Waldensian Heritage Museum

09/04/2026

09/03/2026

We had such a wonderful time this morning at the Burke Chamber’s Burke Business Brew!

It was a great opportunity to connect with several local businesses, meet new people, and learn more about the exciting things happening throughout Burke County. We are always grateful for opportunities to build relationships within our community and see the many ways local businesses and organizations are working together to make Burke County a wonderful place to live, work, and visit.

Thank you to the Burke Chamber for hosting such a great event! We look forward to staying connected and continuing to grow together.

09/02/2026

What a wonderful evening celebrating America 250! We want to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who helped make Valdese Celebrates America 250! such a special event.

From those who helped plan, organize, set up, and make the evening possible, to our food trucks, volunteers, performers, presenters, and community partners—we are incredibly grateful for each of you! Thank you Ed Lane for the Photography from the USA presentation which took us from sea to shining sea and all of the US in between.

And, of course, thank you to everyone who came out and celebrated with us! It was wonderful to see families, friends, neighbors, and visitors gathered together to enjoy an evening of community, music, history, and patriotism.

We are especially grateful to the Town of Valdese for partnering with us to celebrate this incredible milestone in our nation’s history.
What a great night in Valdese!

08/27/2026

We hope you will join us this Saturday, August 29, for Valdese Celebrates America 250 at the Old Rock School!

The festivities begin at 5:00 PM with picnic options and our American History Meet, Greet & Treats, where guests can meet and take photos with some of America’s most notable historical figures, including:
Johnny Appleseed
Amelia Earhart
Betsy Ross
Frederick Douglass
John Hancock
Uncle Sam
Benjamin Franklin
Susan B. Anthony
George & Martha Washington
Abraham Lincoln
Lady Liberty
Paul Revere
Daniel Boone
Rosie the Riveter

At 6:30 PM, join us in the Old Rock School Auditorium for a special presentation by photographer Dr. Ed Lane, featuring the breathtaking national parks of America.
Following the program, weather permitting, we will head outdoors to Temple Field for a showing of Wild America.
Bring your family and friends and join us for an evening celebrating America’s history, heritage, and natural beauty! We hope to see you there!

08/26/2026

Hope to see you this Saturday as Valdese celebrates America 250!

There will be activities for all ages beginning at 5 PM at the Old Rock School, with picnic options and an American History Meet, Greet & Treats!

At 6:30 PM, everyone is invited to enjoy a patriotic program featuring music from the community and a beautiful National Parks photography slideshow presented by Dr. Ed Lane.

We’ll wrap up the evening with an outdoor showing of the classic family film “Wild America.”

Bring your family, grab some food, and celebrate 250 years of America with us! We hope to see you there!

08/21/2026

On August 23, 1893, the first Waldensian settlers of the new colony in Valdese were joined by a much smaller group of 14 additional settlers.

This group arrived in New York aboard the SS La Bretagne after crossing the Atlantic. From there, they continued their journey south to join the growing Waldensian colony in North Carolina.

Just weeks after the first settlers arrived, these 14 newcomers became part of the community that would grow into the Town of Valdese we know today.

Friday Fact: Sometimes, it only takes a small group to make a lasting impact on history!

08/21/2026

As you start making plans for the fall, be sure to include a visit to the Waldensian Heritage Museum!

We’re open weekly Wednesday through Friday, 10 AM–4 PM for self-guided tours. If you’d like to learn even more about the Waldensian story, join us for a guided tour at 1 PM each of those days.

Come explore our exhibits, discover the history of Valdese, and learn more about the Waldensian heritage that helped shape our community. We’d love to see you this fall!

View our web site for more information www.waldensianheritagemuseum.com

08/19/2026

We had a blast hosting the Rotary Club of Valdese at the museum!

08/17/2026

We are excited to host the Rotary Club of Valdese at the Waldensian Heritage Museum!

The Waldensian Heritage Museum is pleased to welcome the Rotary Club of Valdese for its upcoming weekly meeting. We hope everyone enjoys lunch and takes time to explore the museum at a leisurely pace. Guests are also invited to visit our new basement display, which features a Waldensian Bakery truck, the Chevrolet Cabriolet driven by the first mayor of Valdese, and our newest addition—the first Valdese fire truck, dating back to 1932.

📅August 18, 2026
⏰12:00pm-1:00pm
📍Waldensian Heritage Museum
208 Rodoret St. S., Valdese, NC 28690

08/14/2026

Did you know that Henri Arnaud played a crucial role in one of the most dramatic chapters of Waldensian history?

Born in France in 1643, Arnaud grew up during a time of intense religious persecution. From 1670 to 1698, he served as a pastor in the Waldensian Church in the Piedmont region of Italy.

In 1686, the Waldenses were given a devastating choice: convert to Catholicism or leave their homeland. Following Arnaud’s advice, they took up arms to defend their religious freedom. The resistance was ultimately unsuccessful, and many Waldensians were killed or imprisoned. Survivors were forced into exile in Switzerland and Germany.
But Arnaud refused to give up.

In 1689, he helped lead the Waldensians back to their valleys in what became known as the “Glorious Return.” The returning Waldensians established a guerrilla force and eventually persuaded the Duke of Savoy to restore religious freedom to the Waldensians.

Their victory was temporary. In 1698, Arnaud and approximately 2,700 Waldensians were forced into exile once again because of their French origins and their proximity to the French border.

Arnaud eventually settled in what is now Germany, where he helped establish and develop Waldensian colonies. He died in 1721 and was buried at Schönenberg near Ötisheim.
Henri Arnaud’s story is a powerful reminder of the courage, perseverance, and determination of the Waldensian people in their struggle for religious freedom.