Western North Carolina Historical Association Incorporation

THE MISSION OF WESTERN NORTH CARLINA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION IS TO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE THE HISTORY AND LEGACY OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA THROUGH INTERPRETATION, EDUCATION, COLLECTION, AND COLLABORATION.

EXHIBITS AND INTERPRETATION WHILE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC FOR MUCH-NEED RESTORATIONS TO OUR FACILITIES, WE CREATED NEW PERMANENT MUSEUM EXHIBITS CENTERED AROUND THE THEME, "WHAT IS WESTERN NC?" IN PREPARATION FOR OUR FALL 2023 REOPENING. THESE EXHIBITS INCORPORATE AND ILLUMINATE A BROAD HISTORY OF OUR AREA BY INCLUDING LESSER- KNOWN STORIES OF DIVERSE COMMUNITIES IN THE MOUNTAINS, INCLUDING AFRICAN AMERICAN, HISPANIC, LATINX, HMONG, AND AFGHAN IMMIGRANTS AND NEIGHBORS. WE ALSO WORKED TO MOUNT THE TRAVELING EXHIBIT, "PALACES FOR THE PEOPLE: GUASTAVINO AND AMERICA'S GREAT PUBLIC PLACES," AN EXHIBITION ABOUT HIS LIFE AND WORKS THAT OPENED TO GREAT ACCLAIM IN BOSTON, MOVED TO WASHINGTON, D. C., AND THEN NEW YORK CITY. IT WILL OPEN THIS FALL AT ASHEVILLE MUSEUM OF HISTORY, IN THE CITY WHERE GUASTAVINO COMPLETED HIS FINAL PROJECTS.

PROGRAMS OUR PROGRAMMING CONTINUES TO SHOWCASE THE WIDE RANGE OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE HOMES IN WNC AND THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCES. OUR YEAR INCLUDED 22 OF OUR POPULAR HISTORY HOUR LECTURES, MOST OF WHICH WERE ORGANIZED AROUND MONTHLY THEMES. THESE INCLUDED PRIDE, SPORTS, MUSIC, AND VARIOUS CULTURAL HERITAGE MONTH HISTORY PROGRAMS. TWO WERE PARTICULARLY TIMELY PANEL DISCUSSIONS FOCUSING ON VACCINES AND PUBLIC HEALTH HISTORY IN WNC AS WELL AS THE HISTORY OF REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANT RESETTLEMENT. OUR NINE HIKES WITH A HISTORIAN OUTINGS INCLUDED A SPECIAL FOUR-PART CEMETERY SERIES IN SEPTEMBER, A FREE JUNETEENTH LOCAL HISTORY HIKE, AND TWO TOURS OF THE RESTORED MARS HILL ANDERSON ROSENWALD SCHOOL. WE ALSO PARTNERED WITH CHIMNEY ROCK STATE PARK TO OFFER EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO A MASSIVE FISSURE CAVE WHILE DISCUSSING THE 1874 "RUMBLING" BALD MOUNTAIN GEOLOGIC ACTIVITY. OTHER EVENTS INCLUDED THREE READWNC PROGRAMS EXAMINING THE HISTORY BEHIND LOCAL HISTORICAL FICTION WITH AUTHORS AND OUTSIDE EXPERTS. STAFF ALSO PRESENTED BEFORE AUDIENCES IN 9 DIFFERENT EVENTS, PARTNERING WITH AMERICORPS PROJECT CONSERVE, CAROLINA VILLAGE, SWANNANOA VALLEY MUSEUM, THE ASHEVILLE NEWCOMERS CLUB, AND MORE. WE PRESENTED BOTH THE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AND THOMAS WOLFE MEMORIAL LITERARY AWARDS BEFORE HYBRID AUDIENCES AT OLLI.

COLLECTION WE ADDED DOZENS OF NEW OBJECTS TO OUR PERMANENT COLLECTION AND SPENT MUCH OF THE YEAR REHOUSING OUR EXISTING COLLECTION FOR BETTER PROTECTION. WE PERFORMED AN INVENTORY OF THE COLLECTION AND MOVED ALL COLLECTION ITEMS TO A MORE SECURE AREA WHILE NOT ON DISPLAY. OUR NEW EXHIBIT SPACE ALLOWS US TO EXHIBIT A LARGER VARIETY OF ARTIFACTS AND MORE EASILY ROTATE THE OBJECTS ON-AND-OFF DISPLAY FOR CONTINUED PRESERVATION.