The Mint Museum

The Mint Museum Randolph initially served the region as the first branch of the United States Mint, coining $5 million in gold from 1836 to the outbreak of the Civil War. A grassroots community effort during the Depression saved the original Federal-style building designed by William Strickland from demolition and moved it to its present Randolph Road site. The museum formally opened to the public on 22 October 1936 as North Carolina’s first art museum.

Today the Mint features collections that span more than 4,000 years of human creativity from all over the world. Intimate galleries invite visitors to engage with the art of the ancient Americas, ceramics and decorative arts, and historic costume.

Enhancing the permanent collections is an active schedule of changing exhibitions and education programs. The Mint originates and hosts major national and international exhibitions and features public programs including tours, seminars, lectures, and adult and children’s art classes. Resources include a reference library stocked with more than 15,000 art-related volumes, a theater offering lectures and performances, teacher training programs, and a facility rental program.

Opened on 1 October 2010, the Mint Museum Uptown houses the internationally-renowned Mint Museum of Craft + Design, as well as important collections of American, Contemporary, and European art. The new facility is a part of Levine Center for the Arts, located at the corner of South Tryon Street and Levine Avenue of the Arts in the heart of Charlotte’s business district.

The Mint Museum Uptown features expansive galleries and a range of visitor amenities, including public spaces for learning, shopping, and dining. Reflect on exceptional works of art with a cell phone audio tour of the permanent collection, release your inner artist in the Lewis Family Gallery, and discover what inspires you through a myriad of educational offerings. Complete your visit by enjoying a meal at Halcyon or browsing the Museum Shop’s rich selection of pottery, glass, wood, and jewelry handcrafted by regional artists.

The best views of uptown Charlotte are found on the Mint’s fifth floor, featuring the 4,000-square-foot Marc and Mattye Silverman Grand Room and the rooftop Trustees’ Terrace of equal size. Both are available for rental and offer dramatic views of the Charlotte skyline.