Long before the California Gold Rush, the first documented gold discovery was in North Carolina in 1799. Home to the NC Gold Trail, the Bechtler House highlights the history of these events and is the starting point of the trail. Visitors can begin their journey by viewing the press that produced America’s first gold coin in 1832
The last remaining cottage which was part of the Watauga Hotel serves as a museum in historic downtown Blowing Rock. The Watauga Hotel was built in 1884. Museum also includes documents from voter registrations and the 1880 Census of Watauga County.
Dr. Harold Sims's 30+ year collection of all things relating to the house cat. The collection includes pictures going back to the late 1800's, modern art, folk art, rare advertising, cat posters, glass cats and more.
Home built in 1903 for the founding fathers of nearby Appalachian State University. Visitors learn about how mountain families lived in the early 1900s.
Located in the downtown historic area of Hendersonville, the Appalachian Pinball Museum is a unique museum facility with pinball machines and classic video games for adults and kids of all ages to play.
Located in the Hendersonville, N.C. Railroad Depot, the AVMRC uses plenty of unique HO scale model railroads to create a layout that resembles the mountain towns of Hendersonville, Brevard, Asheville, and Saluda.
One of the state’s best art museums located inside Pack Square. Permanent collection of 20th-century American art including George Innes and Romare Bearden.
New museum located in downtown Asheville. The first women's cultural museum in the southeast. The museum has 3,000 square feet of gallery space which houses 10 or more exhibits at one time. Exhibits range from historic to contemporary.
Formerly the Colburn Earth and Science Museum, the Asheville Museum of Science moved into its new headquarters in November of 2016. The museum provides a premier science experience and also explores the science of Western North Carolina. Exhibits focus on
Located in Downtown Asheville across from the Grove Arcade, this a unique and fun pinball museum for adults and children all ages.Visitors can play over 75 pinball machines and classic video games. Pinball machines are also available for sale.
Circa 1912 Avery County jail. Museum displays vital information, photographs, and artifacts of early Avery County life. One of the last intact old jails in North Carolina.
The renovated late 1860's home of one of the founding families of Banner Elk, Samuel Banner. Docent-led tours of the house including stories and culture of the times with photographs, furniture, and exhibits.
The Bechtler Mine tunnel was said to excavated by hand along a mineral vein. This property was once sold for over $1 million dollars after Bechtler’s death. The pick marks are still visible
A regional history museum with a focus is on the early days of the Carolina Caribbean Corporation, Cherokee Indians, narrow-gauge railroads, and early skiing.
Antique automobile museum houses a collection of more than 60 antique cars, trucks, and tractors dating back until 1923. Museum also hosts car shows and special events.
Visit George Vanderbilt’s 8,000-acre estate a privately owned national historic landmark. Biggest home in the US and most visited winery in the country.
Experience art and discover our rich mountain heritage through enlightening exhibits, cultural events, art and crafts workshops, engaging lectures and children's programs at the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum.
There is plenty of proof that Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, was born off the shores of the Puzzle Creek near Bostic, NC and not in Kentucky as many people are taught. Visit the Bostic Lincoln Center and discover the facts for yourself.
Located in one of the original Collins Axe Company buildings this museum highlights 19th Century living through an extensive collection of memorabilia.
Nationally known poet, historian, author, and lecturer who spent the last 22 years of his life at his estate known as Connemara. National Historic Site. Now a 264-acre working farm.
Offers visitors of all ages hands-on fun as they learn about the natural and physical sciences through participatory exhibits, touch-tank aquarium, demonstration programs and planetarium shows.
Downtown historical museum with more than 2,000 collected items reflecting the life of the Cherokee Indian Nation and the Trail of Tears. Also, includes the history of the early white settlers in Cherokee County.
Museum features a Native American artifact collection, a photo collection of Hayesville from 1893-1900s, early farm kitchen, loom and clothing from the 1800s, and an original switchboard from 1916. Handmade quilt from the women of the Trail of Tears dates back to 1838.
Forest Discovery Center and Museum with 15 exhibits including a helicopter simulator, guided trails, historic cabins, logging locomotive train, and crafters.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Museum offers a glimpse back into an age-old American tradition of weaving rugs. Many interesting designs on antique looms.
A historical museum established in 1985 to preserve the culture and heritage of Reems Creek and the Flat Creek Townships. Located on the lower level of the Weaverville Library. The permanent collection includes furniture, tools, photographs, musical instruments, and books dating back to 1787.
Asheville's only antique car museum. Museum includes several rare and vintage automobiles as well as some original horse-drawn carriages and Asheville's own American LaFrance fire engine. The museum is located on the historic Grovewood Gallery Grounds adjacent to the Omni Grove Park Inn.
The on-campus museum features a growing collection of contemporary art and fine crafts and related interdisciplinary education programs with an exciting schedule of events by guest artists.
The Guild hosts a changing exhibition gallery showing traditional and contemporary crafts or regional, national and international significance. Permanent collection dates back to the early 20th Century.
Exquisite 18th-century home built by Revolutionary War hero George William Lenoir and named for a frontier fort which stood nearby. Houses over 300 original furnishings and historic household items. Costume guided tours, historic reenactments, gift shops and cemetery.
Established in 1952, Grandfather Mountain offers stunning long range views, along with the popular Mile-High Swinging Bridge., environmental habitats for black bears, otters, cougars, deer and bald eagles along with some of the South's best alpine hiking trails. The Nature Museum highlights the natural history of the region along with collections of gems, minerals, native plants and exhibits on early explorers. The park also includes a restaurant, gift shop, and naturalist programs on a regular basis throughout the summer and fall.
Downtown children's museum for children ages 1-10. The museum's mission is to serve children and families by providing educational exhibits which stimulate imagination and motivate learning in a safe environment.
Downtown museum housed in six rooms of the Historic Henderson County Courthouse. The museum salutes the History of Henderson County and its heritage. Monday-Tuesday: Open for field trips and special groups by appointment.
located at the Hickory Regional Airport. it is one of the top aviation museums in the state and is operated by the Sabre Society of NC. It's Artifacts range from WWII era to modern day and includes 15 airplanes.
The second-oldest art museum in NC and the first museum in the South dedicated primarily to American art collection comprised of 19th and 20th-century North American art with an extensive collection of American pottery.
A folk and cultural arts center located in the James Paul Lucas Mansion, turn-of-the-century Victorian home. The museum inside the home includes a doll collection, gem and mineral exhibits from the area, and exhibits about the history and heritage of the local Hiddenite area.
Historic Village features a state-of-the-art museum and archives building and houses one of the oldest libraries in the state. The Trapier-Wright House, built in 1877, serves as a living history museum.
Restored 19th-century courthouse which includes exhibits on the building itself and the court system and a turn-of-the-century lawyer's office. Houses the Burke County Tourism Office.
Historic Southern Railway building which houses the Apple Valley Model Railroad club and their unique HO scale model railroad. Layout resembles the mountain towns of Hendersonville, Brevard, Asheville and Saluda.
This Museum started out as a way to educate the public on proper flag etiquette. It has now become a showcase of over 250 flags in a series of exhibits from the Revolutionary War to modern times.
Railroad museum interprets the history and heritage of the Town of Hudson as well as the history of the Hudson Depot. On exhibit is a restored 1912 Wood-Sided Rear Cupola Caboose furnished with railroad artifacts.
Established in 1925 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This Historic school offers week-long and weekend classes for time-honored and contemporary art, crafts, dance, and gardening.
A former theme park that celebrated that author L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz from 1970 to 1980. The park opens on special occasions, and the annual Autumn at Oz Festival.
North Carolina's only show cavern. Guided tours take visitors inside a mountain in this natural limestone cavern. View stalactites, stalagmites, and an underground stream with blind trout. Gift shop.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this authentic country store has outfitted the Appalachians and western North Carolina towns with quality goods and traditional clothing since 1883. Other Mast General Store locations are in Boone, Blowing Rock, Waynesville, Hendersonville, and Greenville, SC
Restored to a 1916 appearance, the Depot Museum contains an extensive collection of 19th and 20th-century railroad photos and memorabilia including over 100 pieces of dining car tableware.
Ten historic farm buildings collected throughout the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the early 1950s. Provides a look at real life in the southern mountains in the late 19th century.
Museum focuses its attention on the collection and display of American Brilliant Period cut and engraved glass. This period in history started in 1876 with the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia and ended in 1916 with the US preparation effort before World War I. The museum has over 400 pieces of glass on display.
The Museum embraces the history of the northwestern corner of the state and its people. It also provides information about the Virginia Creeper Railroad that began in Virginia and ended at the Ashe County community of Todd
This museum and visitor’s center facility located right off the Blue Ridge Parkway. The museum includes exhibits of rocks and minerals found in the western North Carolina Mountains.
Fascinating historical museum about the Cherokee Indian tribe. Combines new technology, specialty lighting, and computer-generated images with a solid artifact collection
Historical overview of Biltmore Industries and its internationally renowned wool cloth. The museum showcases an antique 4-harness loom and memorabilia such as letters, artifacts, tailored suits, and photographs depicting highlights from the active years of the industry.
The museum is located in the former Superintendent’s home and highlights the history of the North Carolina School for the Deaf and the first deaf school in Raleigh through a variety of historical documents and photographs.
Recreation of an authentic 18th-century Indian community. Cherokee artisans and guides demonstrate and explain the arts and crafts and the lifestyle of their ancestors.
Historic rail museum features replicas of a small town depot and part of a Pullman porters' compartment. Artifacts include steam locomotive headlights, a working telegraph, lanterns and signal lights.
Local and regional history museum that includes many photos and artifacts from the Polk County area include a Civil War cannonball. Research library. Military, Railroad, and medical artifacts are also included.
Ivy-covered stone building dedicated to preserving mountain farm and craft culture. Museum exhibits farm and craft implements and historical photographic murals.
County farm museum which collects and exhibits farm tools and equipment, household and utilitarian items and other artifacts dating back to the 19th century. Two large murals depict the cycle of growing cotton and early textile mills of the county on one of the museum walls.
Unique museum located inside the library at Western Piedmont Community College. The museum is a replica of Ervin's office and home library as it existed on 515 Lenoir St. Ervin is best known for serving as Chairman of the Senate Watergate Committee in the early 1970s.
Museum contains the official registry of all publicly known tartans and is the American extension of the Scottish Tartans Society in Edinburgh, Scotland
The Museum features exhibits from 19th-century crafts which include hand-woven coverlets, sculptured porcelain, and quilts. Pottery work, furniture, and other masterpieces on display.
Museum features early American pioneer construction and architecture. The Shook-Smathers House is closely associated with the Methodist Church in North America. The house is protected by historical covenants held by Preservation North Carolina.
The Museum, located in a 1908 historic courthouse, tells the story of Swain County and its people. Through photos, exhibits and video you will learn about the life of early settlers; and how the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Fontana Dam rewrote the landscape and changed lives. There is a children's activity area.
Located in the former Black Mountain Fire Department. This museum collection highlights the history of the valley through various photos and artifacts.
Oldest tourist attraction in the state. Scenic rock overlooking John’s River Gorge. Observation tower, gift shop, small garden waterfall. This is a must see attraction in NC Mountains.
The Museum started in 1974, is located in the old “jailhouse” built in 1950. Located in downtown Franklin. Exhibits of gems from all 50 states. One of the most comprehensive collections of native gems and minerals from around the country.
Over 10,000 square feet of galleries and exhibit areas that depict Burke County's history dating back to the time when Native Americans occupied the land.
Former Jim Bob Tinsley Museum location. The Transylvania County Heritage Museum explores, promotes and preserves the heritage of Transylvania County and the region.
Historic family theme park in operation for over 45 years. Theme park includes steam engine railroad with three-mile track, rides, crafts, live entertainment, and petting zoo.
Museum contains collections of late 19th and 20th-century clothing, household furnishings, farm implements, and construction tools related to the Waldensians, church furnishings, photographs, and World War I and II uniforms and artifacts.
The Trail of Faith consists of 15 open-air exhibits and replicas tracing the religious heritage and pilgrimage of the Waldenses from the Alps of Northern Italy to the settling of Valdese in 1893.
Only aviation museum located in Western North Carolina featuring award winning replicas of antique and vintage airplanes. Located at the Hendersonville Airport.
As seen on the History Channel, this museum features over 320 of unique motorcycles as well as vintage automobiles Experts consider this museum one of America's finest collection of rare American motorcycles dating from 1903 to present. Many of the motorcycles on display are truly one-of-a-kind.
The historic Village includes a one-room schoolhouse, Civil War memorabilia, the Tom Dula Museum, the Chapel of Peace, and the Smokehouse Art Gallery among many other historical items and artifacts on display within the village.
The museum preserves and promotes the local history of Wilkes County. Exhibits spotlight Daniel Boone and Tom Dula and also include a Junior Johnston vintage NASCAR racing automobile as well as other exhibits highlighting the history of the county.
A unique mountain military museum located in Historic Downtown Brevard. Museum includes a large collection of military artifacts,documents and personal histories of past veterans from the immediate area. Martial memorabilia and weapons on display.
Celebrates the African-American culture and diversity in the Asheville area. Housed in one of Asheville's national historic landmark buildings commissioned by George Vanderbilt in 1893.
Historic home circa 1842-1852 built by Mordecai Zachary. Remains in its original state along with the world’s largest collection of plain-style furniture.
