Mountain Gateway Museum and Heritage Center

06/01/2026

Reminder from the Mountain Gateway Museum: Our operating hours have changed!

We’re excited to stay open an extra hour each day, now welcoming visitors Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. as part of the North Carolina Regional History Museums’ standardized schedule. We will be closed Sundays, Mondays and state holidays.

That’s more time to enjoy your next history adventure!

05/28/2026

We can't wait for the Trails & Trains Festival next week! We will be open all three days from 10-5 and have a booth at the Vendor Village on Saturday.

05/28/2026

In 1709, British explorer John Lawson wrote of a bird once native to North Carolina: “The Parrakeetos are of a green Colour, and Orange-Colour’d half way their Head . . . They visit us first when Mulberries are ripe, which Fruit they love extremely. They peck the apples . . . so that the Fruit rots and perishes. They are mischievous to Orchards. They are often taken alive, and will become familiar and tame in two days. They have their nests in hollow trees . . . and lie hidden when the Weather is frosty and hard.” --A New Voyage to Carolina, first published in London in 1709.

The bird Lawson described became known as the Carolina Parakeet. Living in flocks numbering 200 or more, the Carolina Parakeets ranged as far west as Colorado and as far north as southern New England. By the mid-19th century, the species’ sociable nature and love of fruit seeds combined with loss of habitat spelled its doom. Some people hunted the birds as pests, while others harvested their bright feathers for decoration. The parakeets’ tendency to gather around fallen comrades rather than fleeing contributed to their destruction, as hunters found it easy to kill whole flocks at a time. Officially, the last one died in 1918 at the Cincinnati Zoo, although there have been unconfirmed reports of sightings in the wild since.

This image shows a painting by John James Aubudon (1785 - 1851) of the Carolina Parakeet. --United States Public Domain image, which means it was published anywhere (or registered with the US Copyright Office) before 1931 and public domain in the US

05/27/2026

Wonderful news! 🎉

05/26/2026

Less than one week until extended hours begin!

Starting in June, we’ll be open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. As part of the North Carolina Regional History Museums’ standardized hours, Mountain Gateway Museum visitors will enjoy one extra hour each day to explore everything our museum has to offer. We will remain closed on Sundays, Mondays and state holidays.

We look forward to welcoming you to Old Fort this summer to explore the stories, artifacts, and history that make North Carolina unique.

*This photo of the Morgan Cabin was taken before Hurricane Helene. The cabins are closed until further notice.

05/25/2026

Check out these Memorial Day events happening around Western NC!

05/23/2026

Check out this little amphibian, the Hickory Nut Gorge Salamander! 🦎 This salamander species is endangered, only found in Western North Carolina where their core habitat was destroyed during Hurricane Helene. They are known to live in caves, rock crevices and even trees! Making them an arboreal salamander species. 🌳 The Hickory Nut Gorge Salamander is identifiable by its slender brown to black body with bright yellow or lime green splotches all over its body.

05/22/2026

We are still accepting applications for our Hands-On History workshop this summer! Any K-12 public school teacher can apply, but priority will be given to the counties listed on the flyer. The application form closes this Tuesday, May 26.

📚 Hands-On History at the Mountain Gateway Museum 📚

Monday, July 27, 2026 | 10am-3pm

Middle school teachers from McDowell, Burke, Mitchell, Yancey, Rutherford, and Madison Counties are invited to an exclusive professional learning afternoon with the NC Department of Natural & Cultural Resources at the Mountain Gateway Museum.

Explore hands-on activities for school groups, learn about classroom outreach programs, and share ideas to help shape future educational offerings. You’ll also discover DNCR resources designed to support your teaching.

Attending educators receive:

✅ $100 stipend (with post event survey)
✅ Lunch
✅ 0.5 CEUs
✅ Networking with educators across the region
✅ Direct access to DNCR and museum staff

Come experience what the Mountain Gateway Museum offers while enjoying food, fellowship, and meaningful professional connection. Fill out an application here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfb7NKQICSm_Fvdnn4p0UQMBNlLHlKIv-e66Ns5N1iFkWkV3Q/viewform