The Mountain Gateway Museum in the small town of Old Fort NC opened to the public in 1971. It was opened by the historic site Committee. The main purpose was to interrupt early pioneer lifestyles.
Old Fort was originally built by the colonial army originally named Catawba Vale. Then the fort was named Davidson’s fort and used as a western outpost for the fledgling United States. Years later the area was renamed Old Fort.
Many other factors and peoples contributed to Old Fort’s proud heritage. This makes the Mountain Gateway Museum a perfect place to interrupt and catalog the history of the Blueridge Mountains.
There are several exhibits that you must see while you are in the Mountain Gateway Museum.
“A time to plant, a time to Hoe.” It is the first one that I recommend that you see. As a local history museum that specialize in exhibits that detail the early ways of the pioneers. The exhibits details the pioneers early ways of farming, most especially during the 19th and 20th centuries. The exhibit workers only use tools and methods that were from the time period from a horse drawn plow, naturally occurring fertilizers, and organic pest control. The only bad point is that this exhibit is only here during the local growing season but, while you can see it you must come see what they can grow with a little hard work.
This second exhibit that you must take a look at is the photography of Margaret Morley. She was a great educator, biologist, and writer that had a special affection for Western North Carolina. The only bad thing is that the photographs are not all in the museum but, they are all located in Old Fort. They are also located in Mountain Gateway Museum, Pinwilz Art Gallery, And the Old Fort Depot. All of the photos are of life during the turn of the 20th century. Detailing early life and the strengths and hardships they had to go through.
The final set of exhibits that you must see are the indoor ones held inside the gallery itself. They detail the early water systems of the pioneers and to date. Such things as Dowsing and diving methods can be viewed here. They also have in this exhibit old pumping, piping, and well systems of the day.
This is not all the museum but it is what I consider the best choices for actual stuff to see if you are in the western North Carolina Mountains. Natural history is a great importance to us and we love even better to keep a place where the younger generations can look and examine what their fathers had to go through to get them where they are now.
