Take the Kids: Raleigh City Museum offers hands-on activities about the Capital City

For years, the museum has told the story of the Capital City through rotating exhibits on everything from the Spanish Flu to the growth of the Triangle's Indian community and more. And in April, the museum is celebrating a month of special programs as part of Raleigh History Month to celebrate the city's cultural heritage and encourage the public to explore the city's historic sites.

And on April 5, the museum will open a new exhibit thanks to a collaboration with students at Moore Square Magnet Middle School. "Our Families’ Treasures" is an exhibit that focuses on the important objects that students have in their life and tells the story of their families. From stories of war, migration, love, and even a look to the future, according to a press release, the eighth grade students at Moore Square will show you how one object can represent an entire story.

In other words, these are all great reasons to visit the City of Raleigh Museum if you haven't been recently, and there's plenty to keep kids engaged.

The museum is at 220 Fayetteville St., right in the middle of downtown Raleigh. Admission is free though donations of $5 for adults are encouraged. There's also a small gift shop on site.

The museum features several exhibits that explore various of aspects and personalities of Raleigh.

At the entrance to the museum, you'll see Raleigh Then, Raleigh Now, Raleigh Next, which tells the city's story through various artifacts and images with interactive kiosks. On the other side of the room is a display on Raleigh politics (with more screens and buttons for kids to push).

As you move back, you'll pass through exhibits on Civil Rights in Raleigh, the political cartoons of Dwane Powell and the history of Dix Hill, now home to a massive park.

At the entrance to the museum's exhibits, kids might enjoy seeing the artifacts or manipulating the various buttons and screens. They'll also find a collection of dress-up clothes, including World War II uniforms, that they can try on.

A hands-on history cart is usually stationed nearby. It features a rotating collection of items that visitors can pick up, touch and check out. When we were there, the cart included a stereoscope, which makes images appear three dimensional; a telegraph machine that we could punch out Morse code on; and an old matchbox holder.

"Honestly, adults love this too," said Megan Raby, the museum's assistant director.

And there's more for kids to do as you move toward the back of the museum.

In the exhibit about Powell, the Draw Your Thoughts wall is hot spot for visitors of all ages, who get to actually draw on the wall. Visitors spend a lot of time developing their own versions of Powell's work or creating something entirely their own.

"Who gets to draw on a wall in a museum?" said Ernest Dollar, the museum's director.

In the Dix Hill exhibit, visitors can share what they hope will be included as Raleigh develops the property into a park (let me just add another vote for "playground with desserts" as one child requested) and a sound booth where you can record your own thoughts or memories about the land, which was once home to a psychiatric hospital.

Nodding to the property's prior use, visitors also are encouraged to complete a picture of what they feel like on the inside and what they look like on the outside. It's an especially effective way to help kids better understand mental illness.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday. It's also open from 6 p.m to 9 p.m. on the first Friday of each month.