The Mint Museum of Art initially served the region as the first branch of the United States Mint, coining $5 million in gold from 1836 to the outbreak of the Civil War. A grassroots community effort during the Depression saved the original Federal-style building designed by William Strickland from demolition and moved it to its present Randolph Road site.

The museum formally opened to the public on October 22, 1936 as North Carolina's first art museum.Today it is a rich and diverse resource with noted collections of American art, pre-Columbian art, American and European ceramics, American decorative arts, historic costumes and accessories, African art, Asian art, historic maps, contemporary art and photography.

Enhancing the permanent collections is an active schedule of changing exhibitions and education programs. The Mint originates and hosts major national and international exhibitions and features public programs including daily tours, seminars, lectures, family day festivals, and adult and children's art classes. Resources include two research libraries, a slide and videotape library, teacher training programs, in-school programs and a facility rental program.