As a travel writer there are times we visit something that is so surprising, so special, so compelling and so gripping, that we fear we will fail in our motivating others to spend their time and effort to “see if it is really truly that great.”  The Museum of Appalachia is such a place.  What a great place to plan a vacation around!  Visit the Smoky Mountain National Park, Dollywood, Gatlinburg, play golf, fish in the “heart of America’s best crappie country,” fly fish for trout in the mountain streams – in less than 150 mile circle you can find it all!  Fly into Knoxville and rent a car, or bring the RV and use the beautiful camp areas, or lodges and motels.  My special recommendation when flying out is to stay at the  Holiday Inn Express (pictured below) just minutes to the airport (130 Associates Blvd, Alcoa, Tn 37701).  It is one of the most efficiently run, managed, and accommodating motels I have ever stayed in.  The Holiday Inn Express is convenient for an excellent continental breakfast buffet (very good selections) and the catch your plane out.  The Museum of Appalachia is located 16 miles north of Knoxville on I-75—Exit 122; then east 1 mile on Hwy. 61.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Museum of Appalachia, PO Box 1189, Norris, TN 37828 or phone (865) 494-7680 or 494-0514. Lodging information & information on other area attractions may be obtained toll free from the Anderson County Tourism Council, 1-800-524-3602.

The area of Appalachia is one of the vertebras of America’s backbone.  The area produced people strong, tough, and courageous.   There are the high profile people like Davy Crockett, but it also produced a people who made their own brooms and candles, hand built their log cabins, hand farmed their crops and hand built the yokes and harnesses for their animals that pulled the plows.   They made their own preserves, cured their own hams, and canned their own vegetables – not to mention they usually delivered their children without doctors (usually with an area mid-wife), and fought Indians and bears away from their homes when faced with a threat.  Did I forget?  This is the heart of America’s moonshine country – yes, they even made their own whiskey.   These are the independent, hard working, people of Appalachia.

A museum dedicated to the preservation of this “life-style” and history of these outstanding people is located just 16 miles north of Knoxville on I-75, exit 122 in Norris, Tennessee.  It is open the year ‘round except on Christmas Day.  As the Official State of Tennessee Blue Book states, “It is the most authentic and complete replica of the pioneer Appalachian life in the world.” We are talking big – 65 acres large!  Estimated 250,000 pioneer relics and 30 log structures.

It is easy to spend half a day here, but two or three days of careful examination would not be too much time to invest in this unforgettable travel adventure. 

John Rice Irvin , a product of the Appalachian Mountains, is the reason the museum exist.  With his full head of flowing white hair, his Mark Twain aristocratic appearance, his ram-rod-straight posture, he seems “larger than life” in his commanding appearance (pictured with the author), and way more youthful than his seventy-plus years.   One can see the strength of the Appalachian people in his eyes, his posture, and hear it in his voice. 

The museum is evidence of John Rice’s love for the mountain culture, the people, and the land.   A book, The Museum of Appalachia Story by John is available from the museum. 

John Rice spent his boyhood on the area farm, became a teacher, principal, school superintendent, college professor, author, and businessman.  It is amazing that a man with a master’s degree in International Law never ventured far from the mountain area he loved so much.  But, John Rice is an amazing man. 

The “museum” is a complex of some forty buildings that house the tools, musical instruments, life and work of the mountain people.  There is the museum welcome building with products from over 200 local folks, a café, and a great room for special receptions, meetings, etc.   The Appalachian Hall of Fame building could be half a day viewing of its contents alone.  Musical instruments of the mountain people, Indian artifacts, and historical

relics beautifully displayed.

There are original jail cells, barns, houses, leather shop, Mark Twain’s Family Cabin, chicken houses, blacksmith shop, smokehouse, more cabins, corn mill, hog house, the CBS “Dan’l Boon” cabin, a church, a schoolhouse, loom house, outdoor toilet, saw mill, mule pen, gristmill, and more. Each building has appropriate artifacts on display. 

                    Just some of the many special events at the museum each year:

The 2005 Homecoming will be

 October 6, 7, 8, & 9, 2005

The American Bus Association chose it in 1992 and again in 1999 as one of the "Top 100 Events in North America."  The Southeast Tourism Society has voted it as one of the "Top Twenty October Events" in the ten southeastern states for twelve years, and again this year.  The event is often referred to as the most extensive and authentic gathering of old-time musicians and pioneer-type craftspeople in the country.  It features hundreds of people engaged in frontier, mountain, and rural activities, along with over 300 traditional, folk, early country and bluegrass musicians, including such nationally famous folks as Ralph Stanley, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, The Lewis Family, Mac Wiseman, Leroy Troy, Pine Mountain Railroad, The Cluster Pluckers, Raymond Fairchild, Mike Snider, Rhonda Vincent, Sparky Rucker, and many, many more.

Christmas in Old Appalachia

 Beginning on December 4 and continuing throughout the month (except on Christmas Day), the quaint and early farm-type folk village at the Museum of Appalachia will take on the spirit and meaning of an old-time Christmas.  Special decorations on display in the Museum through December 31 will include the Christmas tree in the Little Tater Valley Schoolhouse, which will be adorned with traditional paper chains and other ornaments made by the second-grade pupils of Norris Elementary School.

Museum of Appalachia

P.O. Box 1189

Norris, Tn 37828

Ph. 865 494-7680

e-mail    museumappalachia@bellsouth.net

Happy Traveling