Burnett-Eaton Museum Foundation (Wilmington, North Carolina)

African American Civil Rights Network

The mission of the Burnett-Eaton Museum Foundation is to educate the public about the history, arts, and culture of the Wilmington region. The museum, the only one in Wilmington dedicated to African American history, displays items, photographs, documents, letters, and artifacts detailing the history of African Americans and others in the Wilmington area.

The Burnett-Eaton Museum Foundation operates the museum and works with local schools, businesses, and organizations to promote history education in the community. The Foundation operates a research library, supports research into the history of the region and its peoples, and works with local preservation organizations to protect historical sites and landmarks throughout the Wilmington area.

By helping to preserve and promote the region’s unique history and culture, the Foundation works to ensures that future generations will be able to learn about and appreciate the history of African Americans and others who lived in and helped create a rich and vibrant region along the North Carolina coast.

The Burnett-Eaton Museum Foundation became part of the African American Civil Rights Network in 2023.

The African American Civil Rights Network recognizes the African American Civil Rights Movement in the United States and the sacrifices made by those who fought against discrimination and segregation. Created by the African American Civil Rights Act of 2017, and coordinated by the National Park Service, the Network tells the stories of the people, places, and events of the U.S. African American Civil Rights Movement through a collection of public and private resources to include properties, facilities, and programs.