WCHM Events
Come see us, meet and talk with us, and learn more about our vision for the Watauga County Heritage Museum.
Pop-Up Museums
A pop-up museum is a temporary and flexible way of sharing our local history. They are short-term, usually only for a few hours or a day, and will appear at places where there are gatherings of people — libraries, festivals, farmers’ markets, and other events. Our pop-up-museums will be community/county focused and will ask for community participation. We invite people to share objects, stories, and perspectives related to a specific theme. We encourage visitors to engage with the exhibits and with each other at our events.
Upcoming Pop-Up Events to be announced…
Ashe County America 250th Celebration
The Museum will join the Ashe County America 250th Celebration on June 6, 2026. See details below…
Boonerang Music & Art Festival
On Saturday, June 20, 2026, the Museum will participate in the Boonerang Music & Art Festival. This vibrant festival highlights local talent and artistic expression, offering a lively atmosphere for attendees to experience the culture of the region.
Boone July 4th Parade
The Museum will take part in the Boone July 4th Parade on July 4, 2026. This annual event is a cherished tradition that brings the community together to celebrate Independence Day.
WCHM Annual Meeting
The Watauga County Heritage Museum Annual Meeting is scheduled for September 12, 2026. This meeting will provide updates on the Museum’s progress and offer a forum for members and supporters to connect.
Ashe County America 250th Celebration
Saturday, June 6 • 10am-4pm
Museum of Ashe County History
301 E. Main St., Jefferson, NC
Join us on Saturday, June 6th, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. as we celebrate the United States Semiquincentennial!
2026 is the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. To mark the occasion, we will be holding a 250th Celebration on the grounds of the Museum of Ashe County History to celebrate, learn, and reflect on both our nation and our local history.
Throughout the day, visitors will have the opportunity to chat with living historians in 18th-century attire, learn about life in Revolutionary-era Appalachia, and hear about various trades and crafts from the time period. There will also be light refreshments, kids’ activities, information booths from local organizations, and guests will have a chance to tour the museum’s recently restored 19th-century cabin. A special pop-up exhibit about the Battle of Kings Mountain, courtesy of the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, will also be available for viewing.
At 11 p.m. members of the Daniel Boone Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will be reading a portion of the Declaration of Independence.
At 1 p.m. historian and author Michael C. Hardy will give a lecture on his newest book, “Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee and the American Revolution.” Mr. Hardy is the author of 28 books pertaining to state and local history and was the 2010 North Carolina Historian of the Year. He spends most weekends as a volunteer interpreter at various historic sites.
The museum will also be showing a brief documentary by local film maker, Clint Johnson about the ride of Martin Gambill which occurred in the lead up to the Battle of kings Mountain. There will also be a performance by The Gathering of Home School Theater Guild at 4 p.m., who will be performing “Hang Together.” Hang Together is an original musical that charts the tumultuous years from the passage of the Intolerable Acts in 1774 to the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
This event is FREE and open to the public and will take place on the grounds of the Museum of Ashe County History located at 301 E. Main Street in Jefferson, NC. For more information, call (336) 846-1904. In the event of rain, the celebration will be moved inside the museum.
This project is supported through a grant from America 250 NC, a program of the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources