Entry No. 5 — the Raleigh file — filed under: oddities
Taxidermy Hall of Fame & Creation Museum
Hidden away in the basement of a downtown Christian bookstore lies a surreal, folk-art cabinet of curiosities holding over 200 mounted animal specimens. Displays range from state-champion taxidermy and albino deer to whimsical oddities like a fur-bearing trout and a squirrel paddling a tiny acorn canoe.
The story
Walk into the Southern Pines Christian Book Store on Broad Street, step past the rack of Bibles, and head for the stairs. Down in the basement, three wildly distinct collections share one floor: the North Carolina Taxidermy Hall of Fame, a Creation Museum, and an Antique Tool Museum. You didn't hear it from us, but finding a subterranean cabinet of curiosities underneath a quiet small-town bookstore is as strange as it gets in Moore County.
The basement is packed with over 200 mounted specimens surrounded by antique hand saws, rusty ironwork, and framed scripture. The taxidermy ranges from impressive state-champion game mounts and rare albino deer to uninhibited folk-art whimsy. Among the glass cases, you'll find legendary joke mounts like the mythical fur-bearing trout alongside a taxidermied squirrel paddling a miniature acorn canoe.
Without standard museum barriers or polished docent talks, the space functions as a pure, hyper-specific private museum. Woodworking history, biblical passages, and wildlife mounts sit side by side in a quiet, crowded basement maze that feels frozen in time.
What it's like
Stepping off Broad Street into the quiet main shop floor gives away nothing about what is waiting under your feet. Once you take the stairs down, you're left to wander a dim, narrow labyrinth of taxidermy cases, mounted birds, fish, full-body mammals, and antique hand tools displayed under overhead lights. It is entirely self-guided and low-key. Confirm shop and museum hours before driving out, and pick up a piece of homemade fudge from the upstairs counter before you leave.
The move: Descend into the basement taxidermy maze to view strange taxidermy creations and vintage saws, then grab a slice of homemade fudge upstairs before exploring Broad Street's shops.
- 📍 Southern Pines
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 156 NW Broad St, Southern Pines, NC 28387
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Devil's Tramping Ground — Follow up a subterranean taxidermy maze with a drive north to Chatham County's legendary 40-foot barren circle where no vegetation grows.
- Ben Harris Metal Sculptures — Pair a basement full of taxidermy and antique tools with an open-air farmyard packed with giant welded metal dinosaurs.
- 401 Tattoo & Antiquities (Crowzeye Oddities) — Contrast a biblical taxidermy collection with a dark, modern oddities shop operating inside a working tattoo studio.
Good to know
How do I access the museum?
Go inside the Southern Pines Christian Book Store at 156 NW Broad St; the museum collection fills the basement underneath the store.
What specific oddities are on display?
You'll see over 200 taxidermy mounts including albino deer, state-champion specimens, a fur-bearing trout, and a squirrel in an acorn canoe, mixed with antique saws, vintage tools, and scripture.
Are there admission tickets or tours?
There are no formal tours; you simply head downstairs and self-navigate through the basement collection during business hours.
What else is at the location?
The main floor operates as a Christian bookstore featuring a counter with fresh homemade fudge.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Atlas Obscura · roadtrippers.com · Roadside America · strangecarolinas.com · indyweek.com · Tripadvisor
last checked: 2026-07-21