The Blowing Rock Art & History Museum is located in downtown Blowing Rock and offers free…read moreadmission, along with a convenient free public parking deck and garage. The museum officially opened its doors in 2011, but the community planning started much earlier, following a generous donation of artwork from the family of celebrated local artist Elliott Daingerfield. The building utilizes a beautiful mountain-modern design explicitly crafted to blend into the natural landscape of Watauga County. It is an impressive 21,000 square feet, but it feels like it fits into downtown. It had an inviting feel the minute I walked in. The front desk staff was exceptionally friendly, asking if it was my first time visiting before suggesting I start with the introductory video, guiding me through the main artwork galleries, and directing me to the local history exhibits upstairs. There is a large elevator to access the second level if you would prefer not to take the stairs. It features a unique built-in wooden bench. I had never seen a bench inside an elevator before, but I thought it was an absolute genius accessibility feature. The introductory video was very informative, providing a fantastic background on Blowing Rock's heritage. The downstairs gallery spaces are beautifully organized, making it easy to walk naturally from one piece to the next. I was absolutely delighted to tour the temporary exhibition "Silver & Smoke: George Masa & Ansel Adams." As a lifelong fan of Ansel Adams, getting to see an exhibit of his legendary work for free was a massive highlight. I had no idea he photographed so extensively in Western North Carolina. Ansel Adams was awarded a fellowship by the Guggenheim Foundation in 1947 to photograph all the national parks and monuments in America. So he traveled east to photograph the lush, ancient forests of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the winding roads of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The downstairs gallery space has a great layout. Immediately after the video, your eyes will be drawn to a delicate flower installation that is suspended from the ceiling. I was also drawn to a powerful wall of historical photographs showcasing early local residents and vintage landscapes of the town. Another fascinating contemporary exhibit featured a collection of artistic photographs of tree stumps. It is a wonderful reminder that you never know what a creative mind can transform into art that you will truly appreciate. If you choose to take the stairs to the second level, the Open Door Gallery utilizes the towering vertical space beautifully with eye-catching art running all the way up the stairwell wall, making the walk feel like a continuous gallery experience. Upstairs was a textile exhibit showcasing the deep heritage of Appalachian weaving, quilting, and coverlets, highlighting how mountain women used local flora to dye wool and create intricate geometric patterns to keep their families warm. This textile section blends seamlessly into the local history room, which chronicles how Blowing Rock evolved from a rugged settlement into a premier resort destination. The room is packed with fascinating artifacts, vintage memorabilia, and engaging storyboards detailing the golden age of grand mountain hotels. They even have an interactive section where you can write a postcard to someone, and the museum will mail it out for free! Make sure to stop in the curated gift shop before you leave for some great regional finds. Between the local crafts, history books, and unique souvenirs, I never seem to leave a museum gift shop empty-handed.

This place was closed due to COVID the last time we were in town but we were pleasantly surprised…read morethat they were open on July 4 when we were walking around downtown. This is a cute little museum that has rotating art displays on the bottom floor and a smaller history museum upstairs. We saw a whimsical display of chickens, and another from a collection of art from a school in California. When we were there the upstairs had an exhibit about the annual horse show in town. The museum is free to visit but we gladly left a donation.

Late Friday in Jefferson meant that the Museum of Ash County History was already closed but that…read moreactually suited the visit because my real goal was the former courthouse itself. It is a 1905 Beaux Arts / Classical Revival landmark designed by Wheeler and Runge, the same firm behind several of western North Carolina's most confident early-twentieth-century courthouses. Even locked up, the building delivers. Red brick, stone trim, a tall hipped roof line and that unmistakable sense of small‑county ambition that was fashionable in the Progressive Era. Ashe County takes its name from Samuel Ashe, a Revolutionary patriot, superior court judge, and later governor of North Carolina. Jefferson has been the seat since 1799 and this courthouse was the fourth to serve the county before the modern building replaced it around 2000. Walking the grounds late in the day, the place has that quiet, end-of-week stillness that actually helps you to appreciate the architecture. The museum uses the old courtroom and office spaces inside but even without stepping through the door, you can read the building's history in the symmetry, the stonework, and the way it anchors the block. You can also appreciate the World War One memorial and honor roll, and the plaque to Revolutionary War Patriots. I did not spot a Confederate memorial, which is usual for county courthouses in the South. [Review 878 of 2026 - 4769 in North Carolina - 26059 overall]

The Museum of Ashe County History is located in the restored 1904 Courthouse in Jefferson, NC…read more Admission to the museum is free, but you can always leave a donation. There is a good-sized parking lot as well. Before I even made it inside the museum, I was drawn to the animal carvings. I learned a dying oak tree was used to create this piece of art with the eagle, bear, owl and squirrel. The detailed work makes it very unique and remarkable. I love it when historic buildings are converted into museums. It feels special to go inside the building where so much history took place. The museum opened in 2004 after a seven-year volunteer restoration project, and continues to be run by volunteers, as they are very proud of Ashe County's history and saved the building from being torn down. The courthouse is Beaux-Arts and Classical Revival architecture. It has four columns in the front and was constructed with brick and concrete. The building was added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1979. Even if you aren't a history buff, the building is a historic jewel to check out. Ashe County was my 99th county visited in North Carolina. This museum was large and curated well, with each room having a specific theme. Some of the exhibits were in the courthouse vaults. There was a room on Ashe County in the First Century, the Ore Knob Copper Mine, the Virginia Carolina Railroad (with a replica exhibit and train), a country store, an education room, music and moonshine, and the hallway had exhibits and tributes to the military. The courtroom is on the second floor, and the courthouse doesn't have an elevator. But they do have a book with photos for those who cannot or do not want to take the stairs. The courtroom was preserved with tiered seating and a stage. The courthouse was used as a community theatre. Grand Old Opry and bluegrass musicians like Earl Scruggs, the Carter Family, Bill Monroe, DeFord Bailey and Uncle Dave Macon performed there. Make sure to stop in the beautiful gift shop before you leave to both support the museum and find those unique treasures.

This is the centerpiece of Saltville. This unoriginally named town holds more intrigue than you…read morewould probably think. The salt is a product of some unusual geologic conditions that lead animal bones to be well preserved, making this a top site for archaeology. In addition, the salt was also of enormous economic value and was a military asset during the Civil War, making this the site of a significant set of armed conflict. Some other environmental and cultural history pops up as well. The museum has several well-produced and substantial documentaries showing in a tiny theater. The two rooms of exhibits take up more time than you'd think, and I was probably there for an hour and a half or so. The $5 admission is worth it, easily. The town continues to have some unusually salty ponds that you can walk around on some paved trails, as well as some historic markers and a recreated set of salt mining equipment on the edge of town. All of these features and more can be viewed and contextualized on the museum's topographic map/diaorama. It's not a metropolis, but it is an interesting place.

Self guided tour. Small but very well organized and awesome artifacts. Information on Civil War,…read moreNative Americans, geology and fossils. They also have a few videos to watch.

Very nice museum. With a very good price. $4.00 per adult…read more Loved the classic cars and the Betty Boot collection. They also have tables for sitting and the owner said eventually they will open back up the icecream shop. It didn't do well with Covid. The owner was very nice and answered any questions we might have had about the cars. Definitely worth paying a visit for the adults and families of all ages.

I love this car museum. Maybe more like an old garage or a warehouse than a modern museum with…read morehighly polished displays. But Old Cranks has lots of character and well worth the admission fee ($4 per person) and the time to walk about. They have all kinds of cars, mostly American ones. The periods covered range from the early 1900s through the 1970s. Some really nice classic cars like a Stingray, a little red Corvette (now thinking of the Prince song), a WW2 era Willys GP (Jeep), a Stanley Steamer, and an electric car from a century ago. Nice! Most of the care on display have informative placards that tell about the car, including its price back then. Lest we dream about how cheap the cars were, the placards tell what was the average income for people in that time, what various household goods cost. An automotive history reality check :-) The museum places period props by the cars to give a feel of the times. Elsewhere in the museum, they have other old items on display. Also some of displays have a nice quirky sense of humour.

Nice small historic place to visit. Only $8 for adults. Pretty cool to see what you've only read…read moreabout in history books. Interesting and Amazing to see how life was all that long ago. And they even do reenactments at different times of the year. Our teen enjoyed it.

Located on the grounds of Horn in the West, we had a bit of time before the show began that we…read morewalked thru this Living History Museum. Reanactors and historians talk about everyday life from the mid 1700s to the early 1900s. There are demonstrations on weaving, blacksmithing, candlestick making, and smokehouse cooking, on site. Things were just winding down for the day as we walked thru so we missed all of that, but did get a bit of history lesson in how the phrase: "good night, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite" came about as we went in one log home and listened to a docent tell the origins of this phrase. The general area and buildings seemed a bit run down. Overall a nice little detour, as we walked to the Horn of the West.

Hubby and I wanted to explore Mt Airy on this lovely Monday early morning. Tickets are 10.00 a…read moreadult and plenty of parking around the museum. There are two small section one upstairs and the down stairs. I would say this museum is on the smaller side. We were done within 25 mins. It's nice to see things from the show since I did grow up watching this over at my grand parents house.

Nice museum with plenty to take in! There's beautiful…read moremurals outside for photo opportunities. Employees were friendly and both buildings were clean. You can get a deal on the museum across the street if you buy tickets for both places. It also includes the Earle theater. If you're in town definitely check it out.

What a gem of a museum!…read more We were driving from Texas to West Virginia and stopping at antebellum mansions and other historic spots along the way. When we saw the sign for Settler's Museum (http://www.settlersmuseum.com/), I pulled off the road with a reluctant car of daughers and my partner. Upon leaving, they all proclaimed it to be the single best museum they had ever visited. Off the beaten path, this hidden gem is truly a step back in time to an 1800's farm. With no staff present, we deposited our donation in a jar or some other spot, and then picked up a handheld cassette that narrated our tour throughout the museum "office", school buidling, and then the home and farm buildings set back off the road. When my daughters charged forward to play an old organ in the home, I quickly stopped them only to hear the voice of our female historian issue forth from our cassette as she lovingly instructed parents to allow the children to play it if desired. Every item is open for kids to investigate and touch. The Settlers Museum in Atkins, Virginia is simple, beautiful, authentic, and takes you back in a time warp. I strongly encourage visitors to tour the place, and leave a donation worthy of keeping it alive.

An absolutely amazing restoration of American history and the passion invested into this museum is…read moreevident. It is a true hidden gem in the most beautiful section of mountains along the Appalachian Trail.

Wow! Just WOW! I'm sure glad we didn't miss this in our travels. The museum is a huge private…read morecollection of American history (and some other stuff) in the most intriguing mansion being lovingly restored by the owners. We had the private museum tour (well worth it to learn the history behind all the artifacts and the mansion). We did a paranormal investigation night with the folks from Haunted Night Experience and the Wraith Chasers and serval other professional paranormal investigators. Then, Dinner with a ghost our last night. It was one of the best experiences of my life. (I would drive the 17 hours for that dinner...YUM!). Lots of amazing paranormal activity was experienced and the pros were so awesome in showing us what they do, how they investigate, how they separate the electrical and radio interference from the actual activity and why they do what they do. We drove from central TX to VA for this event and it was well worth it. Even just visiting the museum is worth the stop if you are ever in the area of Wytheville, VA. It's a cute little town too.

I came to the museum of regional history today for a book festival. Its a great, old building, well…read morekept, and beautiful. There are amazing exhibits, trains, trucks, Mayberry, etc. Plenty to see for people of all ages. The staff are nice and knowledgeable. What's not to like?

I've been in years past and went on Friday Dec 12 2025 with my parents. My parents are older and…read moreenjoyed the exhibits. This would be a five star review had it not been for an interaction with an apparent staff member. My mom is older and gets things mixed up at times. This was an exhibit for a local female singing legend and my mom simply states "I think she's dead". Some lady who was working behind a curtain on that same floor hollers out that's she's still living very curt and angry. My mom went on to incorrectly say she thought this singer had died and the apparent staffer angrily kept saying "she's fine" etc... I get she may have been just trying to give out the correct info. However, she wasn't even the same room and the tour supposed to be self-guided. It was more of a scolding than an ASSIST in my opinion. The staff at the museum should keep her in check.

We had such a great time and ended up picking up the base ticket that includes: Gravitational…read moreAnomaly, Hall of Mystery, Bubblerama, Native American Artifacts, 2903 Dougherty House & Farmyard, Rodeo Rampage Bull Ride Challenge. It is a really cool place to visit, walking in that gravitational anomaly room is the weirdest sensation I've ever felt, but it is something cool to experience. In the hall of mystery, we literally let our inner child just wander around. And sadly we weren't able to do the bull ride, because of timing. For sure it is a place where you can spend your day in there. They're very hospitable and our tour guide was very funny.

A pretty fun straightforward diversion good for rounding out an afternoon in Blowing Rock. I ended…read moreup coming here on a day trip weekend getaway. I'm originally from Michigan and grew up pretty close to the Mystery Spot in the Upper Peninsula, so I was somewhat familiar with this sort of place. I ended up checking out the "gravitational anomaly" room along with the "Hall of Mysteries" but none of the other stuff. There was also Axe Throwing and some sort of Native American History Museum but didn't see those as I was somewhat pressed for time. There was also somewhat randomly a huge obscure soda collection which was kind of cool. And they also had Vernors which as a former Michigander I appreciated. The "gravitational anomaly " room was pretty cool and is obviously the main focus of this place. There were a few demonstrative tools like a water flow demonstration, a rubber ball on a track that apparently defies gravity and a swingset. The room itself isn't too large and those three things were the only "tools" in there but goofing around in the room on your own is plenty entertaining as you can see from the attached pictures. Beyond that the "Hall of Mysteries" was basically a small section of optical illusions and science demonstrations which was interesting enough but something probably more interesting to and suited to kids. Overall the place is cool but kind of feels like it doesn't know what it's trying to be beyond the "gravity room" and feels like it could use a little update and some more focused development/presentation. If you haven't been before it's probably worth experiencing at least once if you're going to be in the area and have time for it. They also have a Zoltar machine, which is always a plus in my book.