Cape fear museum will build and install a brand-new hands-on science, technology, engineering, and math (stem) exhibition to address a critical lack of hands-on, inquiry-based stem learning…

The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded County of New Hanover $1.603 million on October 1, 2025, under the Museums for America program (CFDA 45.301) to build and install a hands-on STEM exhibition at Cape Fear Museum.

The "Science Matters" exhibition will provide an interactive space where children and lifelong learners engage with discovery-based exhibits aligned to Next Generation Science Standards and North Carolina curriculum. The gallery targets K–8th grade students and addresses the Cape Fear region's critical lack of hands-on, inquiry-based STEM learning opportunities. Content will teach core scientific principles and their application to the world around visitors, designed to build scientific literacy and inspire innovation.

Performance occurs in Cape Fear, North Carolina, with a period of performance from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027. County of New Hanover, a local government entity headquartered in Wilmington, North Carolina, receives the award as parent recipient. The Museums for America program supports museums in strategic, project-based efforts serving the public through exhibitions, educational programs, and collections stewardship; funded projects must address a key goal in the institution's strategic plan and generate measurable results tied directly to the identified need or challenge.

Cape fear museum will build and install a brand-new hands-on science, technology, engineering, and math (stem) exhibition to address a critical lack of hands-on, inquiry-based stem learning opportunities in the cape fear region. The "science matters" exhibition will provide an exciting, interactive space where children and lifelong learners can actively do science through engaging, discovery-based exhibits. Visitors will learn about core scientific principles and understand how they shape the world around US. The gallery's content aligns with next generation science standards and north carolina curriculum, making IT a valuable resource for local k-8TH grade students. By creating this expanded stem learning environment, the museum will spark curiosity, build scientific literacy, and inspire the next generation of innovators in their community.