The Wilkes Heritage Museum

08/26/2026

ATTN: NEW HOURS FOR HERITAGE MUSEUM

Beginning September 1st, 2026, the Wilkes Heritage Museum will implement new operating hours.
Sunday - CLOSED
Monday - CLOSED
Tuesday - CLOSED
Wednesday - 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Thursday - 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Friday - 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Saturday - 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

We will also close for any major holidays and in the event of any inclement weather.

Thank you for your understanding and support. We hope you will continue to support us in preserving and sharing Wilkes County Heritage.

08/24/2026

Courtesy Notice:

The cutoff date to submit a Veteran Brick application to be included in the 2026 Brick Dedication Ceremony will be Wednesday, September 2, 2026. Applications submitted after this date will be included in the 2027 ceremony. Thank you!

08/19/2026

Beginning in September, "Genealogy Mondays" is becoming "Ask a Genealogist". It's the same great opportunity to learn more about your local ancestors, but now it's available by appointment Wednesday through Saturday during museum hours from 10am to 4pm. Email [email protected] to set up a time to dig deeper into your family tree at the museum.

08/13/2026

There are still spots available for this Saturday's Candlelight Ghost Tours of Wilkes! Call us today to reserve your spot!

08/04/2026

We hope you will join us this evening for an author talk with Jason Duncan!

Join us for a presentation by Jason Duncan on his new book "Wilkesboro - The First 50 Acres" on Tuesday, August 4 at 6:30pm. He will discuss the creation of the town and its early history by telling the story through maps, county documents, and historic photos. Free admission.

Learn why the county went 23 years without a county seat until William Lenoir laid out streets for the new town in 1800. Learn about Joel Vannoy's Mansion Hotel of the 1830s. Discover the location of the 1818 jail which preceded the 1859 jail that is part of the museum tour.

07/25/2026

Down to our last 30 minutes. We have peach cupcakes, lemon bars, and two pound cakes left. If you have a sweet tooth and are looking for something sweet stop by before 3pm!

Cupcakes are $4 but if you’d like to buy three for $10 or twenty for $60 let us know!

Lemon bars are $1.25.

Pound cakes $45 each.

07/22/2026

It's Peach Festival time! 🍑 We will be open for FREE during the Brushy Mountain Peach and Heritage Festival this Saturday, July 25th, 2026 with special hours from 8:00 am until 3:00 pm. This is the perfect opportunity to escape from the heat and tour all three of our historic properties to learn about our rich history here in Wilkes County. In addition to free tours, we will also have a free musical performance upstairs in our Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame Auditorium from 11:00 am - 12:00 pm. To sweeten the deal even further, we will also be having a bake sale all day selling homemade baked goodies as a fundraiser for the museum! It is going to be an awesome day and we hope you and your family will join us for the fun! 🍑

07/16/2026

Join us for a presentation by Jason Duncan on his new book "Wilkesboro - The First 50 Acres" on Tuesday, August 4 at 6:30pm. He will discuss the creation of the town and its early history by telling the story through maps, county documents, and historic photos. Free admission.

Learn why the county went 23 years without a county seat until William Lenoir laid out streets for the new town in 1800. Learn about Joel Vannoy's Mansion Hotel of the 1830s. Discover the location of the 1818 jail which preceded the 1859 jail that is part of the museum tour.

07/15/2026

There are still spots available for our Ghost Tour this coming Saturday, July 18th! Call and reserve your spot before they're gone!

07/10/2026

We’re excited to see everyone at tomorrow’s Concert in the Commons. We will be selling beer, wine, & water as a fundraiser for museum operating expenses. We hope you'll come out and have fun, fellowship with the community, and support a great cause! Our booth is located on the North Bridge Street.