About the museum

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The Grifton Historical Museum has its on history. The museum is housed in a brick building that was first a Methodist Church. Later, before school intergration, Grifton's African American Students were educated here. Wings expanded the building's footprint to accommodate its growing needs and the building took on a rambling look and feel. After school integration, the Pitt County Board of Education used this facility to house Winterville Ayden Grifton Child Development Center (WAG). The State Department of Public Education, also used this facility for the Eastern Regional Education Center.

In 1975, the Town of Grifton successfully applied for a block grant of $40,000 to buy the land and building complex. Then as the 1976 American Bicentennial approached, communities across the country buzzed with excitement for festivals and projects honoring their heritage. Grifton chose to develop a permanent Historical Museum and Civic Center and applied for a $5,000.00 grant to get started.

In 2011 with recommendations from the STEP committee (Small Town Economic Prosperity), the museum was separate from the Civic Center and became a non-profit organization. A governing board was formed to further increase awareness of the museum and the areas American Indian Heritage.