The North Carolina Museum of Art is the nation’s largest museum park with 164-acres of land. The museum first opened in 1956 after the North Carolina State Art Society took interest in creating an art museum for the state. In the succeeding years, the society acquired funds and began displaying paintings in temporary art exhibition spaces.

Now, the museum park can cater to more works of art and even events such as performances and lectures. The museum’s permanent collection includes European paintings from the Renaissance to the 19th century, international contemporary art, American art of the 18th through the 20th century, and many more works. The North Carolina Museum of Art houses 2 of Thomas Hart Benton’s famous paintings: Planting (1939) and Spring on the Missouri (1945).