to the tour, and will be limited to a family group or 5 people. Call the City of Raleigh Museum to reserve your tour at 919-996-2220.
  • Visitors must submit to a wellness check and wear either a mask or a face shield to enter. Between each tour, the museum will be cleaned in preparation for the next group.

Site Features

  • Admission is free
  • Tours are guided
  • Original artifacts
  • Centrally located in downtown Raleigh

History

As the only African-American house museum in the state of North Carolina, the Pope House offers a glimpse into the life of one of Raleigh’s most intriguing citizens, Dr. Manassa Thomas Pope, who was the only African-American man to run for mayor of a Southern capital in the midst of the Jim Crow Era.

The house features original furnishings to the family and many historical artifacts giving insight into a remarkable man and family.

Read more history about:

The Pope Family | The Pope House

A shot of the "Raleigh Historic Landmark" placard outside the Pope House

Rentals

The Pope House is not currently available for rentals.

Events & Exhibits

Ongoing: The Pope House Museum is open for regular tours every Saturday as well as for special group tours via appointment by contacting Ernest Dollar.

Education Program Offerings

Educational opportunities at the Pope House are offered as part of the City of Raleigh Museum Education Programs. We strive to make history come alive! Our goal is to provide a variety of hands-on programs that will engage students, and get them excited about their local history. Our programs use local historic sites, artifacts, and photographs. Many of our programs correspond to exhibits currently on display at the museum. Some programs will have recommended grade levels, and some can be adapted to multiple grade levels. These programs can be a fun and unique way to meet NC Standard Course of Study goals in Social Studies, English, African-American Studies, and Art.

If you are interested in registering your class for a program, follow these steps:

   1.) Take a look at our program offerings and their corresponding essential standard.
   2.) Fill out all necessary information on the contact form, and make sure it is correct.
   3.) Choose 3 education programs to fill out your day. Programs are offered Tuesday- Friday.
   4.) Have a few dates in mind, as your initial date may be taken!
   5.) Wait for us to confirm your trip and details!

Program Name & Description

Recommended Grade Level

NC Essential Standards

Artifact Handling: Dr. Pope’s Medicine Bag – A hands-on experience, learn about some of the equipment that Dr. Pope and other doctors of his time would have use. Learn what the equipment was used for and what it might have influenced today

K-2 3-5

K.H.1.1; 1.E.1.1; 2.H.1.2; 3.E.2.2; 4.G.1.4;  

Pope House Tour – Take a tour of one of the most prominent African-Americans in downtown Raleigh’s history – Dr. Pope. Learn about his life; his medical practice; his family; his contributions to the African-American community in downtown Raleigh; and explore one of the oldest standing houses on Wilmington Street.

3-5

3.C.1; 4.C.1; AAS.H.1; AAS.H.2; AAS.E.1; AAS.C&G.1; AAS.C.1;

African-American Walking Tour – Learn about the African-American influence in downtown Raleigh in a tour that includes the Pope House, Stronachs Alley, Wilmington St., and Shaw University.

3-5

3.C.1; 4.H.2; 4.G.1; 4.C.1; 5.C.1; AAS.H.1; AAS.H.2; AAS.E.1; AAS.C&G.1; AAS.C.1;

Stronachs Alley: Then, Now, and Next – Learn the history of Stronachs Alley. See what once stood in Stronachs Alley, compared to today. Picture what it might look like in the future, and express those ideas through drawing!

3-5

3.V.2; 3.V.3; 4.G.1; 4.V.2; 4.V.3; 5.C.1; 5.V.3;
A close up exterior shot of the front door at the Pope House

Volunteering

Volunteers are an essential part of the Historical Resources and Museums Program (HRMP.) If you are interested in volunteering at the Pope House contact Ernest Dollar and visit the HRMP Volunteer Page.

Membership

As a member you will help revitalize and preserve North Carolina's history. You will also enjoy cross program perks at the City of Raleigh Museum, The Raleigh Trolley, Mordecai Historic Park, Borden, Tucker, and Pope House Museum.

There are many perks:

  • Free admission to select site and museum events
  • Free admission for select tours
  • Free admission to select lectures
  • Free admission to Mordecai Historic Park
  • Free admission to City of Raleigh Museum
  • 10% gift shop discount at Mordecai and City Museum
  • 10% discount on all site rentals
  • The Raleigh Register Program Newsletter

You can join the COR Museum Friends Group or the Mordecai Square Association; perks convey to each.

 

A shot of the landmark and address placards outside the Pope House

Artifacts

Dating to the 1860s, the Pope House Museum Collection totals over 3,000 artifacts which give insight into the life of one of the leading African-American families in Raleigh in the early 1900s.  From Dr. Pope's father's freedman papers to his voter registration card to his original doctor's bag from the Spanish-American War, the collection boasts a wide range of material culture.

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