At Gaston County Museum, there's always something old and a lot that's new!  You can also plan your next special event or wedding at our historic building — call Jeff Pruett for details (704.922.7681 Ext. 105). Click for our rental brochure for the museum.

July 10 — Drop-in Day Camp — A Day in the Lfe of an Antebellum Child
Gaston County Museum will host its fifth Drop-in Day Camp of the year Thursday, July 10 at the museum. The theme of this year’s Drop-in Day Camp is “A Day in the Life of an Antebellum Child.” Each day campers will experience a different aspect of life in the 19th century. The headline for the July 10 Drop-in Day Camp is Discovering Freedom in the South. Campers will learn about slavery through the interpretation of Kitty Wilson-Evans (nationally recognized African American Interpreter at Historic Brattonsville). In addition to learning about slavery, children will also make toss toys and herb bags. This program is free and open to children ages 5-years-old to 12-years-old. The July 10 program will run from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Parents are asked to have their children to the museum 10 to 15 minutes early for orientation. Parents are encouraged to visit the museum during the program or even join in with the campers. Snacks will be provided for campers as well.

NC History Bowl
The first annual 8th Grade North Carolina History Bowl was held at the Gaston County Museum of Art & History on April 25. Three local schools competed – Holbrook Middle School, Grier Middle School, and John Chavis Middle School. The competition was double-elimination and the outcome included – 1st Place – Holbrook Middle School, 2nd Place – John Chavis Middle School, 3rd Place – Grier Middle School. The 1st Place team shown below is from Holbrook Middle School. The students are (back row) – Lauren Rogers, Taylor Watts, Chandler Gibbs (front row) – Eric Wilson, Abbey Walsh. Congratulations goes out to all those that participated. Many thanks!
t

Gaston College Visual Art Club Juried Art Show — Reflections in Red will be displayed at the Gaston County Museum until July 12, 2008.

Each year the GCVAC hosts a juried contemporary art show that includes sculptures, ceramics, photographs, illustrations, prints, videos and digital art. This will mark the second year that the Gaston County Museum and the GCVAC have collaborated on this show. Their goal is to create exhibitions that feature local artists and students within a larger contemporary context. The dialogue between local and regional artists created by the show is critical to the success of our local arts community. This dialogue plays a key role in positioning Gaston County as an important regional artists’ community.

Carolinas Textile Exhibit   Discover how cotton textile manufacturing transformed the Carolinas. Sights and sounds of the past combine with original objects, such as the world's longest running, original Edison generator (1884), the Loray Mill whistle, a ball gown and baseball uniform, to bring the history of the Carolinas to life.

Daniel Stowe Carriage House  Imagine life before automobiles. See sleighs, drays and buggies -- the largest collection of horse-drawn vehicles exhibited in North Carolina!


1852 Hoffman Hotel  Notice the details - handmade brick, heart of pine floors, old glass set in 9-over-9s windows, and the simple Greek revival architectural style of our main building, constructed in 1852. Visit hotel rooms and parlors to see authentic period furnishings. 

The Museum's Collections
The museum, accredited by the American Association of Museums, holds in trust for current and future generations over 5,000 objects,  20,000 documents, over 400,000 photos which span the period from the 1500s through the 20th Century.  As a federally designated 501c3 organization, the museum gratefully accepts donations to support its exhibits, programs, research, preservation and public interpretation.

Hours/Address/InfoLine
Gaston County Museum of Art & History is open Tuesday thru Friday from 10am - 5pm, Saturday from 12 - 4 pm and every 1st Sunday from 2 - 5 pm. The museum is wheelchair and stroller accessible and admission is free. Gaston County Museum is located at 131 West Main Street in Dallas, NC. For more information about exhibits, programs and events, call the 24-hour info-line at (704)922-7681, #2.

Check out our calendar of events.

Special Event Planner — click to find out about using our attractive facilities, completed with a full kitchen, for your next business dinner, party, reception or other special event.

Tour Planner —
Click to find out how we can help you and your out-of-town group arrange visits: from discounted hotel rooms to attractions to special tours to restaurant reservations.

Map/Directions

UPCOMING EVENTS
July 6 – Preserving Your Textiles –– 3:00 PM – 4:00 –– PM Free Program
Do you have textile treasures that you love but don’t know how to take care of? Are you trying to preserve your family quilts, christening gowns, wedding dresses, or other important textile heirlooms? Is there a veteran in your family that has a commemorative or historic flag or uniform that needs to be taken care of properly? Then join us as Curator Aimee Russell discusses strategies and techniques as well as the proper materials to care for these priceless items. Come join us for this unique program!

July 11 – 10th Annual Blues out Back – Geoff Achison – 6:30 – 8:00 PM – FREE
Bring your lawn chairs and join the Gaston County Museum for the second free Blues Out Back concert of the summer from 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM featuring Geoff Achison. Hailing from rural Victoria, Australia, bluesman Achison has forged an international career for himself playing his 'Souldiggin' brand of R&B music. His bare bones solo-acoustic gigs feature a punchy mix of stripped down ballads, blues and rockers.

The tenth annual “Blues out Back” concert series sponsored by First National Bank is free and open to the public. It’s held the second Friday of the month from May until September. The museum encourages folks to bring along blankets, lawn chairs, and a picnic for an evening of great music with friends and family.

Some Informational Links
Charlotte Regional History
   Consortium
Gaston-Lincoln Regional Library 
NC Business History  
NC Dept. of Cultural Resources
NC ECHO 
NC Museums Council 
NC Office of Archives & History