I think Denny and I have driven up and down Interstate 75 in the area of Norris, Tennessee about fifteen time or so. After sitting in the trailer for a couple of days while it poured rain (yay, it was needed) we finally had a nice day and so we decided to explore the Museum of Appalachia. What a good decision that was!
Located off exit 112 of I-75 in Norris, TN, the museum sits on 60 acres of land. The founder of the museum, John Irwin, has collected artifacts, tools, musical instruments and log cabins from throughout the state of Tennessee and parts of Kentucky, Virginia and North Carolina in an effort to keep alive the history of the people of these mountains.
It is an impressive collection of pottery, basketry, tools of every day life, guitars, folk art and so much more. It took us several hours to walk around and read about everything. On the second weekend of October they have a big festival and there are special events year round. The museum is open daily and if you are at all interested in the lifestyle of people who lived a "hard scrabble life", then this is the place to visit.
Click on the pictures to have them open in a new window for a larger view.
1 comment:
Hi Denny & Linda,
Thanks so much for the nice words and great photos about the Museum of Appalachia! It is an extrodinary place and I am proud to be associated with the Museum. Just to let you know, we became a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) Museum a few years ago so we are governed by a board and rely on donations, memberships and visitors to keep us going! We also became a Smithsonian Affiliate Museum earlier this year. We are so proud of that! If your travels ever bring you back to Tennessee, I hope you'll come back and see us!
Jane Kirk
Marketing Director
Museum of Appalachia
865-494-7680
www.museumofappalachia.org
Post a Comment