Museums in Partnership (Western North Carolina)

05/22/2026

📚 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

05/20/2026

Join us tomorrow (Wednesday, May 20) between 2pm and 4pm for the opening of our Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence exhibit!

https://mailchi.mp/06c91bf3fe9d/mecdec2026

05/19/2026

WNC Pottery Festival accepting applications through May.

05/18/2026

The 2026 Blue Ridge Craft Trails Invitational is officially open. Join us for the June 11 reception.

05/18/2026

Great turn out to our meeting today!

05/12/2026

Be on the lookout; when was the last time you reviewed your security protocols?

**MCSO: HELP LOCATE STOLEN GUNS FROM CARSON HOUSE**

The McDowell County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance in locating several fi****ms stolen this week from the Historic Carson House.

The following fi****ms were reported stolen:
• Percussion rifle with a curly maple stock, Civil War era
• 12-gauge double-barrel shotgun manufactured by Russell Arms Co. in Belgium (approximately 37.5 inches in length with a 9-inch stock)
• 16-gauge rifle dated 1862, missing the forward stock band and ramrod, with the initials “HB” carved into the side
• U.S. Army rifle manufactured in 1896 by Springfield Armory (Serial #24574), approximately 28.5 inches in length with a 16-inch barrel
• 12-gauge single-barrel shotgun from the 1800s, approximately 49 inches in length

Several of these fi****ms date back to (and were used in) the American Civil War and Spanish-American War eras and are considered valuable historical artifacts that were donated by citizens for public education and enjoyment.

Anyone with information regarding the location of these items is asked to contact MCSO Detective Derrick McGinnis at (828) 652-2235, ext.1235 during office hours. You can also call McDowell County Communications at (828) 652-4000 after office hours or submit an anonymous tip through the MCSO app, available for FREE download on both the Apple App and Google Play stores.

Please help us recover these important pieces of history so they can be safely returned.

05/08/2026

05/08/2026