Karen Thornton

Experiential Learning Assistant Director

I am thrilled to be on the Education and Outreach team! I am part of Capital Area Visitor Services, where we coordinate group tours for the NC Museum of History, NC Museum of Natural Sciences, NC State Capitol, NC Executive Mansion, NC Legislative Building, and NC Freedom Park. Facilitating group visits to these downtown sites is incredibly rewarding. Witnessing patrons engage with these remarkable historical and educational locations makes our efforts genuinely worthwhile. Additionally, our office is responsible for disseminating educational information from all these sites to teachers nationwide. I have had the pleasure of working with many of the same educators for years and value the opportunity to help schedule field trips for their schools.

Originally from Johnston County and a passionate advocate for NC history, I began my career with DNCR in 2013 at the NC Museum of History. Starting in Administration, I have since transitioned through roles in the Foundation and Marketing departments. While I have greatly enjoyed contributing to festivals and special events at the Museum, I found my true calling with Capital Area Visitor Services and joined the team full time in 2018. Although scheduling groups has been my focus for many years, because of my background in accounting and love for numbers, I have also maintained the statistics for the NC Museum of History and its six satellite museums during my time with DNCR. 

Contact Me For:

  • Group scheduling for the NC Museum of History, NC Museum of Natural Sciences, NC State  Capitol, NC Executive Mansion, NC Legislative Building, and NC Freedom Park
  • Outbound software support
  • Additional information regarding these sites

A Fun Fact About Me: I fear heights, but skydiving is on my bucket list. I believe the best way to overcome fear is to face it head-on!