Sampson County Historical Museum

Your Key To Uncover Over 250 Years Of Legacy

In downtown Clinton, N.C., there is a time capsule of eastern NC history, and it is the Sampson County Historical Museum. The museum began when two friends, Thompson and King, decided to start collecting artifacts.

The collection–started in 1997–now spans 11 buildings and plans to expand into another house nearby.

There is a little bit of everything in the collection. Medical equipment, vintage fire and law enforcement, sports memorabilia, books, grave markers, cameras, and vintage toys are just part of the artifacts stored here. A vintage wedding dress and 1900’s hats sit outside a turn of the century red, white, and butter yellow kitchen with an ice box and kerosene oven. Wooten’s old country store was donated with all the turn-of-thecentury stock still inside in original glass and metal containers. There is a two-headed pig in the barn with all the farm equipment and memorabilia from Sampson County’s Fair. A room full of African American’s with mile- stone achievements are showcased in the main house.

Also in the main house is a collection of tools, weapons, jewelry, and ornamental dress of the Coharie Indians that is maintained by the tribe. An 18th century log cabin with peg joints was donated after it was discovered inside another house on a nearby housing development. It houses colonial memorabilia including spinning wheels and a full-size loom.

A local historian collecting 17001800s material donated a cabin with his whole collection including stairs Lord Cornwallis once stepped on. A museum chronicling eastern NC’s role in the military from the Revolutionary

War to now is housed in the newest building on the property and maintained by veterans.

Because Sampson County was originally part of Duplin County, the contents of the museum are as much a part of Duplin’s colorful heritage as they are Sampson’s. While many of the artifacts tell a global story, they all have some tie back to Sampson/Duplin because the person involved once resided here. The museum is an expansive property that tells a story outside the bounds of history books. It is a story that needs to be experienced first hand and more than once to be fully appreciated.

Tours of the museum are held free of charge Thursday through Saturday 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. at 313 Lisbon Street, Clinton, N.C. For information or to book a group tour, visit sampsonhmc.com/