Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center

Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center The Swannanoa Valley Museum preserves and interprets the social, cultural, and natural history of the Swannanoa Valley, a pathway to Western North Carolina.

VALLEY REWIND: This historic photograph, believed to have been taken by W.B. Gragg, shows a picnic at the W.N.C. Sanator...
09/03/2026

VALLEY REWIND: This historic photograph, believed to have been taken by W.B. Gragg, shows a picnic at the W.N.C. Sanatorium on Labor Day, September 4, 1939. The Sanatorium opened in Black Mountain in 1937 to treat tuberculosis patients. The crisp air and mountain views were thought to help those suffering from respiratory illnesses.

Labor Day picnics began as part of the first organized labor protest in New York City on September 5, 1882. Following years of localized labor celebrations, President Grover Cleveland made Labor Day a federal holiday in 1894.

As tuberculosis treatments advanced and cases declined, the role of the W.N.C. Sanatorium changed. Today, the historic property houses the Black Mountain Neuro-Medical Treatment Center.

SIGN UP TODAY FOR THIS EXCLUSIVE GUIDED TOUR! 🦅Cataloochee Valley History TourExplore historic structures like the Palme...
09/02/2026

SIGN UP TODAY FOR THIS EXCLUSIVE GUIDED TOUR! 🦅
Cataloochee Valley History Tour
Explore historic structures like the Palmer Chapel & Cemetery that remain as a testament to the past. Hear stories of the past from local historian John Buckner. Keep an eye out for local wildlife! (Elk Season) 🦌

Thursday, October 15 | 9:00AM–6:00PM
Cataloochee Valley History Tour
Led by John Buckner
Tour starts at Swannanoa Valley Museum (223 W State St., Black Mountain, NC 28711)

$50 for SVM Members | $60 for General Admission | Some fees may apply.
Learn more - Get tickets:
https://history.swannanoavalleymuseum.org/cataloochee-valley-tour/

On Saturday, 17 hikers and leaders hit the trails in GSMNP for an 8.3-mile hike with 1,800 feet of climbing to Charlies ...
09/01/2026

On Saturday, 17 hikers and leaders hit the trails in GSMNP for an 8.3-mile hike with 1,800 feet of climbing to Charlies Bunion. I quickly texted my good buddy Elvis the Elk and asked him to greet us near the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. Elvis was right on time with a few of his girlfriends, some turkeys, and had Buster the Bear standing by in the river up the road.

It turned out to be a beautiful day for a hike with cool temps and intermittent sunshine. We had a great lunch with incredible views in a small area with our group of 17 hikers, a large bachelorette party, some plein air painters, and others. We arrived back at our cars with no rain in sight and a group that was happy to see those bathrooms!

Our day ended at Frog Level Brewing. We celebrated the hike and the fact that the massive rain storm that we drove through on the way back held off until we finished our trek. Great food, great beverages, and great friends!

📆 SEPTEMBER EVENTS AT THE SWANNANOA VALLEY MUSEUMGet your tickets now for these great September events, and stay tuned f...
09/01/2026

📆 SEPTEMBER EVENTS AT THE SWANNANOA VALLEY MUSEUM
Get your tickets now for these great September events, and stay tuned for more from the Swannanoa Valley Museum >> swannanoavalleymuseum.org

🥸 9/10 | 6PM - Hands-on Workshop: Furtive Fashion - Put the craft back in spy craft at this bracelet-making party at the Swannanoa Valley Museum. Sip wine or a mocktail as you make a beaded bracelet that hides a secret message that only you can decipher.

🥾 9/12 | 9AM - Echoes of the Valley Hike #7: Kitsuma Trail - This hike will follow the Kitsuma Trail to a viewpoint boasting sweeping vistas of the Swannanoa Valley, including a breathtaking view of Mt. Mitchell.

🦉 9/16 | 6PM - Animals of the Southern Appalachians (Presentation) - Join an educator from the Friends of the WNC Nature Center, and learn how human activity has shaped local wildlife over time and how conservation continues to influence the Southern Appalachians.

⛰️ 9/19 | 8AM - Rim Hike #9: Buckner's K**b - This 3.3-mile, moderate hike will begin with history and views from the top of Craggy Pinnacle and then a hike to Craggy Flats and back to the Craggy picnic area at Bearpen Gap.

🥃 9/24 | 6PM - The Highlands in the Valley: Whiskey History & Tasting at Oak & Grist - Dr. Dan Pierce takes us from the Scottish Highlands to the Swannanoa Valley and shares his extensive knowledge of the strong history of whiskey distilling in the Appalachians, while Oak & Grist shares some of their finest spirits. Your ticket price includes 1/4-ounce pours of O&G’s 2 core whiskeys and 2 special release bottles.

And more to come!

Explore everything the Swannanoa Valley Museum has to offer with a museum membership. From engaging lectures and hands-o...
08/31/2026

Explore everything the Swannanoa Valley Museum has to offer with a museum membership. From engaging lectures and hands-on workshops to special member perks and local partnerships, your support helps preserve and share the history of Swannanoa for generations to come!

Become a Member:
https://www.history.swannanoavalleymuseum.org/member/



Shop the SVM Gift Shop! 🛍 We offer a variety of gifts for history and hiking buffs, including original photo prints, hat...
08/29/2026

Shop the SVM Gift Shop! 🛍 We offer a variety of gifts for history and hiking buffs, including original photo prints, hats, tote bags, kid-friendly items—and even Beacon factory bricks! New items to the gift shop this month include:

⭐ Black Mountain Activity Book by Judy Barron Williams and Jack Williams, $10

⭐ Leander's Lies, an historical novel by Nancy Werking Poling, $19.99

⭐ 3 new postcard designs of the Swannanoa Valley Museum, $2/each

Get 'em while they're hot! | 223 W State St, Wed-Sat 10-5 | 10% discount for SVM members

There's still time to give! If you'd like to support local history in the making, we welcome you to join the dozens of c...
08/28/2026

There's still time to give! If you'd like to support local history in the making, we welcome you to join the dozens of community members who have donated to the Swannanoa Valley Museum's summer fundraising drive. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a significant difference!

Give on our home page by August 31: https://www.history.swannanoavalleymuseum.org/

GET YOUR TICKETS! 🥃 Whiskey History & Tasting at Oak & Grist | Sept 24 @ 6:00 PMJoin us for an evening learning about th...
08/28/2026

GET YOUR TICKETS! 🥃 Whiskey History & Tasting at Oak & Grist | Sept 24 @ 6:00 PM

Join us for an evening learning about the Scottish Highlands in the Swannanoa Valley. Dr. Dan Pierce shares his extensive knowledge of the strong history of whiskey distilling in the Appalachians, while Oak & Grist shares some of their finest spirits. Your ticket price includes 1/4-ounce pours of O&G’s 2 core whiskeys and 2 special release bottles.

$30 SVM Members | $40 General Admission | Learn more: https://history.swannanoavalleymuseum.org/highlands-in-the-valley/

VALLEY REWIND: On Saturday, August 24, 1974, 95 people were subjected to "monkey business" (as the manager called it) wh...
08/27/2026

VALLEY REWIND: On Saturday, August 24, 1974, 95 people were subjected to "monkey business" (as the manager called it) when they were stranded for upwards of four hours on the chairlift at the Ghost Town in the Sky amusement park in Haywood County. According to the Asheville Citizen-Times article from the following day, it took four rescue squads and two fire departments to bring down everyone safely from their perch.

The incident occurred when "one of four chairs being swung back and forth knocked into a support tower, dislocated the cable rollers, and triggered the automatic stop", according to the article. 16 people were transported to the local hospital to be checked for cuts and bruises. Two women were held overnight at Haywood County Hospital for minor injuries, and one man was admitted to Mission Hospital in Asheville with a broken shoulder and broken bone in his back. The manager anticipated getting the chairlift going again by the following day—or by Monday when the local hardware store opened, if parts were needed.

A series of photos for the article, including this one, were taken by June Glenn, Jr., a staff photographer for the newspaper.

GET YOUR TICKETS! 🎟️ Furtive Fashion: A Coded Bracelet Crafting Session | Sept 10 @ 6:00 PMPut the craft back in spy cra...
08/26/2026

GET YOUR TICKETS! 🎟️ Furtive Fashion: A Coded Bracelet Crafting Session | Sept 10 @ 6:00 PM

Put the craft back in spy craft at this bracelet-making party at the Swannanoa Valley Museum. This espionage-inspired crafting session starts with a brief history of ciphers in spy craft before diving into a casual craft night. Sip wine or a mocktail as you make a beaded bracelet that hides a secret Morse code message that only you and your new friends can decipher. Tickets include wine/mocktails and crafting materials. All proceeds support the Swannanoa Valley Museum! Sponsored by Cherry Tree Beads.

$20 SVM Members | $25 General Admission | Learn more: https://history.swannanoavalleymuseum.org/wnc-hands-on-workshops/

Address

223 W State St
Black Mountain, NC
28711

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+18286699566

Website

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