Current Exhibits

High on the Hog

The expression “half land, half water” describes the area of northeastern North Carolina. And on that land, hogs have been raised, butchered, and processed for generations. Hogs have found their way into our lives and culture, playing a significant role for families in northeastern North Carolina. Whether a vital source of food and income for regional families or an ingredient in recipes and medicinal and everyday products, hogs are considered cultural icons. The High on the Hog exhibition will look at how pigs have become a part of our family, home, and livelihood.

Artifacts on display in the exhibit will include hog catchers, bills of sales, account books, plantation records, hog scrapers, cookbooks, hog scalding vat, butcher knives, a crackling press, lard paddles, a butcher block and prize-winning State Fair banners.

High on the Hog remains on view until July, 2022.

 

Women Breaking Barriers in Northeastern North Carolina

The year 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage in America. As institutions across our country commemorate this event, the museum has embraced the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources' initiative “She Changed the World.” In our related exhibition, we focus on women of northeastern North Carolina and how their experiences, stories, and challenges have factored in history.

Women have played and always will play an integral part in every aspect of history. By advocating for what they believe and envisioning a different world, these women leave remarkable stories of adversity and hope, with grit, determination, perseverance, and talent that changed the world.

Come explore this exhibit, read the stories, and ponder on how the barriers that these women broke, or helped break, in areas such as women’s suffrage, public service, literature, journalism, activism, religion, entertainment, and more, affect your life today. Some women may not have been the first to break a barrier but played a role in a larger movement that affected the people of our nation. Sometimes a single person standing up for what they believe is right can influence others to make an even bigger difference.

A special component to this exhibition includes artwork by regional high school students. Students in grades 9 through 12 participating in the contest were provided a list of women who made a difference in their county.  The students studied the women and produced artwork showing how they were inspired to recognize women who made a difference in their county.  An overall winner from each county was selected.  Out of the overall county winners an overall winner was selected.  This special component was supported by a grant through The Elizabeth City Foundation.  

Women Breaking Barriers remains on view until October 2022.

Picturing Women Inventors

“Throughout American history, women with diverse backgrounds and interests created inventions that changed lives every day. But women haven’t always had equal opportunities to be inventors or received as much recognition. The Smithsonian and the United States Patent and Trademark Office present “Picturing Women Inventors,” a poster exhibition that explores the inventions of 19 highly accomplished American women. Astronauts, computer pioneers, and businesswomen join athletes, engineers, and even teenagers in this remarkable group of inventors.” The posters will be on view at the Museum of the Albemarle beginning October 22, 2021.

“Picturing Women Inventors” showcases the breakthroughs, motivations, and challenges women encountered while pursuing their goals as inventors. The poster exhibition highlights stories of inventors like Marilyn Hamilton, who after a hang-gliding accident in 1978 left her paralyzed, invented a lightweight wheelchair that was easy to maneuver. Diversity of background and age are showcased including inventor Alexis Lewis, who at 12-years-old in 2011 was inspired to adapt a traditional Native American sled, called a travois, by adding wheels to create a simpler way to transport families and their belongings in Somalia.”

Although not mentioned in this particular exhibit, viewers would be interested to know that Elizabeth City native Nannie W. Hunter received a patent in 1867 for her solution to creating a better smelling soap. Additionally, Raleigh native Beulah Louise Henry (1887-1973) was an extremely creative and talented inventor whose abilities credited her with the nickname “Lady Edison.” After later moving to New York City, she started two companies, received 49 patents, and was credited with over 100 inventions.

“This poster exhibition was designed to educate and inspire young people to see themselves as future inventors. “Picturing Women Inventors” is distributed at no cost to schools, libraries, museums and community organizations by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service in collaboration with the Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation and the United States Patent and Trademark Office. It’s sponsored by Lyda Hill Philanthropies IF/THEN Initiative and Ericsson.

SITES has been sharing the wealth of Smithsonian collections and research programs with millions of people outside Washington, D.C., for more than 65 years. SITES connects Americans to their shared cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibitions about art, science and history, which are shown wherever people live, work and play. For exhibition description and tour schedules, visit www.sites.si.edu.

The Lemelson Center has led the study of invention and innovation at the Smithsonian since 1995. The center’s activities advance scholarship on the history of invention, share stories about inventors and their work and nurture creativity in young people. The center is supported by The Lemelson Foundation and located in the National Museum of American History. For more information, visit www.invention.si.edu.”

Picturing Women Inventors remains on view until September, 2022.

Guardians of the Land: Discovering Indigenous Americans

Indigenous people have lived in North Carolina for over 15,000 years, long before other groups. Consequently, Indigenous Americans are the “First Americans.” They viewed land as more than dirt or soil; it was part of the culture and history of the people who inhabited it.

Come and visit this children’s exhibit to connect and learn how land has played an important role in the living history of the Indigenous people of coastal northeastern North Carolina. Indigenous American people are still being heard, their stories are being shared, and they are working to help others better understand their lives, cultures, contributions, and histories. Listen to their stories and voices, for they are strong.

Guardians of the Land: Discovering Indigenous Americans remains on view until August 2024.

When the Computer Wore a Skirt: NASA's Human Computers

On loan from the Hampton History Museum, the traveling exhibit “When the Computer Wore a Skirt: NASA's Human Computers,” explores the history and personalities brought to light in the hit film and best-selling book “Hidden Figures.” The exhibit opens at the Museum of the Albemarle on February 14, 2022.

In 1935 a group of five women came to Langley to form a computer pool to process all the data coming in from wind tunnel and flight tests. It began as an experiment but became something much bigger.

By 1942, the human computers had become essential to operations. A memo that April stated: "The engineers admit themselves that the girl computers do the work more rapidly and accurately than they could."

In the 1940’s Langley also began recruiting African-American women as human computers, but due to segregation laws these "West Area Computers" were kept separate from their white counterparts. This changed in the 1950s as NACA (later NASA) integrated and the “human computers” extended into the broader scientific community at NASA. By the 1960s they numbered in the hundreds. This exhibit features three of these pioneers: Dorothy Vaughn, Katherine Johnson, and Hampton native-Mary Jackson.

Created by the Hampton History Museum staff, the exhibit is designed to travel to other museums, libraries, schools and other organizations. For details on borrowing “Human Computers,” or other Hampton History Museum traveling exhibits, visit www.hamptonhistorymuseum.org/travelingexhibits or contact curator Allen Hoilman at 757-727-6875 or allen.hoilman@hampton.gov.

When the Computer Wore a Skirt: NASA's Human Computers remains on view until March 12, 2024.

Reliving the 1970s: Toy Edition

The Museum of the Albemarle opens its small acquisition case exhibit Reliving the 1970s: Toy Edition on March 18, 2022. A major explosion of toys marked the 1970s with many being highly collectible today. Toy production advances led to the rollout of electronic games and toys such as the Atari 2600 game console, the Simon computer-controlled game, and Texas Instruments’ Speak & Spell. Movies and television shows like STAR WARS and The Six Million Dollar Man created a market for action figures based on the characters.

Sears, JC Penney, and Montgomery Ward Wish Books delighted all ages. Toys were greatly featured for children to put on their wish lists. Local stores including Rose’s, F. W. Woolworth Company, W. T. Grant Company, Super Dollar, Montgomery Ward, and Ben Franklin helped fulfill those lists.

Enjoy this glimpse into a time where Atari, Baby Alive, Rubik’s Cube, and STAR WARS reigned. 

Reliving the 1970s: Toy Edition remains on view until March 2023.

All exhibits are free and open to the public unless otherwise stated.