Wake Forest Historical Museum

05/28/2026

343 South White Street

At first glance, the brick building at 343 South White Street looks similar to the neighboring buildings. However, it was completed in 1998.

Built by Hale Architecture and Gould Construction of Wake Forest, the two-story, 13,500 square foot office space was designed to blend in with the surrounding historic architecture.

The building was initially constructed as a new home for the law firm Warren, Perry, & Anthony with room for additional tenants. The law firm–now Warren, Shackleford & Thomas–still occupies the space. Founded as Rich and Warren in 1974, the firm has been practicing law in downtown Wake Forest for over 50 years.

In addition to Warren, Shackleford & Thomas, the building is currently occupied by Burke & Associates, Edward Jones Financial Advisors, and Design Food Group, Inc.

📰October 8, 1998, Wake Weekly

05/26/2026

It’s Historic Preservation Month!

Share your knowledge of Wake Forest history & be entered to win a gift card to a local restaurant

WAKE FOREST, NC – May is Historic Preservation Month, and Wake Forest Historic Preservation is celebrating by giving you the chance to win gift cards to local restaurants simply by sharing your knowledge of Wake Forest history via the Wake Forest History Exchange (WFHE). Available on the Town website at https://bit.ly/WFHistoryExchange, the WFHE is a GIS-based public history map that allows community members to add stories and points of interest to the online map.

Beginning the week of May 3 with a focus on “Places” and continuing with a different focus each week throughout May, you are invited to use the WFHE to share the places, people, events, and stories you believe made Wake Forest history according to the following schedule:

• Week 1 (May 3-9) - Places
Share your story of places that matter to you and the history of Wake Forest on the Wake Forest Public History Exchange. Are you aware of a historic building or place of interest that has an important story to tell in Wake Forest, add the information to the map!
• Week 2 (May 10-16) - People
Share your story of people who have made a difference in Wake Forest on the Wake Forest Public History Exchange. Did you have a teacher who made a difference or perhaps a grandparent? Tell us that story!
• Week 3 (May 17-23) - Events
Share your story of events that have made an impact to Wake Forest on the Wake Forest Public History Exchange. Is there an event in Wake Forest history that is important to remember, let us know what it is!
• Week 4 (May 24-31) - Stories
Share your story! Tell us why Wake Forest and its history are important to you!

Everyone who participates will be included in a weekly drawing for a $25 gift card according to the following schedule:

• Week 1 – White Story Cafe
• Week 2 – Sugar Magnolia Cafe
• Week 3 – The Lemon Tree
• Week 4 – Las Mas

All entries will be included for the final grand prize drawings of two $50 gift cards to Strike and Barrel. The more entries you add the more chances you have to win!

For more information, visit https://bit.ly/HistoricPreservationMonthWF or email Michelle Michael at [email protected].

05/21/2026

Wake Forest Historical Museum will be closed on Saturday and Sunday, May 23 - 24.

05/15/2026

Outside Underpass Grocery, c. 1950

This photograph documents Underpass Grocery, built in the 1940s at the corner of Roosevelt Avenue and South White Street. Two men are pictured outside the storefront.

In the reflection of the store’s window, you can see several other men standing in front of the store.

In 1931, a train hit a school bus at the Wait Avenue crossing, killing two students. To prevent future accidents, an overpass was constructed to separate vehicle traffic from the train tracks. Additionally, Roosevelt Avenue was built to connect Wait Avenue with Front Street.

Come see this photograph in our new exhibit, Strolling White Street: A Photographic History of Downtown.

05/14/2026

We are delighted to welcome Gianna Caci to the Wake Forest Historical Museum team as our new Visitor Services Associate!

Gianna brings a blend of museum and guest service experience and a genuine passion for community engagement. Gianna currently serves as a Student Guide at the North Carolina Museum of Art, where she leads tours, facilitates discussions with visitors, and works to make art accessible to all. She is also an active volunteer in the Paleontology Collections at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, cataloging and classifying specimens and supporting the collections manager with research.

Please join us in giving Gianna a warm welcome. We are so glad to have her join our team!

Read more about Gianna
https://wakeforestmuseum.org/meet-gianna-caci/

05/12/2026

It’s week 2 of Historic Preservation Month! Participate below for a chance to win a $25 gift card to Sugar Magnolia Cafe!

This week, share your story of people who have made a difference in Wake Forest on the Wake Forest Public History Exchange. Did you have a teacher who made a difference or perhaps a grandparent? Tell us that story!

➡️https://bit.ly/HistoricPreservationMonthWF

Share your knowledge of Wake Forest history & be entered to win a gift card to a local restaurant

WAKE FOREST, NC – May is Historic Preservation Month, and Wake Forest Historic Preservation is celebrating by giving you the chance to win gift cards to local restaurants simply by sharing your knowledge of Wake Forest history via the Wake Forest History Exchange (WFHE). Available on the Town website at https://bit.ly/WFHistoryExchange, the WFHE is a GIS-based public history map that allows community members to add stories and points of interest to the online map.

Beginning the week of May 3 with a focus on “Places” and continuing with a different focus each week throughout May, you are invited to use the WFHE to share the places, people, events, and stories you believe made Wake Forest history according to the following schedule:

• Week 1 (May 3-9) - Places
Share your story of places that matter to you and the history of Wake Forest on the Wake Forest Public History Exchange. Are you aware of a historic building or place of interest that has an important story to tell in Wake Forest, add the information to the map!
• Week 2 (May 10-16) - People
Share your story of people who have made a difference in Wake Forest on the Wake Forest Public History Exchange. Did you have a teacher who made a difference or perhaps a grandparent? Tell us that story!
• Week 3 (May 17-23) - Events
Share your story of events that have made an impact to Wake Forest on the Wake Forest Public History Exchange. Is there an event in Wake Forest history that is important to remember, let us know what it is!
• Week 4 (May 24-31) - Stories
Share your story! Tell us why Wake Forest and its history are important to you!

Everyone who participates will be included in a weekly drawing for a $25 gift card according to the following schedule:

• Week 1 – White Story Cafe
• Week 2 – Sugar Magnolia Cafe
• Week 3 – The Lemon Tree
• Week 4 – Las Mas

All entries will be included for the final grand prize drawings of two $50 gift cards to Strike and Barrel. The more entries you add the more chances you have to win!

For more information, visit https://bit.ly/HistoricPreservationMonthWF or email Michelle Michael at [email protected].

05/10/2026

The Wake Forest Historic Preservation Program is inviting community members to help celebrate Historic Preservation Month by engaging with the Wake Forest History Exchange and sharing the stories, people, and events that you believe have made Wake Forest history. In the spirit of this year’s Preservation Month Theme and in celebration of the country’s 250th anniversary, “All are Created Equal."

Participate in Week 2 (May 10-16 )
Share your story of people who have made a difference in Wake Forest on the Wake Forest Public History Exchange. Did you have a teacher who made a difference or perhaps a grandparent? Tell us that story!

Learn more about the Historic Preservation Month Activities :
https://www.wakeforestnc.gov/planning/long-range-planning/historic-preservation/historic-preservation-month-celebration

05/10/2026

Share your knowledge of Wake Forest history & be entered to win a gift card to a local restaurant

WAKE FOREST, NC – May is Historic Preservation Month, and Wake Forest Historic Preservation is celebrating by giving you the chance to win gift cards to local restaurants simply by sharing your knowledge of Wake Forest history via the Wake Forest History Exchange (WFHE). Available on the Town website at https://bit.ly/WFHistoryExchange, the WFHE is a GIS-based public history map that allows community members to add stories and points of interest to the online map.

Beginning the week of May 3 with a focus on “Places” and continuing with a different focus each week throughout May, you are invited to use the WFHE to share the places, people, events, and stories you believe made Wake Forest history according to the following schedule:

• Week 1 (May 3-9) - Places
Share your story of places that matter to you and the history of Wake Forest on the Wake Forest Public History Exchange. Are you aware of a historic building or place of interest that has an important story to tell in Wake Forest, add the information to the map!
• Week 2 (May 10-16) - People
Share your story of people who have made a difference in Wake Forest on the Wake Forest Public History Exchange. Did you have a teacher who made a difference or perhaps a grandparent? Tell us that story!
• Week 3 (May 17-23) - Events
Share your story of events that have made an impact to Wake Forest on the Wake Forest Public History Exchange. Is there an event in Wake Forest history that is important to remember, let us know what it is!
• Week 4 (May 24-31) - Stories
Share your story! Tell us why Wake Forest and its history are important to you!

Everyone who participates will be included in a weekly drawing for a $25 gift card according to the following schedule:

• Week 1 – White Story Cafe
• Week 2 – Sugar Magnolia Cafe
• Week 3 – The Lemon Tree
• Week 4 – Las Mas

All entries will be included for the final grand prize drawings of two $50 gift cards to Strike and Barrel. The more entries you add the more chances you have to win!

For more information, visit https://bit.ly/HistoricPreservationMonthWF or email Michelle Michael at [email protected].

05/08/2026

Cornelius “Neal” A. Scheve
Forest Theater, 1942

In 1942, Wake Forest College President Thurman Kitchin allowed the U.S. Army to use part of the campus for the Army Finance School. One soldier, Cornelius Scheve, took this photo of the Forest Theater. The marquee features “Thunder Birds,” a film with aerial footage from Thunderbird Field No. 1, a WWII Army Air Force training base in Arizona. This film aimed to boost civilian morale and highlight airpower’s role in the war. Forest Theater and the College Soda Shop, pictured next door, were popular hangouts for Army Finance School students.

Come see this photograph in Strolling White Street: A Photographic History of Downtown exhibit.

Visiting Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm

05/08/2026

Help Shape a new NC Literary Heritage Program

In honor of America's 250th birthday, North Carolina Humanities is working in partnership with the Library of Congress and PBS Books to provide content for a digital episode exploring North Carolina's vibrant literary heritage.

Each installment in this series features unforgettable authors, books, bookstores, libraries, and the real-life locations that inspired North Carolina's greatest works.

Click here to learn more:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=7tQEGoYo9kOXvZoGh9niw678LeFmNLNMkwd2EXJ43UlUNkM4NFFVUFJNQ1Q1SjBQUFpMMTFWUkVISC4u&route=shorturl