Terri White is the president and CEO of the Charlotte Museum of History located on Shamrock Drive in east Charlotte. The museum is home to the Rock House, the oldest surviving house in Mecklenburg County, built in 1774. White describes her role as a “dream job” and strives to show people that history is more than just memorizing war dates. 

White joined the museum in 2022. Under her leadership, the museum plans exhibits and programs that highlight different themes in Charlotte’s history — something that she says is key for both Charlotte natives and newcomers, too: “It’s important that if you move to any city, be it Charlotte or somewhere else, that you understand what those people who are from there have done to advocate for themselves and to make the city into a place where you have decided to relocate yourself in the first place. … It’s important to understand how the city got to the point where you decided to show up.”

In a conversation with The Ledger's Lindsey Banks, White shares her philosophy behind planning exhibits, what her goals are in her role as president and CEO, why telling Charlotte's history is important and what museum-goers can expect to see in the future.

To learn more about the museum, or to plan your next visit, go to CharlotteMuseum.org.

For more information about The Charlotte Ledger, or to sign up for our newsletters, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is hosted and produced by Ledger staff writer Lindsey Banks.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit charlotteledger.substack.com/subscribe