Mint Museum Uptown
Even if you’re not an art lover, you’ll surely enjoy visiting Mint Museum Uptown in Charlotte, North Carolina. The main distinctive feature of this museum is that it holds the internationally recognized Craft + Design collection. It also has a good selection of American, European, and contemporary artworks. If you’re planning to visit this museum, then it would be worthwhile for you to know a little about its history. When you get to know this museum more, then you’ll have a better appreciation of it. If you’re visiting Charlotte, spending a day in this museum is not a bad idea. It may even be an enriching experience that you’ll remember for a long time.
Mint Museum Uptown is a five-story building. It has a total area of 145,000 square feet. Apart from the artworks that it houses, its inspiring architecture is another reason to visit the museum. It’s definitely one of the most beautiful buildings in all of Charlotte. It’s a good place to take a picture or a selfie if you’re passing by. The place is definitely Instagram-worthy. You have to thank Machado and Silvetti Associates of Boston for the beautiful design of the building. It’s a very accessible building as well because it’s located right at the heart of the city center. It’s a great alternative destination for those who are tired of the usual city attractions. 
The museum is actually an important part of the Levine Center for the Arts, which is a cultural complex that also houses the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the Duke Energy Center, the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts and Culture, and the Knight Theater. As far as the art collection is concerned, it’s the place to go if you want to see cutting-edge artwork. It’s a place where you can expect the unexpected when it comes to art. Apart from the galleries, you can also find a wide range of amenities at this museum. It also houses art studios, a restaurant, a souvenir shop, and a 240-seater auditorium.
There are actually two Mint Museums in Charlotte. Mint Museum Uptown is the most recent of the two. It was opened on October 1, 2010, while the older museum opened on October 22, 1936. Both museums faced delays before they could open their doors to the public. Both were affected by two of the worst financial crises that hit the US. This is why many are inspired by the story of the two Mint Museums. For the people of Charlotte, they represent resilience and determination. They show what can be achieved if people and institutions don’t give up in the face of challenges.
Probably the most interesting feature of Mint Museum Uptown is the Craft + Design section. It pays tribute to the rich art and craft heritage of Charlotte. It features different artworks created using a variety of materials, including, metal, wood, fiber, glass, clay, and mixed media. You can also see jewelry and furniture in this part of the museum. The section holds more than 2,500 works of art. But apart from the exhibition, Craft + Design aspires to inspire more people to create art and to foster discussions of art and design. It is considered to be the foremost arts and craft museum in the US. The collection used to be housed in a separate space then it moved to a bigger location inside Mint Museum Uptown.
If you’re visiting Charlotte with kids then taking them to Mint Museum Uptown is a nice treat. Learning about art and arts and crafts is a great way for parents and children to bond with each other. It’s a great way to expose children to different kinds of artworks as well as to instill in their appreciation and love for the arts. This museum is one of the most family-friendly in the US. And there’s enough variety in the collection to keep them interesting to different kinds of people, both young and old. The place is also well-maintained. The facilities are all clean and tidy. Entrance to the museum will only cost you $15, which isn’t bad considering the quality of the collection. You should definitely include Mint Museum Uptown in your trip to the city of Charlotte.