State history museum

North Carolina Museum of History

The official recipient-location record for Edwin Alexander Anderson identifies the museum as a location of his original Medal of Honor. Because the building is closed, this archive record must not be read as a claim that the medal is currently available for public viewing.

MOH-MUS-000029Evidence reviewed 2026-10-12Temporarily closed

North Carolina Museum of HistoryJmturner / Wikimedia Commons, public domain · Public domain (creator dedication) ↗ · Source ↗

Historical context

About this institution

The North Carolina Museum of History preserves the state’s political, social, economic, and military history. Its collections include objects and records associated with North Carolinians across wars and public service. The Raleigh building closed in October 2024 for a major renovation and is scheduled by the institution to reopen in 2028, while collections and off-site activity continue in other forms.

Why it matters to Medal of Honor research

The museum’s collection supports research into North Carolina service members, state memory, naval history, original artifacts, and the preservation of military material within a broad state-history institution.

Collection guide

What to look for

The following highlights summarize the strongest verified reasons to include this institution in the archive. They are a planning guide, not a promise that every object is on view at all times.

Edwin Alexander Anderson original-medal relationship

North Carolina military collections

State history and material culture

Renovation and future-gallery project

Museum-documented original Robert Lester Blackwell Medal of Honor

Verified connections

Medal of Honor relationships

2 total2 original medals

Original Medal of Honor

Edwin Alexander Anderson

The Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s current recipient profile identifies the North Carolina Museum of History as a location of Edwin Alexander Anderson’s Medal of Honor. The institution is currently closed, so this record does not imply public gallery access.

Record: Official Location of Medal record

Verified 2026-10-08 · Current, display status not specified

Evidence sources and scope

Edwin Alexander Anderson recipient profile and medal-location record ↗Congressional Medal of Honor Society
North Carolina Museum of History ↗North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources

This is a verified collection-location relationship. It does not by itself establish that the medal is continuously or currently displayed. The institution closure must remain visible wherever this relationship is presented.

Original Medal of Honor

Robert Lester Blackwell

The North Carolina Museum of History says Robert Lester Blackwell’s family donated his actual Medal of Honor to the state museum. The museum is temporarily closed for renovation, and current public display is not available.

Record: Robert Lester Blackwell original Medal of Honor, family-donated museum object

Verified 2026-10-10 · Current, display status not specified

Evidence sources and scope

North Carolina Museum of History — Robert Lester Blackwell original Medal of Honor ↗North Carolina Museum of History

Museum official provenance; facility CLOSED for renovation, no active visitor gallery claim.

Collection focus

Historical specialties

North Carolina historystate collectionsmilitary historymaterial culture

Service connections

U.S. Navy

Conflict connections

Spanish-American War

Visitor planning

The Raleigh museum building remains closed for a multiyear renovation. An August 2026 state museum update targets reopening in 2028, but physical galleries are not available now. The institution continues educational programming, traveling exhibitions, and digital resources; check the official museum website for any changes before visiting.

5 East Edenton Street
Raleigh, North Carolina, 27601
United States

Open location in OpenStreetMap ↗Official website ↗Current visitor information ↗Collection or exhibit information ↗

The main building is closed; do not plan an ordinary gallery visit.
Contact the institution for research access or object-specific questions.
Official museum website currently says temporarily closed for renovation; do not describe original Blackwell medal as viewable until reopening.
North Carolina DNCR confirmed in August 2026 that the museum remained closed and targeted reopening in 2028; the date is a project forecast, not an admission guarantee.

Admission prices, opening schedules, installation rules, and object availability are left to the institution because they can change.

Access status

Temporarily closed

Map point: 35.7815, -78.6385 · Verified Wikidata

Institution sources

North Carolina Museum of History ↗North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources · Priority 1
Museum renovation frequently asked questions ↗North Carolina Museum of History · Priority 1
North Carolina Museum of History coordinate reference ↗Wikidata · Priority 5
North Carolina Museum of History — Robert Lester Blackwell original Medal of Honor ↗North Carolina Museum of History · Priority 1
North Carolina Museum of History Shares New Renderings of Future Educational Spaces (August 24, 2026) ↗North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources · Priority 1

Archive standard

“Original Medal of Honor” relationships require direct source evidence. A location record is not described as a current public display unless the institution confirms display status.