The 10 Best Specialty Museums in North Carolina Mountains, North Carolina Mountains

September 18, 2021 Rebbecca Marino

Discover the best top things to do in North Carolina Mountains, United States including Wheels Through Time Transportation Museum, Waldensian Heritage Musuem, The Bennett Classics Antique Car Museum, The Right Track Toy Train Museum, Apple Valley Model Railroad Club, World Methodist Museum, Museum of North Carolina Handicrafts, Appalachian Pinball Museum, Museum of the Cherokee Indian, Oconaluftee Indian Village.
Restaurants in North Carolina Mountains

1. Wheels Through Time Transportation Museum

62 Vintage Lane, Maggie Valley, NC +1 828-926-6266 [email protected] http://www.wheelsthroughtime.com
Excellent
88%
Good
9%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 1,397 reviews

Wheels Through Time Transportation Museum

Reviewed By wvsjr - Bessemer, United States

My wife and I love the show what’s in the barn so we decided to visit this museum of old motorcycles it is very interesting and a lot of history and old bikes to see it was awesome

2. Waldensian Heritage Musuem

208 Rodoret St S, Valdese, NC 28690-2841 +1 828-874-1111 http://www.waldensianheritagemuseum.org/
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 8 reviews

Waldensian Heritage Musuem

Reviewed By erinangi509 - Valdese, United States

Very informative visit and tour. I was blown away by the exhibits and the friendliness of the museum staff and volunteers.

3. The Bennett Classics Antique Car Museum

241 Vance St, Forest City, NC 28043-2900 +1 828-247-1767 [email protected] http://www.bennettclassics.com/
Excellent
78%
Good
19%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 32 reviews

The Bennett Classics Antique Car Museum

Reviewed By cherriseb2018

A wonderful and well-worth the trip activity for a rainy day in the mountains of North Carolina. Over 70 automobiles in immaculate condition. We were told 69 of them were purchased by Mr. Bennett himself and he has a story for each one. If you enjoy the art of classic automobiles (and a couple newer muscle cars), this is a great way to spend a couple hours. And if you are lucky, as we were, there may be someone visiting that knows A LOT about cars and can share some interesting details with you.

4. The Right Track Toy Train Museum

2414 Memorial Hwy, Lake Lure, NC 28746-9005 +1 828-289-4429 [email protected] http://www.facebook.com/The-Right-Track-Toy-Train-Museum-141291999274246
Excellent
80%
Good
18%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 50 reviews

The Right Track Toy Train Museum

This is an interactive toy train museum with three running trains on over 50 feet of track. Accessories can be activated by pushing buttons. There is also a playroom for the little children with train related toys for them to play with. Model trains and train related items are for sale. Due to the Coronavirus Covid19 The Right Track Toy Train Museum will be closed until further notice.

5. Apple Valley Model Railroad Club

650 Maple St, Hendersonville, NC 28792-3753 +1 828-595-0446 [email protected] http://avmrc.com
Excellent
89%
Good
9%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 81 reviews

Apple Valley Model Railroad Club

Largest model railroad in western North Carolina housed in the historic train depot in Hendersonville, NC. A 100' X 20' HO scale model railroad based on western North Carolina in the mid 1900s fills most of the depot and a real caboose sits just outside. Artifacts from real railroads are on display throughout the depot with an interactive display screen to help you indentify the items. Cameras on our trains give the bird's eye view of a trip around our layouts. The club's new 60' X 12' outdoor G scale layout is very popular. We are open Wednesdays 1 to 3 and Saturdays 10 to 2. There is a separate Thomas the Tank train layout for young engineers to operate. Special event on Saturday, May 11, from 9 to 3 celebrating National Train Day. A real locomotive and crew will be on site plus many activities for all ages. See our website for details. Admission is free, but donations are greatly appreciated.

Reviewed By 66Belair - Parish, United States

Just a great place to visit if you like trains and model railroads. Been here twice while visiting friends tahat are members. Wished we lived close by . Too bad it wasn't done in "S" Scale. See what can you do Larry. Hope to be down in the Spring , if not before.

6. World Methodist Museum

575 N Lakeshore Dr, Lake Junaluska, NC 28745-9742 +1 828-456-9432 http://methodistmuseum.com/
Excellent
93%
Good
7%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 15 reviews

World Methodist Museum

7. Museum of North Carolina Handicrafts

49 Shelton St, Waynesville, NC 28786-5795 +1 828-452-1551 [email protected] https://sheltonhouse.org/
Excellent
88%
Good
8%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 25 reviews

Museum of North Carolina Handicrafts

A historic home, Museum of NC Handicrafts, Event Center, and an introduction to the History, Heritage and Crafts of Western North Carolina and North Carolina.

8. Appalachian Pinball Museum

538 N Main St, Hendersonville, NC 28792-5089 +1 828-702-9277 [email protected] http://appalachianpinballmuseum.com
Excellent
86%
Good
14%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 50 reviews

Appalachian Pinball Museum

Free to look and learn & $12 gives you play over 80 Pinball Machine and Video Arcade Games! Adult Malt Beverages, (beer, hard seltzer etc) Sodas & simple snacks available for purchase. Located in beautiful downtown Hendersonville.

Reviewed By NCRaggedy

My 10 year old son and I spent a couple of hours in the pinball heaven. There are machines from the early 1970’s to present. They all work and you can play all day for the entry fee! Worth the cost! Will definitely come back.

9. Museum of the Cherokee Indian

Highway 441 and Drama Road, Cherokee, NC 28719 +1 828-497-3481 [email protected] http://www.cherokeemuseum.org/
Excellent
68%
Good
25%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,484 reviews

Museum of the Cherokee Indian

This site tells the history and culture of the Cherokee Indians through displays and modern computer images.

Reviewed By 79shirleyj - Boones Mill, United States

You'll need an hour or two to do this fine museum justice.It is a very well done and accurate telling of the history of Cherokee people.. You have headphones and can take as much time as you like touring.The exibits and artwork are very well done.History lovers will thoroughly enjoy it.I think the $11 fee for seniors is fair and well worth it.The gift shop is large and has a really wide selection of books as well as other items.

10. Oconaluftee Indian Village

218 Drama Road, Cherokee, NC 28719 +1 828-497-2111 [email protected] http://visitcherokeenc.com/play/attractions/oconaluftee-indian-village/
Excellent
61%
Good
22%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
5%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 905 reviews

Oconaluftee Indian Village

A guided tour of the Oconaluftee Indian Village; a replica of a 1750s Cherokee Village. See Cherokees making traditional trades using centuries old techniques. The Village Square Grounds is a place of ceremony where you will learn about traditional songs and dance, our clan system and beliefs. Inside the Village Council House you will learn of our government, family and structure. We welcome you to our home.

Reviewed By Tyaskin - Mebane, United States

While it is well promoted, the village is easy to miss, as it is tucked away up a hill, removed from the bustle of the main drag through Cherokee. If you are interested in actual, bona fide Cherokee traditions and history (as opposed to the sometimes hokey tourist junk peddled in some stores in town. Now, I will tell you, your guide can make or break this tour. My daughter (15) and I were fortunate to have a young man who seemed both knowledgeable and enthusiastic about what he was doing. Your guide, dressed in traditional Cherokee clothing from the late 1700's (generally) will walk with you through the reconstructed village, explaining to you about the Cherokee language and history, and giving you some brief glimpses of how this group of Native people lived prior to and shortly after the coming of the settlers. Woodworking, beadwork, fingerweaving, canoe making, cabins, governance, and religion are all covered, and at various points you will see members of the Nation demonstrating various crafts, such as pottery or basket making. We also were shown the use of the Cherokee blowgun, used for small game hunting. It is informative, and you are encouraged to ask questions (but don't expect your guide to be an expert on EVERY aspect of Cherokee culture and history; many of them are young and still learning) There is a gift shop, which we didn't visit, and a Plant trail showing various plants used for different things by the Cherokee. The path through the village is generally easy to travel, even in a stroller, but there are some gentle grades that may require an extra minute for the elders in your party. I would think that wheelchairs could handle it with some assistance. So when you pass through the area, add this to your list of things to visit, but call ahead to make sure they are open, as they close for a while during the winter months. And, as always, Happy Motoring.

ThingsTodoPost © 2018 - 2024 All rights reserved.