It has long been acknowledged that Asheville is North Carolina’s cultural center. The medium-sized mountain town is an excellent starting point for discovering the region’s rich history as well as internationally renowned music and art. Luckily, Asheville offers distinctive art and history in addition to being home to the third-oldest museum in the state.

Whether you’re planning a family vacation or are simply passing through, Asheville has a lot of excellent museums to visit.

Also Read: 29 Activities in and Around Sylva, NC

MUSEUMS IN ASHEVILLE NC

We’ve put together this list of all our favorites, which includes museums devoted to science, art, history, and children, to help you explore all of the best museums. We’ve also included a list of excellent museums in surrounding towns as well as responses to some frequently asked questions.

1. ASHEVILLE ART MUSEUM

2 South Pack Square, Asheville, NC 28801

The Asheville Art Museum is a wonderful museum that features art from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The museum has three levels dedicated to exhibiting works by local, national, and international artists. Visitors can also participate in community-building art-related programs for adults and children.

2. ASHEVILLE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE

43 Patton Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801

There are numerous family-friendly displays at the Asheville Museum of Science, but for children two to twelve years old, it offers an amazing interactive learning experience. Visitors may enjoy interactive displays such as dinosaur exhibitions, climbing structures, a large gem collection, baby play areas, and much more in the heart of downtown Asheville.

3. ASHEVILLE MUSEUM OF HISTORY

283 Victoria Road, Asheville, NC 28801

Situated just outside of Asheville’s downtown is the magnificent 1840s brick building that now houses the Asheville Museum of History. It is one of the city’s oldest still-standing residences and is the repository of various relics and historical items from Western North Carolina.

The museum has five galleries with both ongoing and one-time exhibits. Both virtual and guided tours of the house’s intriguing historical displays are available. Kids under five go in free, and it’s a terrific spot to visit while you’re in the region.

4. ASHEVILLE PINBALL MUSEUM

1 Battle Square, Suite 1B, Asheville, NC 28801

The Asheville Pinball Museum is a unique “all-you-can-play” pinball museum including over 75 antique, original arcade games and pinball machines. During their games, visitors may buy food, beer, and other beverages from the museum.

The Pinball Museum may get crowded, especially in the summer, so first come, first served. The play is $15 per person and goes all day.

5. MOOGSEUM

56 Broadway Street (Front), Asheville, North Carolina 28801

One of the most well-known pioneers of electronic music was American engineer Bob Moog. Through an immersive electrical dome, scientific experiments, interactive displays, and experience learning, the Moogseum achieves its objective.

This one-of-a-kind museum will offer an unparalleled experience, with activities suitable for all age levels. It is strongly advised that you buy your Moogseum tickets online well in advance of your visit.

An hour can be spent perusing the exhibits with a ticket, except time spent shopping at the museum store. Children under seven are admitted free of charge.

6. ESTES-WINN ANTIQUE CAR MUSEUM

111 Grovewood Road, Asheville, NC 28804

The Estes-Winn Antique Vehicle Museum is home to Asheville’s sole collection of antique cars. It features classic autos owned by Harry D. Bloomberg and vintage vehicles from the 1920s.

The museum is housed in a 1920s Biltmore Industries building that still has some of its original wood floors. The Estes-Winn Antique Car Museum is free to enter year-round, while donations of $5 are suggested. It’s closed from January to March.

7. BLACK MOUNTAIN COLLEGE MUSEUM + ARTS CENTER ADDRESS: 120 COLLEGE ST, ASHEVILLE, NC 28801

From 1933 to 1957, Black Mountain College functioned as a center for education that promoted community development and the arts. These days, the organization serves as a hybrid history museum, an art museum, and a venue for performance art.

Visitors may view both temporary and permanent art displays made by local artists in addition to historical aspects. While there is no charge to attend the museum and center, donations are always welcomed.

8. THE BILTMORE ESTATE

1 Lodge Street, Asheville, NC 28803

The Biltmore Estate is Asheville, North Carolina’s oldest and most famous residence. The French Renaissance-style castle, which was constructed in 1895, has 250 apartments and exquisitely designed grounds. The majestic estate, which spans more than 8,000 acres, is the ideal location for learning about and exploring Asheville’s history.

Visitors may enjoy the gardens in addition to the approximately 20 miles of hiking and cycling paths that round the property. The mansion is open for visits every day, and if you’re lucky, there could be an art exhibit or seasonal show going on during the winter.

On the Biltmore Estate, reservations can also be made for lodging at The Inn, Village Hotels, or Cottages. The Biltmore Estate is not to be disregarded.

9. ASHEVILLE WORLD OF RADIO

WPVM Studios is located at 34 Wall St, Suite 407, Asheville, NC 28801.

Asheville World of Radio, located in the heart of Asheville’s downtown, is the city’s oldest radio station. Along with keepsakes, photos, and other items, visitors may peruse an extensive collection of old radios and records. Tours can be scheduled.

10. BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY VISITOR CENTER

Asheville, NC 28803, 195 Hemphill Knob Rd

If this is your first trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway, you’re in for a treat. This amazing 469-mile trip provides unparalleled views as it travels across the Blue Ridge Mountains.

This information center has displays of the animals and Western North Carolina’s natural environs in addition to maps and trails around the area. There’s a 1.5-mile loop around the center for younger children.

11. THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN RADIO MUSEUM

A B Tech College, Elm Building, Room 315, 27 Tech Dr, Asheville, NC 28801

The little Southern Appalachian Radio Museum is located on the Asheville-Buncombe Technical College campus in the Elm Building.

Excellent historical exhibits in the museum follow the evolution of radio from its conception through the 1960s and beyond. Tours need a $5 reservation fee. If not, everyone can enter for free.

12. FOLK ART CENTER

382 Blue Ridge Parkway, Asheville, NC 28805

The Folk Art Centre is located at milepost 382 directly off the Blue Ridge Parkway. This historic hub for arts and crafts houses antiques, paintings, photos, and other artifacts from the Appalachian region. Inside the building are exhibition spaces, a library, and an arts and crafts center.

13. THOMAS WOLFE MEMORIAL STATE HISTORIC SITE

52 N Market St, Asheville, NC 28801.

The Thomas Wolfe Memorial State Park includes both the writer’s home and the Old Kentucky boarding house where he was raised. This well-known monument tells the history of Asheville using a variety of materials, including books, artifacts, ancient antiques, and photos. A tour of the home is available for $5 (or free for children under six).

14. GROVEWOOD VILLAGE

111 Grovewood Road, Asheville, NC 28804

Grovewood Village is a little neighborhood of unspoiled beauty in Asheville, as well as a major historical monument. The Village’s 11 acres capture everything that makes Asheville special and lovely.

Visitors may stroll inside to view historical, artistic, and other exhibits that aptly depict Asheville, in addition to visiting the grounds. Grovewood Village may be viewed for free. Contributions, however, are accepted at the Estes-Winn Antique Car Museum.

MUSEUMS NEAR ASHEVILLE NC

While Asheville offers enough, there are also some fantastic sites to visit in the surrounding cities. Plan time for these while you’re in the city.

🏛️ HANDS-ON! – A CHILD’S GALLERY

318 N Main St, Hendersonville, NC 28792.

Grab hold of some dirt! With its distinctive interactive exhibits that allow children to explore and play, it’s one of the best museums for families. These fascinating exhibits combine play, science, art, and music for kids under twelve.

When it’s raining outside, this is a terrific place to take the kids to play and let off some steam. It will take you around thirty minutes to get to Asheville.

🏛️ SWANNANOA VALLEY MUSEUM AND HISTORY CENTER

223 W State St, Black Mountain, NC 28711.

The general history museum for Buncombe County is called Swannanoa Valley Museum, and it is located in a firehouse from 1921 in the center of Black Mountain, North Carolina. In addition to talking about local history, the museum hosts at least one significant temporary exhibition annually to provide the community with something new and engaging.

The Swannanoa Valley Museum does not charge admission, however donations are accepted.

🏛️ OCONALUFTEE VISITOR CENTER | FARM MUSEUM

1194 Newfound Gap Road, Cherokee, NC 28719

The Oconaluftee Guests Centre offers a plethora of resources and information about the region. It is the first visitor center constructed in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park since 1960. Once a Cherokee Village, this site now acts as the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The museum has a variety of historical antiques and artifacts that honor and provide light on the life of Cherokee Native Americans in addition to the typical park exhibits. Additionally, visitors may explore the on-site Farm Museum, which has a painstakingly rebuilt 20th-century log farmhouse complete with an apple house, barn, and working blacksmith shop.

🏛️ THE CARL SANDBURG HOME

1800 Little River Road, Flat Rock, NC 28731

Carl Sandburg was a well-known poet who lived in Asheville, North Carolina, from 1878 until 1967. At this home near Flat Rock, he wrote a great deal of wonderful poetry in his final days.

The Carl Sandburg residence is open to the public for free.

🏛️ WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AIR MUSEUM

Hendersonville, NC 28792 1340 E Gilbert St

The Western North Carolina Air Museum is an excellent aircraft museum that offers events for people of all ages. This museum’s mission is to present the history and evolution of aviation. Visitors will be able to examine 1917 aircraft and even get to touch and sit on one.

For more on the helicopter rides, plane exhibitions, and car shows at the Western North Carolina Air Museum, see their website. Donations are much welcomed but not required for admission.

🏛️ MUSEUM OF THE CHEROKEE INDIAN

589 Tsali Boulevard, Cherokee, NC 28719

The Cherokee Indian Museum is a non-profit cultural arts organization whose mission is to preserve and promote knowledge of Cherokee Native American heritage.

Both rotating and permanent exhibits with images, videos, artifacts, and other local historical resources will be available to visitors. There’s also an excellent education program and a museum store.

🏛️ DALE’S WHEELS THROUGH TIME MUSEUM

62 Vintage Ln, Maggie Valley, NC 28751.

A museum dedicated to vintage American automobiles, Dale’s Wheels features over 300 distinct and vintage cars and motorcycles. Thousands of visitors from all around the world visit this top museum each year to view vehicles that aren’t found anywhere else.

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Conclusion

Numerous museums and cultural centers showcase the wealth of sights and activities that Asheville and its surroundings have to offer amazingly. From family-friendly attractions to scientific museums and a wealth of resources to learn about the creative and historical heritage of Asheville and North Carolina, you can find almost anything here. We hope you see some of these fantastic exhibitions while you are in this amazing city.