WCHM - Watauga County Heritage Museum

IMAGINE...

a stately building, rising from pristine property, designed to complement our mountain environment and to hold the artifacts and documents of our past? Can you imagine that close by this building is a small amphitheater that will provide a venue for historic plays, other dramas, concerts, and lectures under the sky? And can you imagine that also on the property are historic buildings or replicas replete with corresponding artifacts that are experiential centers? On the campus will be a building dedicated to showcasing the work of local artists and artisans and providing workshops for budding artisans. Can you imagine?

We Can.

We are the Charter members, members and sponsors of the Watauga County Heritage Museum, Inc. (WCHM), today a dream but tomorrow a reality.

Photos taken morning prior to the marriage of Clint and Ruth Cornett, who will have been married 72 years on April 28, 2025. Photo courtesy of Diane Cornett Deal.

Clint and Ruth Presnell Cornett on their wedding day. Photo courtesy of Diane Cornett Deal.

Clint and Ruth Presnell Cornett's family members who would be attending their wedding later in the day at the home of Rev Rhonda Earp. Left to right: Louise Presnell Cornett, Ruth’s sister; Lena Mae Cornett Harmon, Clint’s aunt, and her husband Robert Harmon. Photo courtesy of Diane Cornett Deal.

Deep Gap/Gap Creek. Photo courtesy of Mary E. Moretz.

The building of the Tweetsie Railroad trestle and track. Photo courtesy of Diane Cornett Deal.

Stoney Fork Greenes. All the Greenes are related. They added the (e) to keep from getting confused in written documents with the Greers. Photo courtesy of Mary E. Moretz.

Victorian home of E.W. and Martha Emmaline Moretz. It pictures them and their 3 sons and a visitor (far right). The daybed on the covered wraparound porch is there for the use of the older son who had Bright's Disease. Grandfather sent him to Johns Hopkins Hospital on the train for treatment but he died at age 20-21. Photo courtesy of Mary E. Moretz.

“Watauga County has an incredible history that includes Native American villages and the early treks of Daniel Boone, Civil War skirmishes, exploration by naturalists and geologists, the creation of a university, early North Carolina tourist destinations, and famous railroad lines. The Watauga County Historical Museum will help preserve that history for generations to come.”

Michael Hardy, Award-Winning N.C. Historian

We need your support!

Our Vision of Preservation... YES, We Can!

“In addition to preserving the inspirational story of our past, a museum will serve as a path for the future. It will serve as a unifying entity for citizens in all our communities, as an educational center, and as an economic driver.”

Mary Etta Moretz

WCHM Executive Committee

“Hearing the stories about the old days and how people lived and thrived has meant a lot to me. I know this heritage will enrich the lives of the generations to come, and we just can’t let it be forgotten.”

Judy Prussner Moretz

WCHM Executive Committee

“It is vital that we have a local heritage museum to inspire a deeper understanding of our past, fostering a profound appreciation for the present and illuminating the path to a brighter future.”

Diane Cornett Deal

WCHM Executive Committee Chair