Two Gaffney Museums Preserve Area History
The picturesque town of Gaffney, in the Upcountry of South Carolina, has a rich history spanning two centuries. Michael Gaffney, an Irish immigrant who established a tavern at a crossroads here in the early 1800s, is credited as the founding father of the town. However, there were white settlers in the area before the time of the American Revolution. At that time the Upcountry was considered frontier. The community of Gaffney grew during the 19th century as people were attracted to the area by the mineral springs that were thought to have healing properties. Limestone College, established in Gaffney in 1845, brought adittional residents to the area. A limestone quarry and the textile industry provided jobs into the 20th century.
Today the area is a major peach producing region of the state.
The Cherokee County History and Arts Museum chronicles the history of Gaffney and the surrounding area. It was recently named a Blue Star Museum by the National Endowment for the Arts. The museum presents interactive displays in its four permanent exhibit galleries. Permanent exhibits begin with Native Americans, who inhabited the area before the white settlers. The museum chronicles the Revolutionary War and the battles at Cowpens and Kings Mountain that were fought nearby. Other exhibits cover the geology of the Upstate, the textile industry that was once a major employer in the area, and peach production and other agriculture in the region. The museum hosts special exhibits and programs throughout the year. The exhibit €Eyewitness to 9/11: From Tragedy to Transformation€ is scheduled to run from August 25-September 17, 2011. The Cherokee County History and Arts Museum is housed in a former school at 301 College Drive. Visitors should follow the directional signs towards Limestone College. The museum is open Wednesday-Friday from 10am-4pm and Saturday from 2pm-5pm. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children under the age of 12.
Just down the street on the campus of Limestone College is the Winnie Davis Museum of History. This small museum focuses on Southern history as well as the history of the college. The museum is housed in historic Winnie Davis Hall, a 1904 building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Gothic Revival style structure reopened in April 2011 after an extensive $4.8 million restoration that took 18 months to complete. Visitors may want to walk through the campus and view the eight other historic buildings that are listed on the National Register.
Cherokee County and the city of Gaffney are committed to preserving and honoring their past. These two museums are part of that effort and are worth a visit.
Today the area is a major peach producing region of the state.
The Cherokee County History and Arts Museum chronicles the history of Gaffney and the surrounding area. It was recently named a Blue Star Museum by the National Endowment for the Arts. The museum presents interactive displays in its four permanent exhibit galleries. Permanent exhibits begin with Native Americans, who inhabited the area before the white settlers. The museum chronicles the Revolutionary War and the battles at Cowpens and Kings Mountain that were fought nearby. Other exhibits cover the geology of the Upstate, the textile industry that was once a major employer in the area, and peach production and other agriculture in the region. The museum hosts special exhibits and programs throughout the year. The exhibit €Eyewitness to 9/11: From Tragedy to Transformation€ is scheduled to run from August 25-September 17, 2011. The Cherokee County History and Arts Museum is housed in a former school at 301 College Drive. Visitors should follow the directional signs towards Limestone College. The museum is open Wednesday-Friday from 10am-4pm and Saturday from 2pm-5pm. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children under the age of 12.
Just down the street on the campus of Limestone College is the Winnie Davis Museum of History. This small museum focuses on Southern history as well as the history of the college. The museum is housed in historic Winnie Davis Hall, a 1904 building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Gothic Revival style structure reopened in April 2011 after an extensive $4.8 million restoration that took 18 months to complete. Visitors may want to walk through the campus and view the eight other historic buildings that are listed on the National Register.
Cherokee County and the city of Gaffney are committed to preserving and honoring their past. These two museums are part of that effort and are worth a visit.
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