McDowell

Historic Carson House
The Historic Carson House, built in 1793 by Colonel John Carson and home of the Carson family until well after the Civil War, is restored and maintained by the Carson House, Inc. for the education and enjoyment of the public. Collections include period furnishings, ornaments, and textiles, some items original to the house and the Carson family, manuscripts and vertical files on the history of the house, the Carson Family, the Greenlee family, and other topics of local historical and genealogical interest.

Mountain Gateway Museum
The Mountain Gateway Museum showcases mountain lifestyle and history from the earliest original inhabitants through the settlement period and into the twentieth century. Museum highlights include an introductory video presentation, self-guided tours, living history exhibits, collections of photographs, tools, and housewares, rotating and traveling exhibits, educational programs, festivals, two 19th century log cabins moved to the site, an outdoor amphitheater, and a picnic area. The museum is located in a beautiful 1936 WPA stone community building on the banks of historic Mill Creek. In addition to its dedication to promoting knowledge of Appalachia's history through collections, exhibits, and preservation work, the Mountain Gateway Museum also operates an innovative Museum Service Center that offers professional support to regional private museums, historic house museums, and cultural institutions.

Emerald Village
North Carolina Mining Museum
Emerald Village and its North Carolina Mining Museum explore the history, heritage, and lore of the mining industry of the North Carolina mountains. The large North Carolina Mining Museum is located adjacent to and inside the historic Bon Ami Mine and features a general mining history exhibit, information on the minerals extracted and their uses, authentic mining equipment, and fascinating information on the Bon Ami Mine and Bon Ami Company. Also at Emerald Village additional museum displays exhibit quilts, and tobacco and other manufacturing advertisements and products, and visitors can enjoy a small Antique Music Museum, a mountain homestead farm exhibit, a Gallery of Minerals, and other changing exhibits.

Old Fort Railroad Depot Museum
The Old Fort Railroad Depot Museum collects and exhibits artifacts, memorabilia, ephemera, and other material related to the history of the Old Fort Depot, the history of the Southern Railway Company, and the history of the town of Old Fort. The McDowell Tourism Development Authority operates a visitor center in the depot assisting visitors and train enthusiasts through the railroad museum portion of the building. Open Monday - Saturday between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm.

McDowell County Public Library
North Carolina Collection/Abe Simmons Room
The North Carolina Collection/Abe Simmons Room at the McDowell County Public Library in Marion provides researchers with a great many secondary and primary sources for the study of North Carolina, regional, and McDowell County history and genealogy. This special collection is particularly strong in local historic photographs; local resources of limited publication such as high school yearbooks, city directories, and family histories; and state documents concerning the gem and mineral mining industry in the local area.