Norris Things to Do

The Irwin's Chapel Log Church or meeting house, was built aroung 1840, near the community of Hamburg, in the mountainous county of Madison, North Carolina. After it was no longer used as a meeting house, it was acquired by a local farmer and was later purchased by Thomas Tweed of Woodfin, North Carolina, for $35 and a cowboy hat. John Rice Irwin purchased the building and all the contents from Tweed's widow in 1976.

The log pulpit and benches were reportedly from the original church, and the rocking chair belonged to old Ben Davis, a Baptist preacher who rode over Madison County on a horse "spreading the word."

This very small one room log schoolhouse was moved from nearby Tater Valley, Tennessee. It is completely furnished in the manner of an early mountain school, including chalk board, desks, wall maps and a pot bellied stove.

These three shops under one roof represent three of the most important pioneer industries. The blacksmith shop, in which wooden bellows are used for firing the forge, features a large assortment of tools used in a typical shop of this region. An actual blacksmith sometimes can be seen working here. The center portion of this building houses the wheelwright shop - one of the most complete in the country.

Mark Twain's Family Cabin, moved here from 'Possum Trot, Tennessee, once served as the home of Mark Twain's parents and some of their children. The famous writer and humorist was born some five months after the family left Tennessee in 1835, so it is likely he was conceived in this cabin.

There is a little corn crib adjacent to the cabin that came from an isolated area in the Kentucky mountains.

The People's Building houses an extensive exhibit on the fabulous Harrison Mayes, the coal miner who erected huge concrete crosses across the country. I have seen these signs since I was a child, but did not know the story behind them until visiting here.

As a young man, in 1918, Harrison Mayes was a crushed in an accident at a coal mine on the Tennessee/Kentucky border near Cumberland Gap. He was not expected to recover, but promised the Lord that if He would "pull him through", Mayes would devote the rest of his life to God's service. He indeed did recover and, true to his promise, erected these concrete signs far and wide.

In Mayes' own words:
"God have helped me to get these sacred signs in 50 states, 82 nations, on the 7 seas, all big rivers and lakes on earth."

Also in the People's building is the Christy Exhibit, the James Bunch Exhibit, and others.

This magnificant old building which houses the Appalachian Hall of Fame. It contains numerous displays devoted to relics belonging to notable, historic, famous, interesting, colorful and unusual folk from the surrounding region. Also on display are hundreds of early hand-made musical instruments, an extensive Indian artifact collection, and dozens of other exhibits.

I have spent hours in this building, loved every minute of it, and still needed more time. If this were the sum total of the museum it would be worth the admission price - but your tour has hardly begun.

The Museum Entrance Building is the place to purchase tickets and begin your tour of the Museum of Appalachia. In front of the building is a parking area shaded by big hardwood trees. The building contains a large Craft and Gift Shop featuring quality items made by more than 200 local folks, as well as an extensive Antique Shop. The Museum Cafe and restrooms are also located here.

The Museum Great Room, available for pre-arranged group meetings, receptios, etc., occupies a large portion of this building

The Museum of Appalachia was opened in the late 1960's with one log building, the General Bunch House, on a two-acre plot. Now it has grown to 65 acres, including dozens of authentic log structures, a large Display Building, an extensive Craft, Gift and Antique Shop, a Resturant, the Mountain Heritage Room, the popular Appalachian Hall of Fame Building, the People's Building and over a quarter million items.

"It was my intention not to develop a cold, formal, lifeless 'museum.' Rather, I have aimed for the 'lived-in' look, striving for, above all else, authenticity. It was my goal to make the Brunch House, the Arnwine Cabin, and all the other dwellings appear as though the family had just strolled down to the spring to fetch the daily supply of water."
--John Rice Irwin
Founder-Director

Hours
Open 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. Daily, Year 'Round
Closed only on Christmas Day

Special Events:
July 4th Celebration
Tennessee Fall (October) Homecoming
Christmas in Old Appalachia