Ours is an all American story - typical of how communities grew up all across our great nation. While our story takes place in the back country of northwestern North Carolina at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, it is likely to bear many similarities to the development of crossroads, towns, and cities throughout America.
It had taken little more than 100 years for the corridors along the coastline of this still-new continent to overflow. As tensions grew and conflicts flared, the pioneer spirit set in. Families literally packed up everything they owned and headed into the unknown-searching for the "promised land."
For years, trappers and hunters had returned from trips to the south and southwest bearing stories of the untouched natural beauty that lay in the vast regions beyond the coastal settlements. Adventurous souls were driven by the prospects of owning a piece of land and of having the freedom to do as they pleased.
The desire for independence was something ingrained in the mind and spirit of those whose ancestors had braved the Atlantic for the New World. It was the driving force of those who came to the back country and settled in "The Hollows" at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Their desire for independence transcended generations and was translated into a "live and let live" philosophy still practiced here today.
For many years there has been a fascination with the history and tradition of this back country region at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Accounts of the beauty of the area and the unique culture of the people have been recorded in diaries, letters, and books for more than 150 years. So the development of a museum to collect, preserve, and interpret the natural, historic and artistic heritage of this region was inevitable. Your visit will be a memorable occasion.
Brief History of the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History
For many years there has been a fascination with history and the traditions of this back country region, at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, originally known as “The Hollows.” Accounts of the beauty the area and the unique culture of the people have been recorded in diaries, letters, and books for more than 150 years. So the development of a Museum to collect, preserve, and interpret the history of the region was inevitable. The first meeting to explore the possibility of developing a regional museum was held in November, 1988. It was nearly five years later, August of 1993, when a group of dedicated community and business leaders, stepped forward, purchased the W.E. Merrit Hardware Store and donated it free and clear for a museum. The adjoining property on Main Street, known as the Cooper Building property was purchased and given to the Museum for its determined use.
The Museum operates as a non-profit 501(c)(3), tax exempt institution by and for the good of preserving the history of the region.
Mission Statement
The purpose of the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History is to collect, preserve and interpret the natural, historic and artistic heritage of the region.
Adopted by the Board of Directors October 10, 1994
