Heritage Gallery

After a year of planning and interior renovation, the Heritage Gallery opened on April 26th, 2008, exhibiting well over 200 artifacts native to Western North Carolina and specifically the Tryon area, some dating back a far as 1775. Most of the work was loaned to the gallery by private collectors who were anxious for visitors to be able share in the arts and crafts heritage of the area.

Close to 200 visitors attended the Open House and were amazed by the transformation of the interior from the “school cafeteria” to the Heritage Gallery and Gift Shop. One attendee said, “In addition to a school that teaches arts and crafts, we have a gallery that will attract visitors to see what contributions our area has made to the arts and crafts movement over the years.”

Sue Monroe, Tryon Arts and Crafts Member and Gallery Committee volunteer, in charge of procuring artifacts for the exhibit said, “The most interesting part of my job was discovering what treasures people have saved or collected and almost everyone I spoke with gave me the name of someone else who had things they were willing to share with us and in turn with visitors to the gallery.”

On display are animals, dolls and tiny pieces of furniture from the original Tryon Toy- Makers and Wood Carvers, including a small version of Morris, made by Eleanor Vance, an original founder of the Tryon Toy-Makers.

Cherokee artifacts include a large collection of pottery by Maude Welch and several collections of arrowheads, tomahawks, dolls and baskets. The Pisgah Forest pottery includes a pitcher featuring a fine example of cameo or pate sur pate embellishment.

Rounding out the current exhibit are original forged work tools and kitchen tools, quilts, wovens, furniture, musical instruments and paintings by local artists.

Our heritage arts and crafts gallery is supported by grants from The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area and the Unrestricted Fund at the Polk County Community Foundation.

We are accepting heritage arts and crafts pieces for display in our gallery. A donated item is tax-deductible, as we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. Your treasured heritage craft items could also be received “on loan”, for exhibit. Contact us for more information.

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