Rural Heritage Museum

Explore the Cultural Heritage of Southern Appalachia

The Rural Heritage Museum on the campus of Mars Hill University collects, preserves, exhibits, and interprets artifacts relevant to the history and culture of the Southern Appalachian region, particularly from the 1800s to early 1900s.

It maintains a permanent collection that includes primitive Southern Appalachian artifacts and farm life objects from the early 20^th century. Of particular note is a sizeable collection of late 19^th century objects used by Appalachian homesteaders and a group of artifacts used by rural residents of the region.*

In addition to exhibition space the museum’s displays include a one-room log cabin replica tableau with a working hearth, which was initially used for pioneer cooking demonstrations. The museum curates three to four changing exhibitions each year. It has mounted exhibitions featuring the Madison County craft revival of the late 19^th century, an examination of rural African-American education in Southern Appalachia (with an emphasis on the Mars Hill Anderson Rosenwald School), and an exhibition about how trains transformed Western North Carolina beginning in 1880.

Historic Montague Hall at Mars Hill University

The Rural Heritage Museum is housed in the historically designated Montague Hall, one of the eight oldest buildings on the Mars Hill University campus, which anchors the historic central quadrangle. In 2006 these buildings, along with ten others, were designated as a historic district and placed on the National Register. Montague Hall was constructed in 1918 out of fieldstone by local residents to serve as the first college library. It became a museum in the 1970s. The facility was refurbished in 2012, with a name change to Rural Heritage Museum in 2014.

Experience North Carolina’s Rural Heritage Museum

The Museum has long served a pivotal role with the Madison County Heritage Festival, the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area activities, the Civil War Trails program, and the University’s nationally-renowned Bailey Mountain Cloggers.

View the complete sign gallery

The Rural Heritage Museum is open daily (except Mondays) from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and by appointment. Directions: from Asheville take US 19 (26W) North to exit 11, then left on Rt. 213 1.3 miles to the campus of Mars Hill University, a 20 minute drive. Admission is free.

*From the collections of Mr. and Mrs. Edward W. Stock and Joe Eads.

The Blue Ridge Heritage Trail is a program of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership.