Levine Museum of the New South, Charlotte

The "New South" in the museum's title reflects the economic and social gains of the South in the 20th century.  As Edward Rothstein points out in his review of the Levine Museum in the New York Times,

It is unlikely that anything resembling the impressive Levine Museum of the New South would exist anywhere else. A museum of the New North or the New East would be merely peculiar, but here the term “New South” has a venerable heritage, recalling unrealized hopes and great expectations. There is also much at stake in trying to understand just what the term really means.

 This museum followed a trend throughout the South of looking into and even confronting the past of the "Old South."  The museum is divided into two main levels.  On the lower level, visitors experience a history museum with the theme of progress.  Agricultural exhibits on farm equipment and life as a tenant farmer show how far behind the Old South was in industry and economic power in the post Civil War-early 20th century era.  An exhibit on racist groups provides a fairly honest look at the Councils and Klans--costumes and other artifacts are displayed.  (In one interesting approach to displaying disturbing material, the museum covered a photograph of a lynching scene and offered a warning to visitors about the material.)

Other civil-rights era exhibits include the infamous Greensboro Lunch counter and a replica of a school bus used for integration.  Television monitors in this area replay key news broadcasts from the era, awakening memories for those who lived through the events and making it more immediate for younger viewers.

Much of the museum also focuses on agriculture, industry, and economy in the South.  A brief film near the entrance narrates the progression from farming to industries (primarily textiles) to banking (although the film may need updating in light of the recent financial crisis).  My own family found the replica of milltown housing---an integral element in the textile industry's economy-- fascinating.  My husband and son played a game of bottlecap checkers there, and my daughter explored the kitchen cabinets and the wood stove.  My own interest reflected something more personal; my mother spent her earliest years in a house and a kitchen much like this one, in a small town in North Carolina in the 1930s.

  At the top level, the museum transforms from a historical/cultural experience to a tolerance museum.  These are interactive exhibits, offering visitors the chance to try on different clothes, respond to situations, and question their assumptions about other people.  One exhibit, for example, displayed pictures of individuals who might be easily stereotyped, then invited viewers to open a panel to reveal surprising or unexpected information about each person.

Rothstein mentioned that, until recent budget cuts, a Levine field trip had been a required part of  North Carolina's 8th grade curriculum.  I'll have to say that I hope those funds are restored soon; the museum offers a thoughtful, well-organized educational experience for all visitors, but it would seem particularly appropriate for upper-elementary and middle school students who are ready for this material and who need to move beyond a textbook to appreciate it fully.

Information from website:

Admission
Adults	$6.00
Seniors (62+) and Students	$5.00
Children (6-18)	$5.00
Family	$17.00
Under 6 free
Groups*	$4.00
*10 or more, with advance reservation

Hours
Monday - Saturday:  10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday:  12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Closed Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.

Parking
On weekdays, Levine Museum provides visitors 2 hours of validation for parking in Seventh Street Station parking deck, which is located next to the museum. After 2 hours, regular parking fees apply.
On weekends and for evening events, the museum provides parking validation, with no hourly limit.
Visitors should present parking ticket for validation at the Guest Services desk upon arrival.