High Country Life

The High Country is a place where isolation and self-sufficiency shaped people, and many of those skills still live on today. Learn more about its history through museums and exhibits that illuminate its past in imaginative, insightful ways.

Discover Daniel Boone’s legacy through an exhibit tracing his steps throughout Watauga County. In addition, experience slavery on a plantation or admire an impressive collection of Renaissance paintings.

Little Leakey Museum

The Little Leakey Museum provides visitors with a chance to gain insights into Beech Mountain’s rich history through a range of exhibits. Visitors will see artifacts related to Native American tribes in the area as well as migration patterns of European and African settlers into Beech Mountain and how agriculture arose as an industry in Beech Mountain over time. Furthermore, visitors can see herbal remedies used by community members during Beech Mountain’s early days that were widespread at that time.

The Herff Farm Museum, purchased by Ferdinand Herff in 1954, serves as a center for responsible natural conservation practices through education and preservation of historic structures and features on the land. Today, it promotes natural conservation principles through education programs as well as preserving historic features of the landscape such as structures or features of historic significance. Various exhibits explore this theme within the museum while special events or classes focus on sustainable farming practices or natural resource management techniques.

One section of the museum is dedicated to Leakey family’s archaeological work in Olduvai Gorge, featuring an interactive hall dedicated to their excavation process as well as artifacts that illustrate early human evolution. Other collections within this exhibit include Native American artifacts, period clothing and furnishings, musical instruments and military uniforms.

Benalla is an ideal place for discovering Victoria’s High Country’s history and culture, from its heritage to culture. Home of an active artistic scene highlighted by an annual Wall to Wall street art festival in its main square as well as commercial galleries showcasing local artists with distinct styles.

Beech Mountain Museum provides visitors with a glimpse into its historical buildings and landscape. Open Thursday to Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00 pm, admission to this free museum is open to everyone and admission is completely free of charge. Located on Beech Mountain Parkway near Fred’s General Mercantile (for directions call 828-387-HIST). Additionally, this facility houses herb gardens used in herb therapy as well as displays featuring shingles from cypress trees which were an integral part of early economic life in Beech Mountain.

Sabinal Canyon Museum

Utopia Museum in Utopia, Texas is dedicated to documenting both natural and human history of its surrounding Hill Country river region. Geological samples and fossils illustrate its formation; while Native American artifacts and pioneer farm items from Native peoples represent their mark. Additionally, this museum houses a World War II exhibit as well as special events throughout the year.

Kerrville’s Cowboy Artists of America Museum serves as both a cultural center and museum dedicated to Western art, from traditional paintings and bronze sculptures, through ancient Native Americans all the way up until modern-day. Exhibits highlight what makes America unique by providing both historical and cultural context for each piece displayed here.

Kincaid Shelter, situated along Sabinal River, provides us with an insight into prehistoric Western North America. First occupied by Clovis peoples some 13,000 years ago, Kincaid Shelter has yielded many archaeological treasures which demonstrate activities and lifestyles of various groups who passed through over time.

These traces, which include hunting and gathering activities, pottery production, tool reanalysis, and the chance discovery of an intact campsite, provide a window into the lives of those who used this location as an arena for hunts and expeditions. Apache and Lipan Apache tribes used this area as staging grounds until well into the 19th century when settling began taking place there.

Texas Hill Country offers an abundance of recreational activities for visitors. Lakes provide great opportunities for swimming, fishing, tubing and camping while more adventurous visitors can hike, mountain bike or ride horses through the wilderness or visit one of many wineries for tasting tours and dinner. Visitors flock to this extraordinary part of Texas each year in search of both relaxation and adventure while discovering its rich cultural history.

Guadalupe County Museum

Guadalupe County Museum honors and preserves the history of south central Texas’ Guadalupe County with an exhibition that explores its people who developed its rich culture during long isolation from urban centers, along with features commemorative items of Pioneer and Native American heritage.

Early settlers relied heavily on the region’s natural resources to sustain themselves, such as ranches and sheep herders who took advantage of its plentiful wild game.

Seguin County boasts a long and storied past that can be seen through its historic sites scattered throughout. At its core is Seguin, founded by Mormon pioneers in 1860 and home to several original structures like Relic Hall. Visitors can still discover shops, restaurants and galleries along its main street while discovering much of its early charm.

There are various museums open year round that feature an assortment of exhibits. Wilson Potteries’ pottery can be found at the Heritage Museum as well as an exquisite 1869 map created by world renowned cartographer F.H. Arlitt for the General Land Office.

Attractions at the Museum include interactive exhibits which give visitors a sense of what life was like in the Old World during its prime years (1600s-1770s in England, Ireland, Germany and West Africa). Visitors can experience everyday farm household life using this method.

In 1840s Guadalupe County witnessed an influx of German immigrant families during the conflict between the US and Mexico. These pioneering families eventually founded Schumannsville to honor one of their original land grant owners – August Schumann.

Hickory Ridge History Museum’s striking collection of authentic log structures – cabin homes, springhouse, tavern and blacksmith shop – provides a glimpse of life during this period. Living history interpreters demonstrate blacksmithing techniques such as candle making and tomahawk throwing for visitors’ delight. Open year round as the centerpiece of Horn in the West outdoor drama performances, it features its breathtaking collection year-round.

Swamp Fox Museum

Francis Marion, better known as the Swamp Fox during the Revolutionary War, led an unconventional guerilla army through South Carolina to fight off British troops. A visit to this museum will allow visitors to gain more insight into this intriguing patriot and his army.

Exhibits at Marion’s museum aim to recreate life for his men in their environment during and after the American Revolution, including a backwoods cabin and militia shacks used by Marion’s militia – including an 18th century powder horn owned by one of Marion’s trusted soldiers – as well as artifacts including portraits of him and a reproduction of his tattered uniform, including letters sent between Marion and his wife and father-in-law during this period. Furthermore, visitors will discover an array of documents related to American Revolution such as letters between Marion and his wife/father-in-law; such as letters between Marion himself and himself during this period as well as documents including letters between Marion himself and others, among other important individuals such as letters sent between himself and father-in-law concerning events of significance during that era that date back from this era that tell us of such historic figures like himself that we know as generals such as these that we know so little of history from this era that we know of that period (s). Visitors can see an authentic backwoods cabin and militia shack used during that era that used their militia soldiers included an 18th century powder horn belonging to one of Marion’s trusted soldiers as well as artifacts such as portrait of general and reproduction of his uniform used during that tatter than others as well as documents regarding that period (such as letters sent between himself and his wife or mother-in-law). Finally there’s lots of documentation related to it that period as e.

Visitors to the museum can also read about South Carolina General Francis Marion from an original newspaper article, while among its prized possessions is an original manuscript of “Battle of Camden,” thought to have been written by Marion himself and preserved by the museum for posterity. Regular tours as well as special events like Swamp Fox Festival can also be scheduled through regular opening hours at this space.

The museum’s impressive fireproof building has withstood both war, an earthquake in Charleston and the passage of time with flying colors. Designed by famed architect Robert Mills and built to withstand any potential natural disaster, its timeless structure remains part of our state’s historical collection and will reopen September 22, 2018 after extensive renovation.

Francis Marion may be best remembered as an underrated revolutionary hero due to his mysterious background and limited battle experience, yet his cunning and resourcefulness helped keep the American Revolution alive in the South. Boston’s Museum of American Revolution offers an extensive display dedicated to him.

Although many visitors may know of the legend of the Swamp Fox, few realize he was real person. The museum features artifacts belonging to this legendary general including his tattered uniform from when he died and detailed notes written by one of Marion’s comrades Colonel William Horry that give visitors an accurate impression of him and his revolutionary tactics.