We regret to inform you that due to funding issues, the Cowan Museum will operate with one staff person while the others are on furlough. This means we will be very limited in what we’ll be able to offer the public, including education programs.

   This circumstance may only be temporary and we will keep you updated about our funding situation. We’d like to thank you for your support and hope to serve this wonderful community at full capacity very soon. 

STAFF:

Robin Grotke, Director, MA, Anthropology/Museum Studies.

Battista Bennett, Museum STEM Educator, BS, Recreation and Leisure Studies.

Certifications:
2023 Certified Burner Course – NC Forest Service.
2022 NC Environmental Education Certification – NC Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs.
2022 Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) – National Association for Interpretation (NAI).
2018 Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Environments Certificate (OLE) – Natural Learning Initiative (NLI), NC State University. 

Mavis Womble, Museum Assistant.

Filip Zubrowicz, Museum Assistant.

MAILING ADDRESS:
224 Seminary Street

P.O. Box 950

Kenansville, NC 28349

PHYSICAL ADDRESS:
411 S. Main Street
Kenansville, NC 28349​
(910) 296-2149

EMAIL:

info.museum@duplinnc.gov

HOURS OF OPERATION:

• Holiday Closings:   

November 11, 2026 (Wednesday).

November 26 & 27, 2026 (Thursday & Friday).

December 24, 25, 2026 (Thursday & Friday).

January 1, 2027 (Friday).

• We are open Tuesday - Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 

• The Joann Cowan Brown Botanical Garden is open 24/7. 

• Sensory bags are available onsite upon request (limited supply).

• Admission is FREE. Donations are appreciated.

TOURS:

• Most of the museum's exhibits are self-guided, but our staff is available to answer questions, talk about the artifacts and geology specimens, and tell stories about the museum. 

• We are happy to conduct guided group tours. Because we are a small museum, please contact us so that we may give our staff at least 24 hours to prepare and clear the galleries. Oftentimes, projects in progress create obstructions.

• Regarding tour cancellations, we kindly ask that organizers of group tours notify the museum of their intent to cancel by 10:00 a.m. the morning of their scheduled tour.

GENERAL:

• Wheelchair access to the first floor galleries of the Kelly-Farrior House is provided.

• The botanical garden trail needs repair to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards for Accessible Design. We are sorry for this inconvenience and hope to fix this problem in 2027.

• Please do not touch the artifacts inside the main museum building.

• Food and drinks are not permitted inside the main building and outbuildings.

• Photography is permitted.

• We accept only cash for donations and gift items. We may not be able to make change.