Iredell

Zebulon Vance House
Built approx. 1832-1860, this Greek Revival two-story frame house has partial log construction. It is one of the oldest structures in Statesville. In 1865 it served as headquarters for Governor Zebulon Vance during his exile from the state capitol during the last months of the Civil War. (Statesville was NC's temporary capitol while Raleigh was occupied by Union troops and the Governor was here). The house is now operated as a museum by the United Daughters of the Confederacy and contains many "firsts" to Statesville along with pieces used by Gov. Vance and his family.

Fort Dobbs State Historic Site
Fort Dobbs and North Carolina's role in the French and Indian War (1754-1763) is an important period in North Carolina's colonial history. As the only state historic site associated with the period, Fort Dobbs represents North Carolina's link with a global war for empire that crossed five continents, lasted nearly a decade, and sowed the seeds of independence. The Fort was named for the royal governor of the colony of North Carolina, Arthur Dobbs. Garrisoned by North Carolina Provincial soldiers from 1755 until 1763, the Fort served to guard the frontier of the colony and to protect the settlers from Indian attack. In addition, the soldiers served in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York during the campaigns against the French. Serving as the colony's provincial western frontier company headquarters, Fort Dobbs was attacked February 27, 1760, when more than 60 Cherokee were repulsed.

North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame
The North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame is the official visitor center for Mooresville. The museum features over 35 cars dedicated to all types of auto racing. Visitors can relive racing's greatest moments in the Goodyear Mini-Theatre or simply stroll by the many showcases and displays. The highlight of the exhibit hall is the bronze plaques featuring Hall of Fame inductees. An art gallery featuring many motor sports artists and a gift shop are part of the Hall of Fame as well.

Downtown Statesville Development Corporation
1911 Statesville Train Depot
The 1911 Train Depot commemorates the railroad industry, which brought Statesville's greatest growth period from the 1860's to the 1930's. Housed in the depot is the Land & Legend of Iredell County project, a permanent exhibit which features the art of local high school students. "Land and Legend" depicts forty-eight sites throughout Iredell County as researched and interpreted by the individual artist. Also featured is the art of Iredell County native Robert Gant Steele.

Iredell County Public Library

The Iredell County Public Library Local History Department provides the public with convenient access to genealogical materials and information of local and regional interest. The collection is comprised of over 2,800 reels of microfilm, 6,330 books, 1,687 family history files, 323 local history files, 208 Church history files, 82 North Carolina History Files, and 260 files of papers, and Iredell County Historian Homer Keever's files. The collection also includes scrapbooks of local organizations, maps, and photographs from Iredell County photographers William Jasper Stimson, Benjamin A. Stimson, and Max Tharpe.

Iredell Museums, Inc.
The Children's Museum of Iredell County/The Iredell Museum of Arts and Heritage
The Children's Museum of Iredell County and the Iredell Museum of Arts and Heritage merged into Iredell Museums, Inc. in 2004. The Children's Museum of Iredell County provides the youth of the region with hands-on learning experiences in the arts, in the sciences and about cultures. Programming reflects the museum's mission: "I hear and I forget; I see and I remember; I do and I understand." A permanent rock collection featuring geological formations of the Southeastern United States is also on display. The Iredell Museum of Arts and Heritage is a window into the rich heritage of Iredell County, and is a showplace for the art and artisans who continue to develop their talents in North Carolina. It is home to many interactive events, art shows, living history demonstrations, and educational programs. Located in the 1899 Water Pump Station, the Iredell Museum of Arts and Heritage has been concerned with preserving the past of the Piedmont Region while celebrating the present.

Memory Lane Motorsports and Historical Automotive Museum
Although racecars and racing memorabilia is the primary focus of the museum, the mission of Memory Lane Motorsports and Historical Automotive Museum is to display the history and evolution of transportation. This includes everything from tractors, pedal cars, and airplanes to NASCAR. Memory Lane claims to have one of the largest go-kart collections in the world. The museum also houses movie cans from Leatherheads, Days of Thunder, Color Purple, and dozens of other movies.

Stinson Hall at Woodlawn School
Stinson Hall is Federal-Greek Revival style home built most likely in 1836 by Dr. George Washington Stinson, a planter and trustee of Davidson College and remained in his family in the until the twentieth century. The original structure consisted of 8 rooms on 2 levels off center hallways. The two-and-a-half story staircase features a walnut, spiral-turned handrail believed imported from Charleston. In 1985, a significant, architecturally compatible addition was made to the back of the house, which included a kitchen and breakfast area, bathroom, and wraparound deck. The house was renovated in 2003 for use by the Woodlawn School and dedicated as Stinson Hall in honor of its builder. It serves as the school's administrative offices and is open to the public by appointment.

Fiddler's Grove
Best known as the oldest continuously run family festival preserving traditional American music, Fiddler's Grove also acts as a repository of traditional music and folkways. The Archives building, in its final development, will include the history of the Union Grove Fiddlers Convention from1924 to 1969 and its founder H.P. Van Hoy. The bulk of the archives is the continued history of Fiddler's Grove Ole Time Fiddler's and Bluegrass Festival by Harper Van Hoy 1970 to the present, including audio recordings from 1970 to the present.

Mooresville Museum
The Mooresville Museum is a nonprofit, local organization dedicated to the preservation of regional history & public interests. It is a grassroots endeavor that combines personal, public, & private collaboration for the benefit of providing the public with a tangible repository of items and artifacts of local significance. Public education is a major focus of the efforts of the Mooresville museum.

Museum of Mountain Bike Art & Technology
Many folks won't necessarily see the "art" of the mountain bike, preferring to thing of it strictly as a utilitarian item. As you look through the pictures of the bikes, I believe you will begin to see the art, whether it is as obvious as a paint scheme or as subtle as the radius of a fillet, it is there. The technology is much more obvious when looking at the history of mountain biking. It started with 1930's Schwinn balloon-tired bikes with a mish-mash of converted touring bike and motorcycle parts and has progressed to bikes with five inches of travel front and rear, hydraulic disc brakes and 27 speeds. Along the way, there have been many trends and more than a few mis-steps.