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One of the most impressive displays at the Swain County Heritage Museum is the historic log cabin upstairs, which is currently decorated for the Christmas season.
Hannah Styles
hstyles@thesmokymountaintimes.com
The Swain County Heritage Museum was the brainchild of former Swain County Commissioner David Monteith who had the vision to build a museum showcasing the county and its people, according to Visitor Center Manager, Rita Jones.
Located in downtown Bryson City within the walls of the historic 1908 courthouse, the heritage museum takes up the entire upper floor and features tools, bicycles, an 1887 church organ, homemade quilts, antique cooking utensils, vintage typewriters, and even a live sized restored cabin built right in the center of the room.
Grants obtained in 2008, allowed the county to take over refurbishment of the building and the museum was finished in June of 2014.
Rita Jones recalled that the log cabin was brought in through the upper windows, one piece at a time, to build the life size structure complete with rocking chairs on the porch.
Much of the memorabilia came from Wilma Ashe who the theater inside the museum is named in honor of.
“When the people of the North Shore communities were forced out during the building of Fontana Dam in the 1940s, people left their belongings they couldn’t take with them with Wilma, in hopes of one day returning,” Jones said. “Most made lives elsewhere and didn’t return for their things so Wilma collected them and now they are on display at the museum to show what life was like during that time.”
All the displays in the building were donated by community members.
One room currently features the North Carolina State Dog, the Plott Hound and Jones said that exhibit will be on display until February.
“We switch up the exhibits in that room every three or four months with Western Carolina and we work with them on what the next exhibit will be,” Jones said.
There is currently an open exhibit right now in the kids’ corner that Jones said they are working on something interactive for the kids and are exploring several options for that room.
The heritage museum averages 30,000-40,000 visitors a year, offers free admission, and is open Monday-Saturday from 10am-5pm and on Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. It’s a must if you're visiting Swain County or if you’re a local interested in seeing what it was like before our time.