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Sharing Mountain Stories Across the Region

The Mountain Heritage Center extends its mission beyond campus by offering traveling exhibitions that celebrate the people, traditions, and landscapes of Southern Appalachia. These exhibits bring mountain culture to life in libraries, museums, and community centers across Western North Carolina, helping to spark conversation, preserve heritage, and build connections.

Interested in Hosting a Traveling Exhibition?

Organizations interested in hosting a traveling exhibition from the Mountain Heritage Center can get started by emailing Director Amber C. Albert. Please include the exhibition title in the subject line, along with your preferred dates and your organization’s 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.

Ģ������ƵMountain Heritage Center's Traveling Exhibitions

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—and against—women’s right to vote. The exhibition places the local movement within the broader national context through panels developed by the Smithsonian and the National Archives.

While the amendment marked a major victory, it did not guarantee full civic participation for all. The exhibit also connects past to present, featuring the 2016 student-led effort to establish an early voting site at Ģ������Ƶfor both students and the wider community.

Here is a timeline of national and local events before and immediately after passage of the 19th Amendment. Brochure created by Autumn Chandler (History, '21).

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” x 36” text panels, two 24” x 36” photos, four 30” x 45” photos, and one 40” x 60” photo. 

Decoration Day: sample panel

Our State Dog: North Carolina’s Plott Hound

Plott Hounds tells the story of the only dog breed officially recognized as originating in the state. Raised in the U.S. for over 250 years, Plott Hounds trace their roots from Germany to the mountains of Western North Carolina, earning 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” x 36”), and one with framed, rigid panels (31” x 37”). The framed exhibit travels in a wooden crate (approximate weight 200 lbs.).

Plott Hounds: sample Panel

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” x 72”), four text panels (24” x 36”), four large-format photo panels (32” x 22”), plus one map (24” x 29”) and one photo (18” x 24”) mounted on foam core board.

Horace KepharT sample

When All God’s Children Get Together

When All God’s Children Get Together celebrates the lives, music, and enduring legacy of African-American communities in far western North Carolina. Based on Ann Miller Woodford’s acclaimed book 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” x 26”), plus one map (23” x 36”) 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’ cooperative in the United States, founded in 1946 in Cherokee, NC. Known worldwide for the artistry, design, and durability of Cherokee crafts, Qualla Arts & Crafts Mutual, Inc. has preserved traditional techniques while fostering creativity and innovation among its members.

The traveling exhibit consists of nine text panels (24” x 36”), 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