Top 12 Attractions in Greensboro

Attraction	Description
Greensboro History Museum	Features interactive exhibits capturing the city’s past, from early Native American trading paths to the 1960 civil rights movement.
Elsewhere Collaborative Art Museum	A living museum in a former thrift store with unique installations, interactive elements, and various events.
Weatherspoon Art Museum	A museum with a collection of contemporary and 20th century American art, including works by famous artists.
Blandwood Mansion and Gardens	A historic house museum showcasing Federal-style decor, furnishings, and gardens from the early 19th century.
Tanger Center for the Performing Arts	A venue for Broadway shows, concerts, and events, with a flexible interior space and impressive technical capabilities.
Greensboro Science Center	Features a zoo section, dinosaur skeletons, hands-on science labs, an aquarium, and IMAX/4D films.
LeBauer City Park and Center City Park	Downtown parks with green space, live music, sculptures, and nearby attractions like the butterfly garden.
Guilford Courthouse National Military Park	A battlefield park with exhibits, monuments, and programming related to the 1781 Revolutionary War battle.
International Civil Rights Center & Museum	Dedicated to the civil rights movement, with exhibits on the Greensboro sit-ins and broader struggles.
Bicentennial Bike Trail	A 10-mile trail across the city for biking, walking, and jogging, featuring nature and city history.
Natty Greene’s Brewing Co.	A brewpub offering crafted beers and pub fare, with indoor seating and an outdoor beer garden.
Center for Visual Artists Gallery & Studios	An arts complex with studio and exhibition space for regional artists, offering varied art mediums and workshops.
New Orleans Lil’ Durham’s Restaurant	A restaurant serving Cajun and Creole dishes, known for its authentic flavors and casual atmosphere.

Here are 12 of the top attractions and activities to enjoy in Greensboro.

Greensboro History Museum

Name and Location: Greensboro History Museum, 130 Summit Ave, Greensboro, NC 27401

History and Significance: Founded in 1924, this museum documents the history of Greensboro and Guilford County. It has permanent and rotating exhibits on local history, culture, and art.

What to Expect: Exhibits on Greensboro’s founding, African American heritage, textile industry, civil rights movement, and more. Guided tours, education programs, events, and museum store.

Visitor Information: Open Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 2pm-5pm. Closed Mondays and major holidays. Admission is free.

Greensboro’s excellent history museum occupies the former Southern Railway Passenger Station downtown. Interactive exhibits capture the city’s past starting with the early Native American trading paths through Greensboro’s 20th century sit-in movement and textile heritage.

See the actual Woolworth’s lunch counter from the 1960 civil rights protests along with other compelling artifacts. Other galleries spotlight the area’s railroad history, Victorian era, arts, sports, and more. Special programs and events bring history to life.

Elsewhere Collaborative Art Museum

Name and Location: Elsewhere Collaborative Art Museum, 606 S Elm St, Greensboro, NC 27406

History and Significance: Founded in 2003 in a former thrift store. Showcases experimental, interactive art and provides residencies for artists. Known for its unique living museum model.

What to Expect: Ever-changing installations, performances, classes, and events. Visitors can interact with exhibits and artists’ residency spaces.

Visitor Information: Open Thursday-Sunday 12pm-6pm. Closed Monday-Wednesday. Admission is free but donations encouraged. Tours available.

For an immersive and engaging art experience, visit the Elsewhere Collaborative in downtown Greensboro. This living museum housed in a former thrift store aims to spark imagination through unique installations and evolving artist residencies.

Wander through rooms bursting with found objects, reuse materials, audiovisual displays, and interactive elements. Events like rooftop concerts, outdoor film screenings, and artist talks add to the experience. Part art exhibit, part creative playground; Elsewhere opens visitors’ minds.

Weatherspoon Art Museum

Name and Location: Weatherspoon Art Museum, UNC Greensboro, 1500 Tate St, Greensboro, NC 27402

History and Significance: Associated with UNC Greensboro since 1941. Has over 6,000 works in its permanent collection, with a focus on modern and contemporary art.

What to Expect: Rotating exhibits of regional, national, and international contemporary artists across mediums. Also hosts events, family activities, and education programs.

Visitor Information: Open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10am–5pm, Thursday 10am-9pm, Saturday-Sunday 1pm–5pm. Closed Mondays. Admission is free.

Affiliated with the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, this nationally known museum houses an impressive collection of contemporary and 20th century American art. Artists featured include Andy Warhol, Alexander Calder, Robert Rauschenberg, Sol LeWitt, and Sue Coe.

Don’t miss seeing regional art treasures like Minnie Evans’ colorful folk art. Art from the permanent collection rotates through innovative exhibits. The museum also hosts guest lectures, musical performances, and family art workshops to engage visitors. Admission is free.

Blandwood Mansion and Gardens

Name and Location: Blandwood Mansion and Gardens, 447 W Washington St, Greensboro, NC 27401

History and Significance: Historic home built in 1795 and restored to its 1800s Victorian style. Provides insight into 19th century life.

What to Expect: Guided tours of the mansion, gardens, carriage house and servant areas. Also hosts special events and education programs.

Visitor Information: Open Tuesday-Saturday 10am-4pm, Sunday 2pm-5pm. Closed Mondays and major holidays. Admission charged.

History and horticulture unite at Blandwood Mansion and Gardens, an historic house museum focused on the early 19th century. Built in 1795, this stately manor served as North Carolina’s Governor Morehead’s home and later industrialist Henry Humphrey Bland.

Costumed guides provide tours showcasing the elegant Federal-style decor, furnishings, and expansive gardens. The kitchen building highlights cooking heritage and activities. Seasonal events range from afternoon teas to holiday celebrations. Stunning daffodil displays bloom in spring.

Tanger Center for the Performing Arts

Name and Location: Tanger Center for the Performing Arts, 300 N Elm St, Greensboro, NC 27401

History and Significance: State-of-the-art performing arts center that opened in 2020. Hosts major Broadway shows, concerts, comedy acts and more.

What to Expect: Broadway musicals, plays, dance, music and comedy performances in the main performance hall and smaller theater. Food/drink options.

Visitor Information: Ticket prices vary by show. Schedule and box office info at TangerCenter.com. Tours available when no events scheduled.

Opened in 2020, the new Tanger Center for the Performing Arts is downtown Greensboro’s gleaming venue for world-class Broadway shows, concerts, and events. The flexible interior space can be configured for 2,100 to 6,900 seated guests. Acoustics, sight lines, and technical capabilities impress.

Catch blockbuster musicals, chart-topping musicians like Elton John, acclaimed comedians, opera stars, and the National Geographic Live speaker series at this state-of-the-art center. Free outdoor plazas provide pre-show entertainment space.

Greensboro Science Center

Name and Location: Greensboro Science Center, 4301 Lawndale Dr, Greensboro, NC 27455

History and Significance: Hands-on science museum founded in 1957. Home to outdoor zoo, aquarium, dinosaur exhibits, live animal habitats and more.

What to Expect: Immersive science exhibits, native North Carolina animal exhibits, outdoor discovery areas, bird shows and animal interactions.

Visitor Information: Open daily 9am-5pm. Admission charged. Discounts available online.

The Greensboro Science Center makes science and nature come alive for visitors of all ages. Get eye-level with lemurs, red pandas, sharks, and snakes in the zoo section. The museum features massive dinosaur skeletons, live insects, quasar exhibits, and hands-on science labs.

The nearby aquarium showcases alligators, stinging rays, seahorses, and Piranha. Outside, traverse high ropes courses and the tree-level boardwalks. Catch an IMAX or 4D film too. Special events range from sleepovers to summer camps.

LeBauer City Park and Center City Park

Name and Location: LeBauer and Center City Parks, 208 N Davie St, Greensboro, NC 27401

History and Significance: Adjoining parks located in downtown Greensboro. Offer green space, public art, and event hosting in central city.

What to Expect: Lawns, trees, walking paths, fountains, stages for events/concerts, Center City Park’s iconic fountain display.

Visitor Information: Free and open daily 5am-11pm. Hosts various public city events and festivals.

Right downtown, LeBauer and Center City Parks offer beautiful green space to enjoy alongside cultural attractions. Linger in LeBauer Park’s relaxing shaded seating areas and enjoy live music at the splashy interactive fountain.

Center City Park houses the Evergreens 1918 Arts & Crafts bungalow. Center City’s winding paths, mature oaks, sculptures, and performance pavilion create an urban oasis. Nearby, catch the Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden’s skywalk and butterfly garden. The parks host food truck events as well.

Guilford Courthouse National Military Park

Name and Location: Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, 2332 New Garden Rd, Greensboro, NC 27410

History and Significance: Marks site of Revolutionary War Battle of Guilford Court House in 1781. Commemorates events and people of the battle.

What to Expect: Museum, film, self-guided and ranger-led tours of battlefield and monuments. Living history demonstrations and annual reenactment.

Visitor Information: Open daily 9am-5pm, except major holidays. Museum admission free, fees for tours and events.

At this National Park Service battlefield, history comes to life through exhibits, monuments, and interpretive programming. Guilford Courthouse commemorates the pivotal 1781 Revolutionary War battle that paved the way for British surrender at Yorktown.

Start at the visitor center to explore interactive exhibits and watch the orientation film. Rangers lead guided hikes explaining battle details and strategy on the wooded trails. Living history demonstrations, artillery firings, and special events transport visitors back in time.

International Civil Rights Center & Museum

Name and Location: International Civil Rights Center & Museum, 134 S Elm St, Greensboro, NC 27401

History and Significance: Opened in 2010 on site of the 1960 Woolworth sit-in protest. Details civil rights events and movement.

What to Expect: Interactive exhibits on Greensboro sit-ins, MLK Jr., Rosa Parks, and more civil rights history. Archive materials and oral histories.

Visitor Information: Open Tuesday-Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 1pm-6pm. Closed Mondays. Admission charged. Tours available.

The International Civil Rights Center & Museum powerfully immerses visitors in the Greensboro sit-ins and broader civil rights struggles of the 1950s and 60s. Housed in the former F.W. Woolworth building downtown, the moving exhibits tell firsthand stories of protests, Ku Klux Klan violence, victories, and ongoing activism.

Listen to oral histories, see authentic artifacts like bombed Black church fragments, or sit at the segregated lunch counter. Provocative and emotionally resonant, this is a must-see Greensboro museum.

Bicentennial Bike Trail

Name and Location: Bicentennial Bike Trail, throughout Greensboro, NC

History and Significance: 17.5 mile urban trail looping through Greensboro, opened in 1976 to celebrate bicentennial.

What to Expect: Paved trail for walking, running, biking and more through parks, gardens, downtown and neighborhoods. Benches and water fountains along route.

Visitor Information: Free and open daily. Trail map available online and at visitor centers.

Greensboro’s scenic Bicentennial Bike Trail stretches 10-mile across the city along the Fisher and Buffalo Creek Greenways. Once railroad corridors, these trails now invite biking, walking, jogging, and even horseback riding. The routes wind through parks, wooded areas, wetlands, and neighborhoods.

Interpretive signage shares nature facts and city history along the way. Entry points across Greensboro allow you to tailor your ride. Rent a cruiser bike or join a guided bike tour of the trail at Boggs Trail Bike Shop downtown.

Natty Greene’s Brewing Co.

Name and Location: Natty Greene’s Brewing Co., 345 S Elm St, Greensboro, NC 27401

History and Significance: Popular downtown brewpub opened in 1998, named after Revolutionary War general Nathanael Greene.

Greensboro’s original brewpub, Natty Greene’s has been serving finely crafted local brews and tasty pub fare since 1998. Sip flagship beers like Buckshot Amber Ale and Wildflower Witbier or seasonal options like blueberry lager and coffee stout.

Accompany your drafts with elevated bar bites like duck confit tacos, shrimp and grits, or wild mushroom flatbread pizza. The original downtown location has airy indoor seating and an outdoor beer garden. Take a brewery tour or grab a six pack to go.

Center for Visual Artists Gallery & Studios

Name and Location: Center for Visual Artists Gallery & Studios, 200 N Davie St, Greensboro, NC 27401

History and Significance: Non-profit arts organization founded in 1974. Dedicated to supporting visual artists and community arts engagement.

What to Expect: Art exhibitions, studio spaces for artists, classes, workshops, and community programs.

Visitor Information: Free gallery open Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm.

This downtown arts complex houses studio and exhibition space for regional artists. Tour current art exhibits in the main gallery featuring works in varied mediums from paintings to fiber art. Many displays focus on culturally diverse themes. You can even watch resident artists at work in their creative spaces.

The center’s gift shop sells locally made art, jewelry, glasswork, and crafts, perfect for gifts or souvenirs. Sign up for hands-on art classes and workshops taught on-site too.

New Orleans Lil’ Durham’s Restaurant

Name and Location: New Orleans Lil’ Durham’s Restaurant, 208 W McGee St, Greensboro, NC 27401

History and Significance: Local favorite Cajun/Creole restaurant open since 1985, known for authentic cuisine.

What to Expect: Cajun dishes like gumbo, jambalaya, po’ boys, fried seafood, beignets and more in a casual setting. Live music nights.

Visitor Information: Open Tuesday-Thursday 11am-9pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-10pm. Closed Sundays and Mondays.

For authentic Cajun and Creole flavors, don’t miss New Orleans Lil’ Durham’s in downtown Greensboro. A local institution since 1945, this casual eatery dishes out specialties like fried catfish, po’ boys, jambalaya, red beans and rice, and gumbo ya-ya loaded with shrimp and andouille sausage.

Save room for desserts like bourbon pecan pie and Mississippi Mud cake. The simple, kitschy decor full of Mardi Gras beads and Saints paraphernalia enhances the NOLA vibe. Stop by for happy hour draft specials and free red beans on Mondays.

Conclusion

Culture, history, arts, and food come together in Greensboro to create a diverse travel destination. Tour compelling museums and historic sites that illuminate past struggles and achievements. Gorgeous parks provide green space while miles of scenic bike trails encourage active exploration.

Performing arts venues, studios, and a brewery scene deliver experiences. Greensboro’s array of attractions and southern hospitality ensure an engaging and down-to-earth visit.