Appalachian Women's Museum

Appalachian Women's Museum We are an all volunteer organization. We currently open on Saturdays and for special events and tours.

We are a cultural heritage site in Dillsboro, NC dedicated to collecting, preserving and sharing the stories of Southern Appalachian Women past, present and future. We have been renovating the Monteith Farmstead to become the first 'live' museum dedicated to the history of the women of Southern Appalachia. When fully opened, we will be a cultural arts venue where visitors will experience live demo

nstrations of mountain life in this 1900 farmstead, along with rooms dedicated to women who helped shape the lives of generations to come. In addition to famous mountain women in history, we will feature stories about ordinary women, leading extraordinary lives! Please consider donating in memory or honor of some special woman in your life at appwomen.org.

Tomorrow marks our annual 2026 Music on the Porch event! The event begins at 2 pm and concludes at 8 pm. Our musical lin...
09/04/2026

Tomorrow marks our annual 2026 Music on the Porch event! The event begins at 2 pm and concludes at 8 pm. Our musical lineup is extensive, featuring Susan Pepper, the Cherokee Language Repertory Choir, Lee Knight, Savannah Page, and our headliner, Julie Odell.

Other exciting events at Music on the Porch include:

Demonstrations:
- Join the Watershed Association of the Tuckasegee (WATR) from 5-6 pm for a hands-on look at the life of Scotts Creek. Look below the surface and learn about the benthic macroinvertebrates that call the stream home, why they matter, and what you can do to support them.
- Leatherworking
- Weaving
- Tarot card readings from 6-8 pm

Activities at the Kids Zone:
- Face painting with Macon Faces Face Painting
- Quilting activity - make a quilt square that will be included in a quilt top made on a treadle sewing machine during the event!
- Exciting games
- Paper plate banjos

The Dillsboro Smokeshow BBQ Competition
- This year we are introducing the Dillsboro Smokeshow BBQ Competition. Attendees sample smoked pork, fixins, and desserts by purchasing either VIP tickets, a ticket bundle, or individual portion tickets. Tickets are $50 and entitle holders to unlimited BBQ and fixin portions. VIP ticket holders will receive priority service and serve as the official judges for the wildcard category! Tasting starts at 4pm with awards announced at 6 pm.
Purchase VIP tickets here:
https://givebutter.com/music-on-the-porch-jmeftn…

Introducing The Kids Zone during Music on the Porch! Your littles can enjoy fun activites such as paper plate banjos, co...
09/03/2026

Introducing The Kids Zone during Music on the Porch! Your littles can enjoy fun activites such as paper plate banjos, cornhusk dolls, drawing on quilt squares, games, and face painting from 2-5 pm. In the quilt square activity, folks will be able to draw on a quilt square that will be made into a quilt top during the event on a treadle sewing machine. The dedicated area will be between the house and the canning house with plenty of space to play and run!

WATR is holding a macroinvertebrate talk from 5-6 pm where you will be able to look at the little critters who live in the watershed. Meet in front of the flower shed for this activity!

We are so excited for Saturday for great music and fun activites for y'all to enjoy!

Who is your favorite Appalachian musical artist? This year's Music on the Porch musical lineup may result in a few new f...
09/03/2026

Who is your favorite Appalachian musical artist?
This year's Music on the Porch musical lineup may result in a few new favorites!

Thank you to End of Main for sponsoring our Music on the Porch event!End of Main is a vintage market offering Mid Centur...
09/02/2026

Thank you to End of Main for sponsoring our Music on the Porch event!

End of Main is a vintage market offering Mid Century to Primitive furnishings & accessories.

Thank you again to End of Main for sponsoring Music on the Porch Saturday, September 5th from 2 - 8pm!

As we are about to embark on a day of music this Saturday at Music on the Porch, it is important that we remember the wo...
08/31/2026

As we are about to embark on a day of music this Saturday at Music on the Porch, it is important that we remember the wonderful Appalachian artist, Dolly Parton.

On August 25th, the world felt the blow as the news of Dolly Parton’s death shattered the media and people’s hearts. Eleven time Grammy winner, Dolly grew up just over the mountain in Sevier county, Tennessee. She wasn’t just a country singer, but an Appalachian woman who spent her life donating and positively affecting the lives of millions. Just one of those bits of philanthropy came from her program, The Imagination Library, which donates free books to children under the age of five, promoting literacy for children around the world. Dolly was an icon in many respects, but most importantly an Appalachian woman who used her wealth and power to help others. Whether you knew Dolly from her popular songs like Jolene or 9 to 5, or by attending Dollywood, Dolly’s influence is all over Appalachia and the world. She will be missed by all.

Join us at Music on the Porch this Saturday from 2-8 pm to enjoy music as Dolly would have wanted.

Thank you to our friends at Lulu's on Main for sponsoring our Music on the Porch event by providing pork butts for the D...
08/29/2026

Thank you to our friends at Lulu's on Main for sponsoring our Music on the Porch event by providing pork butts for the Dillsboro Smokeshow BBQ Competition!

At Lulu's on Main, guests will experience upscale dining served in a casual, yet classy, setting. The chef and owner of the restaurant, Devin McCardle, is a renowned chef and trained at the prestigious New England Culinary Institute. Chef Devin and his culinary staff serve locally sourced cuisine that continues to delight Western North Carolina locals and those passing by Sylva.

Check out their website for further information and to peruse their menu:
https://lulusonmain.com

Thank you again to Lulu's on Main for sponsoring our Music on the Porch event on Saturday, September 5th from 2 - 8pm.

Here in Appalachia, quilting is a popular hobby oftentimes passed down through family members. What is now a hobby used ...
08/27/2026

Here in Appalachia, quilting is a popular hobby oftentimes passed down through family members. What is now a hobby used to be a way for mothers to keep themselves and their children warm on cold winter nights.

It is always interesting to hear from my grandparents about what it was like growing up in 20th century Appalachia. My grandma oftentimes tells me stories of when she first married my grandfather at nineteen and would visit her community center. There, she would quilt and gossip with the women of her small community. At a time when my young grandmother was trying to find her place in a new community, the women around her showed her kindness by teaching her to quilt. Quilting has, and will always be, an art form, but also a way to communicate and bond with others.

Do you have a personal story about quilting or why you started? Let us know in the comments!

We had a wonderful time here at the AWM with Murphy Campbell last Thursday! September's musical guests for Third Thursda...
08/26/2026

We had a wonderful time here at the AWM with Murphy Campbell last Thursday!
September's musical guests for Third Thursday will be Ghost Pipe Sound Machine!

Ghost Pipe Sound Machine was born of a Jackson County band mash up, two parts Bird in Hand, two parts Hot Dog Sunrise and one part rippin' John on guitar. Ghost Pipe has the soul of a wide variety of influences that combine for a fun Appalachian Thunder Funk sound rooted throughout these United States and fed by the mountains of Western North Carolina.

Join us September 17th from 6-8pm for our second Third Thursday event with Ghost Pipe Sound Machine!

Music on the Porch is a little over a week away! We are so excited to share this day with the community and enjoy music ...
08/25/2026

Music on the Porch is a little over a week away! We are so excited to share this day with the community and enjoy music from an array of talented musicians. Along with the music, you can enjoy demonstrations which will include quilting, weaving, and corn husk dolls, and activities for the kids.
And don't forget to stop by the Watershed Association of the Tuckasegee (WATR) tent for a hands-on look at the life of Scotts Creek!

Join us on Saturday, September 5th from 2-8pm for an exciting day jam packed with music and Appalachian traditions.

Thank you to Mountain Flora, one of our Fiddlin’ Friend sponsors for this year’s Music on the Porch event!Founded in 201...
08/24/2026

Thank you to Mountain Flora, one of our Fiddlin’ Friend sponsors for this year’s Music on the Porch event!

Founded in 2019 by co-owner of Innovation Brewing, Charles (Chip) Owen, Mountain Flora’s main mission is to provide their neighbors with quality products and education to further grow wellness amongst the community. From Topicals to Tinctures and Edibles, they strive to produce fine, quality products for the quickest and most effective results. All of their h**p products are third party tested and comply with the 2018 Farm Bill.

Check out their website for more information:
https://cbdsylva.com/

Thank you again to Mountain Flora for your generous sponsorship for Music on the Porch on Saturday, September 5th from 2-8pm.

Address

100 W. Hometown Place
Dillsboro, NC
28725

Opening Hours

10am - 2pm

Telephone

(828) 482-5860

Website

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