Levine Museum will relocate to Charlotte’s South End. See what it will look like
The Levine Museum of the New South has found a permanent home. It’s heading to South End.
The 35-year-old museum purchased two buildings for $7.5 million from Grace Covenant Church at 1800 South Blvd, according to a Wednesday news release. The site at the intersection of South and East Boulevards is about 10,000 square feet and close to public transportation.
The change is big for both the museum and the neighborhood. The Levine Museum will be South End’s first major cultural institution.
And the site will be the museum’s first permanent home since selling its longtime location at 200 E. Seventh St. in 2022 to a New York-based development firm for $10.75 million.
After that sale, the Levine operated a 6,000-square-foot space at 401 S. Tryon St. with free admission for patrons. It occupied the space free of charge from Wells Fargo, stemming from a three-year rental agreement. The museum moved out of that space last May.
It’s unclear when the Levine will open in South End. Looking at the renderings, the museum may preserve the church, which is also about 35 years old.
The goal for the institution, according to CEO Richard Cooper, is to remain a community hub “where history sparks conversation and where diverse perspectives come together to explore what the New South has been and what it is becoming.”
That aligns with what the Levine Museum states on its homepage: “By understanding history and how it has shaped the present, we can find common ground and transform communities.”
About Levine Museum of the New South
The museum has seen a shift in location, leadership and programming over the last four years.
In 2023, Cooper became president and CEO of the museum, replacing Kathryn Hill, who announced her retirement after leading the institute for six years.
After the shift, the museum said it wanted to get back to being a “museum without walls.” Levine was created in 1991, hosting pop-ups in bank lobbies and mini exhibitions. But when it moved to Seventh Street it became more of a traditional museum.
In its temporary space at Three Wells Fargo, the museum went back to its roots, prioritizing digital exhibits and walking tours, making its exhibits accessible even if a guest didn’t visit the space. It’s next step was finding a permanent location. The Charlotte Ledger first reported on the Levine’s interest in purchasing the church in September.
As patrons wait for the new digs to open, the Levine’s pop-ups and walking tours are still ongoing. And the walking tours are hitting other states.
In February, the museum will take folks to Alabama to visit the Equal Justice Initiative’s legacy sites, including The Freedom Monument Sculpture Park. The EJI is a nonprofit focused on racial justice. There will also be a walking tour of Selma, Alabama. Check out that event here, along with others.
This story was originally published January 28, 2026 at 10:20 AM.
