The Museum of the Waxhaws

The Museum of the Waxhaws The Museum of the Waxhaws is administered by the Andrew Jackson Historical Foundation, Inc. Recreational walking, running, hiking, dog walking, etc.
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The Museum of the Waxhaws is Union County’s cultural and history learning center. We are a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization managed by a Board of Directors. The Museum showcases and demonstrates history and culture to visitors in the context of indoor and outdoor exhibits, artistic performances, historical reenactments, and group tours. The basis of our mission is to teach residents of Union County

about our regional history. For security reasons, when our facility is closed our grounds and outdoor exhibits are NOT open to the public. are NOT allowed on museum ground at any time. Commercial/Professional photography is prohibited. Pets are not allowed on the grounds.

Downtown Waxhaw, get ready to welcome 1780 back!Join us Friday, June 5th as the Battle of the Waxhaws American Revolutio...
05/31/2026

Downtown Waxhaw, get ready to welcome 1780 back!

Join us Friday, June 5th as the Battle of the Waxhaws American Revolution Reenactment & Living History Weekend marches into downtown Waxhaw for the third annual celebration of local history.

Please note: the march will enter downtown Waxhaw from the Historic District, not from South Main Street.

Want the perfect place to meet the march? Head to Mule Barn Mercantile! The Guilford Courthouse Fife & Drum will be there by 6:45 PM, waiting to join the march and lead the way through town.

From there, the march will continue to the final gathering spot at Community Corner under the historic water tank, with an estimated arrival time of 7:00 PM.

Come line the streets, hear the drums and fifes, and help us welcome history back to Waxhaw!

Battle of the Waxhaws
Friday Night March into Downtown Waxhaw
Friday, June 5
Be at Mule Barn Mercantile by 6:45 PM
Final gathering under the historic water tank around 7:00 PM

Come welcome 1780 back to Waxhaw!

At the Battle of the Waxhaws, living history comes to life through the people, animals, and friendships that make this e...
05/31/2026

At the Battle of the Waxhaws, living history comes to life through the people, animals, and friendships that make this event so meaningful. And over the years, one very special horse has become part of our story.

Cats isn’t just a horse who visits for an event weekend. He has become part of the Museum of the Waxhaws family. He has stood with us during battle reenactments, helped bring history to life during living history days, and even joined us for Christmas on the museum grounds. Every time he returns, he brings a little extra heart with him.

There is something powerful about seeing a horse like Cats on these grounds. He reminds us that history was not carried forward by people alone. Horses were companions, workers, messengers, and trusted partners in the Revolutionary era—and today, Cats helps visitors feel that connection in a way words alone never could.

And of course, we love his best friend Dean, too. The care, trust, and friendship between them is part of what makes Cats so special to all of us.

Come meet Cats and his horse buddies at the Battle of the Waxhaws, along with the incredible reenactors and living historians who give their time and hearts to bring the past to life.

Battle of the Waxhaws Reenactment & Living History Weekend
June 6th: 10-4PM
June 7th: 10-3PM
Museum of the Waxhaws
Parking Address: 1101 Old Providence Road, Waxhaw

For more than three decades, the Museum of the Waxhaws has been preserving and sharing the stories of our region.From th...
05/30/2026

For more than three decades, the Museum of the Waxhaws has been preserving and sharing the stories of our region.

From the earliest families of the Waxhaws to the American Revolution, local gold mining, agriculture, Native history, Andrew Jackson, and everyday life in the Carolina backcountry, the museum helps keep our shared past alive.

Every artifact, exhibit, building, and story connects us to the people who came before us—their struggles, their work, their courage, and the communities they built. For over 30 years, the Museum of the Waxhaws has served as a place where history is not only remembered, but experienced.

Come walk through local history, explore the museum, and discover the stories that shaped Waxhaw, Union County, and the greater Waxhaws region.

The Museum of the Waxhaws is open Friday and Saturday from 10 AM–5 PM. Come see where our history lives.

The Battle of the Waxhaws returns to the Museum of the Waxhaws for a powerful weekend of living history, reenactments, d...
05/30/2026

The Battle of the Waxhaws returns to the Museum of the Waxhaws for a powerful weekend of living history, reenactments, demonstrations, encampments, sutlers, artillery, cavalry, and more.

Step onto the museum grounds and experience the sights, sounds, and stories of 1780 as reenactors bring the Carolina backcountry to life. From camp life and 18th-century cooking to the roar of muskets and the battlefield reenactment, this is more than a history lesson it is history you can walk through.

Event Weekend:
Saturday, June 6 | 10 AM–4 PM
Sunday, June 7 | 10 AM–3 PM
Battle reenactment both days at 2 PM

Museum of the Waxhaws
8215 Waxhaw Highway
Waxhaw, NC

Parking:
Visitor parking will be at Waxhaw Elementary School, located at 1101 Old Providence Road, Waxhaw, NC. Please follow event signage and volunteers. The museum entrance will be closed to regular visitor traffic for safety during the event.

Tickets:
General Admission:
https://square.link/u/ItXwNqTW?src=sheet

Family Pass:
https://square.link/u/cYMFKXDz?src=sheet

Event Page:
https://www.facebook.com/share/1U8wHKVho5/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Tickets are valid for the weekend. Ages 5 and under are free.

Come stand where history gathers, where the smoke rises, and where the story of the Waxhaws is remembered. The Battle of the Waxhaws returns June 6–7 at the Museum of the Waxhaws.

On this day, at this very hour, 246 years ago…Around 3:00 in the afternoon on May 29, 1780, a swift and devastating clas...
05/29/2026

On this day, at this very hour, 246 years ago…

Around 3:00 in the afternoon on May 29, 1780, a swift and devastating clash unfolded just south of the North Carolina border near present-day Buford in Lancaster County, South Carolina.

Known as the Battle of the Waxhaws or Buford’s Massacre, the fight lasted only about 15 minutes—but its impact echoed across the Carolina backcountry.

Colonel Abraham Buford and his Virginia Continentals were overtaken by British forces under Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton. What began as a retreat turned into one of the most remembered and controversial moments of the American Revolution in the South.

The battle gave rise to the phrase “Tarleton’s Quarter,” meaning no mercy would be given. For many Patriots, the tragedy became a rallying cry. The bloodshed at the Waxhaws helped fuel resistance throughout the Carolinas and strengthened the resolve of those who would continue the fight for independence.

Today, we remember the soldiers who stood on that ground 246 years ago and the powerful history that still lives here in the Waxhaws.

The Museum of the Waxhaws is honored to help preserve and share this important chapter of Revolutionary War history.

Congratulations, Jared! 🎓The Museum of the Waxhaws is so proud to celebrate our intern, Jared Peck, on his graduation fr...
05/29/2026

Congratulations, Jared! 🎓

The Museum of the Waxhaws is so proud to celebrate our intern, Jared Peck, on his graduation from Fayetteville State University with a B.A. in History!

Jared has been a valued part of our museum family, bringing his time, curiosity, and passion for history to the work we do. Interns like Jared help keep local history alive, and we are grateful for the role he has played in preserving and sharing the stories of the Waxhaws.

We are so proud of you, Jared, and excited to see where your love of history takes you next!

Congratulations, Class of 2026! 💙💛

Happening Now: Miles for Museums Summer Passport Program!We’re excited to share that the Museum of the Waxhaws is offici...
05/29/2026

Happening Now: Miles for Museums Summer Passport Program!

We’re excited to share that the Museum of the Waxhaws is officially part of the Miles for Museums Summer Passport Program—and it’s happening now!

This fun, family-friendly program encourages visitors to explore local museums across our region, learn about our rich history, and enjoy a summer full of discovery.

Here’s how it works:

Visit participating museums and collect passport “stamps.”
Turn in your completed passport to be entered into a grand prize raffle.
Enjoy a summer of learning, exploring, and making memories along the way!

The mission of Miles for Museums is to spark curiosity and build community connection by encouraging people of all ages to explore local museums, celebrate regional history, and take part in fun, educational adventures.

We are proud to represent Waxhaw as one of the participating museums, and we would love for you to stop by and add the Museum of the Waxhaws to your passport journey.

Museum of the Waxhaws
Open every Friday and Saturday
10:00 AM–5:00 PM

Be sure to make the Museum of the Waxhaws one of your stops this summer. Come explore local history, collect your stamp, and discover something new along the way!

Learn more at: milesformuseums.org

The Revolution had many faces—and every one has a story.Next weekend, step into the Carolina backcountry as 1780 returns...
05/29/2026

The Revolution had many faces—and every one has a story.

Next weekend, step into the Carolina backcountry as 1780 returns to the Waxhaws.

Join us for the Battle of the Waxhaws American Revolution Weekend at the Museum of the Waxhaws, where history comes alive through living history encampments, 18th-century trades, sutlers, artillery, cavalry, musket fire, and powerful stories from the men, women, families, soldiers, and communities who lived through the American Revolution.

This weekend is more than a battle reenactment—it is a chance to walk through the world of 1780, meet living historians, explore the museum grounds, and experience the sights and sounds of one of the fastest-growing American Revolution reenactment weekends in North Carolina.

Event Weekend:
Saturday, June 6 | 10 AM–4 PM
Sunday, June 7 | 10 AM–3 PM
Battle reenactment both days at 2 PM
Museum of the Waxhaws | Waxhaw, NC

Friday Night Tradition:
Don’t miss the March into Downtown Waxhaw on Friday, June 5 at 7 PM as history makes its way through town and kicks off the weekend!

Tickets:
General Admission:
https://square.link/u/ltXwNqTW

Family Pass:
https://square.link/u/cYMFKXDz

Event Page:
https://www.facebook.com/share/1U8wHKVho5/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Come see the faces, hear the stories, and experience the Revolution in the Waxhaws.

Friday night June 5th, Downtown Waxhaw belongs to 1780.The Battle of the Waxhaws American Revolution Reenactment & Livin...
05/28/2026

Friday night June 5th, Downtown Waxhaw belongs to 1780.

The Battle of the Waxhaws American Revolution Reenactment & Living History Weekend kicks off with one of our favorite traditions — the Friday Night March into Downtown Waxhaw!

On Friday, June 5th, reenactors will march into downtown as the sights and sounds of the American Revolution return to the streets of Waxhaw. Drums, fifes, uniforms, and history will make their way toward the water tower for a powerful start to battle weekend.

Want to be part of the march and follow us into town?

Meet us at South Providence School
500 S. Providence Street, Waxhaw, NC 28173
Please arrive by 6:45 PM.

Want to meet a little closer to downtown?

Meet us near Mule Barn Mercantile
121 South Broome Street, Waxhaw, NC 28173
Please arrive by 6:50 PM.

Want to join us at the final arrival point?

Meet us at the Waxhaw Community Corner Lot under the water tank
115 McDonald Street, Waxhaw, NC 28173
We will arrive around 7:00 PM.

Bring the family, line the streets, follow the march, and help us welcome history back into the Waxhaws!

Battle of the Waxhaws Weekend
Saturday, June 6 | 10 AM–4 PM
Sunday, June 7 | 10 AM–3 PM
Museum of the Waxhaws

The streets have changed, but the history remains.This glimpse of historic downtown Waxhaw reminds us how much our town ...
05/28/2026

The streets have changed, but the history remains.

This glimpse of historic downtown Waxhaw reminds us how much our town has grown—and how many stories still live in the buildings, roads, and memories of this community. From dirt streets and early storefronts to the Waxhaw we know today, each generation has left its mark.

At the Museum of the Waxhaws, we work to preserve and share these pieces of our local history so they are not forgotten. Every photograph, artifact, and story helps connect us to the people and places that shaped the Waxhaws.

Come visit us and step into the history of our community.

Museum of the Waxhaws
Open Friday and Saturday
10 AM–5 PM

Address

8215 Waxhaw Highway
Waxhaw, NC
28173

Opening Hours

Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

(704) 843-1832

Website

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