Cashiers Historical Society

10/10/2026

Due to inclement weather, the Cashiers Historical Society campus is closed today, Saturday, October 10.

10/09/2026

We are excited to continue our 2026 Mountain Heritage Lecture series this month with "Election 2026." Join us on Wednesday, October 21, 3:00PM at the Cashiers Historical Society. (Please RSVP for this event: [email protected])

Chris Cooper, a Professor of Political Science at Western Carolina University will lead a discussion of the 2026 election, with particular attention to the electoral environment in North Carolina.

Christopher A. Cooper is Robert Lee Madison Distinguished Professor and Director of the Haire Institute for Public Policy at Western Carolina University. He is the author of Anatomy of a Purple State: A North Carolina Politics Primer, co-author of The Resilience of Southern Identity: Why the South Still Matters in the Minds of its People, co-editor of The New Politics of North Carolina and (all from UNC Press) as well as more than 60 peer reviewed journal articles, and over 100 pieces in news outlets like Politico, the Washington Post, and the Assembly. He has served as an expert witness on elections and voting rights cases and is a frequent source for journalists seeking expertise about American, southern, and North Carolina politics.

10/01/2026

This week, we welcomed local third graders to our campus for our annual Founders Day! 🍎

Founders Day is a cherished tradition that invites students from Blue Ridge School and Summit Charter School to step back in time, reflect on life in the 19th-century, and celebrate our rich cultural heritage. Activities included historic tours of the Zachary-Tolbert House, 19th-century games, a scavenger hunt, apple c***r making using traditional methods, broom making, weaving, and traditional Appalachian “Jack Tales” from a local storyteller.

We look forward to another fun, educational day next year!

📸 2026 Founders Day

09/22/2026

JOIN US TOMORROW AT 3:00 PM!

Our 2026 Mountain Heritage Lecture Series continues with Dr. Jessie Swigger of Western Carolina University, sharing insights from her new book, "Please Touch: A History of the First Four Children’s Museums in the United States (1899–1965)."

PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW LOCATION: This lecture will be held at Crooked Corners Cabin on the CHS campus.

As the only museum in Cashiers, we’re taking a fascinating look at the history of museums themselves — and how the children’s museum movement helped transform the way museums educate, engage, and serve their communities.

When the Brooklyn Children’s Museum opened in 1899, it did something radical: rather than keeping artifacts safely behind glass, the museum invited children to interact with objects firsthand — to “please touch.” That innovative approach helped launch a movement that would influence museums of all kinds.

Dr. Swigger, Professor of History and Director of Public History at Western Carolina University, will explore these pioneering institutions, the women who helped lead them, and their lasting influence on how museums connect with their audiences today.

Free admission for CHS members, $5 suggested donation for non-members

We hope you’ll join us tomorrow for this fascinating look at the history — and future — of the museum experience!

And don’t forget to mark your calendar for our next Mountain Heritage Lecture on Wednesday, October 21: “Anatomy of a Purple State: North Carolina Politics.”

09/18/2026

📣 Attention, Campers! Today is the day!

The Cashiers Historical Society will officially receive an AASLH Award of Excellence for "Campfires & the Embers of Youth," our 2025 exhibit exploring the history of summer camps in western North Carolina!

Today at 12:45 p.m., tune in to watch the awards presentation live. Amelia and Lindsay are in Providence, Rhode Island, at the AASLH & National Council on Public History Joint Annual Meeting to accept the award on behalf of CHS. 🏆

Watch the livestream on the AASLH page. We hope you’ll join in and celebrate this exciting moment with us!

The American Association for State and Local History’s (AASLH) Leadership in History Awards recognize outstanding achievement in the field of state and local history, and we are incredibly honored to see "Campfires & the Embers of Youth" recognized.

https://www.facebook.com/AASLH

09/14/2026

The campfire will be glowing a little brighter this week!

This Friday, Cashiers Historical Society will officially receive an AASLH Award of Excellence for "Campfires & the Embers of Youth,” our 2025 exhibit on the history of summer camps in western North Carolina.

The American Association for State and Local History’s Leadership in History Awards recognize outstanding achievement in the field of state and local history — and we are incredibly proud to see the stories of WNC’s significant summer camp history honored on a national stage. Amelia and Lindsay will be present at the AASLH & National Council on Public History joint national conference this week to accept the award.

Watch the awards ceremony LIVE
Friday, September 18 at 12:45pm ET
Streaming on the AASLH page

We hope you’ll tune in and celebrate with us!

"Campfires & the Embers of Youth" is now a digital exhibit! Be sure to check out the new digital experience at EmbersOfYouth.com.

09/10/2026

Bluegrass, Bourbon, & Beyond was a highlight of this year’s Cashiers Designer Showhouse! This Young Preservationist event, hosted by CHS and sponsored by Cashiers Valley Real Estate, brought the next generation together for an evening filled with live music, bourbon, good friends, and plenty of fun!

A special thanks to The Orchard Restaurant Blade and Bow Bourbon Wh***ey Eli Privette The Highlands Hatter J. Earl & Sons for helping make this evening a success!

09/07/2026

09/02/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Co7M8k16s/

We’re proud to sponsor the 2026 Bluegrass, Bourbon & Beyond, a Young Preservationist Event benefitting the Cashiers Historical Society. 🥃 🎶 Join us this Thursday, September 3 for a festive celebration that brings together our community for great music, good company and an even better cause!

When: Thursday, September 3 from 5 - 8p

Where: The Orchard Restaurant

Presented by the Cashiers Historical Society, don’t miss one of the most fun evenings of the season! Come raise a glass, enjoy a little friendly competition and connect with others who make Cashiers so special. See below for tickets:

https://www.cashiershistory.org/events/c1yviiclfz84a3oxiyjbo1xp2ryt5z

09/02/2026

We’re proud to sponsor the 2026 Bluegrass, Bourbon & Beyond, a Young Preservationist Event benefitting the Cashiers Historical Society. 🥃 🎶 Join us this Thursday, September 3 for a festive celebration that brings together our community for great music, good company and an even better cause!

When: Thursday, September 3 from 5 - 8p

Where: The Orchard Restaurant

Presented by the Cashiers Historical Society, don’t miss one of the most fun evenings of the season! Come raise a glass, enjoy a little friendly competition and connect with others who make Cashiers so special. See below for tickets:

https://www.cashiershistory.org/events/c1yviiclfz84a3oxiyjbo1xp2ryt5z