 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.
Our Staff:
Director: Matthew J. Edwards
There is a small admission fee to tour the museum:
Adults - $5
Seniors - $3
Students - $3
Adult Groups of 10 or more - $4
Student or Senior Groups of 10 or more - $2
Policies:
All visitors are asked to register at the reception desk in the Main Gallery. The Museum has a no-smoking policy throughout the entire facility, which includes the Woltz Clock Tower. No video cameras or flash cameras may be used in the Museum. Requests to use still cameras should be made at the reception desk at the time of registering. Food and drink are not to be consumed in exhibit areas. All cell phones must be turned off prior to entering the exhibit areas.
Inclement Weather Policy: If the Mount Airy City Schools are closed due to inclement weather, then the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History will also be closed to the public. Please call ahead for any change in Saturday Hours.
About the museum building:
The former W.E. Merritt Hardware Company building, now home to The Mount Airy Museum of Regional History, is located at 301 N. Main Street, in historic downtown Mount Airy. Records indicate Mr. Merritt purchased the site in 1903. Construction of the building began the following year.
The building in and of itself is a historic gem. An enclosed courtyard and a stair tower, with an illuminated 8-foot clock and an observatory, are recent additions that have enhanced the charm of the entire facility.
Visit us on Facebook
|