Mountain Gateway Museum Opens Temporary Location

The Mountain Gateway Museum has opened to the public at its temporary location at 78-C Catawba Ave., in Old Fort. Repairs have begun to the museum and grounds following damage from Hurricane Helene. The museum operates Tuesday-Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and is closed Sundays and Mondays and all state holidays.

At the new location, a permanent exhibit on what makes Western N.C. unique to the rest of the state has been installed. From the people who live here to the fauna, flora, agriculture, and more, guests can learn what makes this region special. Visitors also can view a temporary exhibit, "A Place at the Polls," to learn about the evolution of voting rights in North Carolina.

For more information, or if you need to contact us, please call us at our new phone number, 828-785-9528, or email us at [email protected].

About Mountain Gateway Museum
A regional branch of the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh, the Mountain Gateway Museum & Heritage Center (MGM) is the westernmost facility in the N.C. Department of Natural & Cultural Resources' Division of State History Museums.

Nestled at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of historic Mill Creek in downtown Old Fort (McDowell County), the museum uses artifacts, exhibitions, educational programs, living history demonstrations, and special events to teach people about the rich history and cultural heritage of the state's mountain region, from its original inhabitants through early settlement and into the 20th century.

As part of its education outreach mission, MGM also assists non-profit museums and historic sites in 38 western NC counties with exhibit development & fabrication, genealogical research, photography archives, traveling exhibitions, and consultations.

About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina - its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.