Traveling Exhibits
MHC Traveling Exibits
The Mountain Heritage Center extends its mission beyond campus by offering traveling exhibitions that celebrate the people, traditions, and landscapes of Southern Appalachia. By bringing mountain culture to life in libraries, museums, and community centers across Western North Carolina, the Center aims to spark conversation, preserve heritage, and build connections.
Organizations interested in hosting a traveling exhibition from the Mountain Heritage Center may email Interim Director Peter Koch. Please include your preferred exhibition title in the subject line, along with your preferred dates and your organization鈥檚 name in the message.
In addition to a rental fee, borrowing organizations are responsible for insuring and transporting the exhibit to and from their venue. Upon request, MHC staff can assist with digital marketing and programming ideas. Delivery and installation services are also available for an additional charge.
Rightfully Ours: Women's Suffrage in Western North Carolina
Rightfully Ours explores the story of the 19th Amendment in Western North Carolina, highlighting the individuals who fought for鈥攁nd against鈥攚omen鈥檚 right to vote. The exhibit connects past to present, also featuring the student-led effort to establish an early voting site at 蘑菇短视频in 2016.
Using panels developed by both the Smithsonian and the National Archives, the exhibition places the local movement within the broader national context
The exhibit, printed on coroplast, consists of 10 24鈥� x 36鈥� text panels. Optional elements are 3 modern cloth banners and support assemblies, 2 modern 鈥淰otes for Women鈥� sashes, 2 鈥淰otes for Women鈥� pennants, and 2 sections of red, white, and blue bunting.
Decoration Day in the Mountains
Decoration Day in the Mountains explores a cherished Appalachian tradition where families gather each spring to honor loved ones by cleaning and decorating graves with flowers. Blending reverence and celebration, these events include prayer, singing, shared meals, and storytelling.
Based on the book by Alan and Karen Jabbour, this traveling exhibit highlights Decoration Day customs across the region, with a special focus on the North Shore of Fontana Lake in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The exhibit, printed on sintra, consists of twelve 30鈥� x 36鈥� text panels, two 24鈥� x 36鈥� photos, four 30鈥� x 45鈥� photos, and one 40鈥� x 60鈥� photo.
Our State Dog: North Carolina鈥檚 Plott Hound
Plott Hounds tells the story of the only dog breed officially recognized as having originated in North Carolina. Bred and raised in the U.S. for over 250 years, Plott Hounds trace their roots from Germany to the mountains of Western North Carolina. Throughout the years, they have earned a reputation as fearless hunting dogs and, more recently, celebrated show dogs.
The exhibit includes one introductory panel, twelve interpretive panels, a credit panel, and three large-format photographs that bring their legacy to life. Two versions are available, one printed on flexible vinyl panels with corner grommets (30鈥� x 36鈥�), and one with framed, rigid panels (31鈥� x 37鈥�). The framed exhibit travels in a wooden crate (approximate weight 200 lbs.).
Horace Kephart in the Great Smoky Mountains
Horace Kephart in the Great Smoky Mountains follows the journey of a 42-year-old librarian who arrived in Western North Carolina in 1904 seeking a new beginning in the Appalachian wilderness. Over the next 27 years, Kephart documented mountain life through his writing, offered practical guidance for outdoor living, and played a key role in the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The exhibit, printed on flexible vinyl panels, consists of one title banner (68鈥� x 72鈥�), four text panels (24鈥� x 36鈥�), four large-format photo panels (32鈥� x 22鈥�), plus one map (24鈥� x 29鈥�) and one photo (18鈥� x 24鈥�) mounted on foam core board.
When All God鈥檚 Children Get Together
When All God鈥檚 Children Get Together celebrates the lives, music, and enduring legacy of African-American communities in far western North Carolina. Based on Ann Miller Woodford鈥檚 acclaimed book of the same title and curated in partnership with the Mountain Heritage Center, the exhibit highlights the vital roles of churches, schools, and workplaces in shaping community identity and cultural expression.
The exhibit, printed on Coroplast, consists of one title panel, twelve text panels, and one credit panel (all 36鈥� x 26鈥�), plus one map (23鈥� x 36鈥�) and four large format photos (various sizes) mounted on foam core board.
All God's Children: Sample Panel
Qualla Arts & Crafts Mutual
Qualla Arts & Crafts: Tradition and Innovation highlights the legacy of the oldest Native American artists鈥� cooperative in the United States. Founded in 1946 in Cherokee, NC, the coop is known worldwide for artistry, design, and durability. To this day, Qualla Arts & Crafts Mutual, Inc. continues to preserve traditional crafting techniques while fostering creativity and innovation among its members.
The traveling exhibit consists of nine text panels (24鈥� x 36鈥�), a 60-minute video featuring 5-minute artist interviews, plus educational materials for school groups. An expanded version of this exhibit, with additional large format photographs and approximately 60 artifacts, is available for travel.
Qualla Arts & Crafts Mutual: Sample Panel