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Exhibits

The Orange County Historical Museum performs the crucial task of highlighting and preserving Orange County’s unique history through permanent, special, and traveling exhibits.

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Permanent Exhibit

The permanent exhibit presents the development of Orange County, NC

in a chronological fashion, from indigenous settlements through the twentieth century.

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Each display depicts major events and ideas from the political, economic, and social history of the time period.

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Previous Exhibit
SCORE!
Youth Sports in Orange County History

This exhibit explores the importance of youth sports and how they have changed over time in Orange County. It focuses on 11 core sports and spotlights athletes with heart, those who displayed outstanding sportsmanship and citizenship.

April 2025 - December 2025

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Current Special Exhibit
United We Stand, Divided We Fall
Unity and Division in Orange County History

The exhibit explores six themes that have been essential to the identity of Orange County, focusing on the ways that these threads have bound county residents together as well as the times that the strings have become tangled or unraveled.

•Environment •Commerce •Service •Health •Learning •The Arts

April 2026 - December 2026

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Previous Exhibit
Working for a Living:
A History of Trades in Orange County

Explore the history of 11 trades that were practiced throughout Orange County, how they changed over time, and the people who practiced the trade. Features tools used in the trades and finished products produced by the tradesmen. 

March 2024 - December 2024

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Partnership Exhibit
Chapel Hill Historical Society
100 years of Youth Sports: 1925-2025

From basketball to the soapbox derby, learn about the many exciting and interesting activities that young people participated in

April 2025 - December 2025

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Previous Exhibit
Treasure Hunters:
Orange County Collectors

This exhibit showcases the unique and diverse items that people in Orange County, NC collect.. 

Adventures await in Orange County, NC!​​

February 2023 - December 2023

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Previous Exhibit
What's Your Flavor?

Heritage Cooking in Orange County History

A creative look at heritage cooking in Orange County, "What's Your Flavor?" depicts the many ways that cooking is an art. 

February 2022 - December 2022

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Previous Exhibit
Date Night:
Fashion, Food, Music, and Fun

​Discover the places people went on dates in the 20th century.  Learn what couples wore, ate, listened to, and did

(G-rated version only).

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April 2021 - December 2021

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Previous Exhibit
Yésah: Journeys of the Occaneechi

​Explore the physical and cultural journeys made by the Occaneechi. Learn the reasons they journeyed, where they went, how their lives changes, and how their traditions

and values endured.

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September 2020 - March 2021

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The mission of the Orange County Historical Museum is to enlighten and engage our community and visitors by preserving and interpreting the history of Hillsborough and Orange County

Our thanks to these generous supporters:

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