Sampson County History Museum

Located in Downtown Clinton, the Sampson County History Museum is intended for promotion and understanding of the historical and material culture of Sampson County and its unique heritage. Started in 1997 by Fes Turlington and David King, the Sampson County History Museum has grown immensely from the five rooms of the 1903 two-story white house on Lisbon Street to a village of 11 separate museum buildings hidden in the back yard of the “Big House” on a 2 acre lot that takes up the entire corner of Lisbon, Powell, and Graham Street.

With thousands of permanent artifacts, visitors and citizens are encouraged to explore pages from the past and reflect as they search through their own lives and their place in history. Each building holds a unique “key to the past” as visitors discover a variety of antiques and artifacts and reflect the heritages of Sampson County and the surrounding area. The museum grounds include a 70+ year old outhouse, a smokehouse, early 1900s restored gas pumps, and authentic millstones used back when corn was ground locally into meal. Explore the Bunting Log Cabin built around 1750 as it is one of the oldest structures in Eastern North Carolina to the Sports Hall of Fame, which is the newest structure added to the museum grounds.

With something for everyone, we encourage you to stop by for a free tour and dive into Sampson County’s rich heritage and history. For the Sampson County History Museum holds your “key to the past.”