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waterfall at Rock City, NC

Explore North Carolina’s Cherokee Past

A Cherokee man with a bow.
August 30, 2013

Murphy, North Carolina’s rich and complex history is brought to life at the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway . Located minutes away from our Blue Ridge mountain cabins, the Cherokee County Historical Museum explores the legacy of Native American society and European settlement in the area. Housed in the historic Carnegie Library building in downtown Murphy, the museum is next door the Cherokee County Courthouse. Open weekdays from 9:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m., museum entrance costs $3.00 for adults and $1.00 for children.

Exhibits at the Cherokee County Historical Museum profile the history of the Cherokee Nation in North Carolina. These exhibits include over 2,000 Cherokee artifacts assembled by local resident Arthur Palmer over a span of fifty years. In addition to Palmer’s impressive collection, Louise Kilgore, another local resident, donated over 700 collectible dolls to the museum. The museum also features 40 exhibit panels with drawings and photographs of Cherokee history and culture and an assortment of antique farm implements and household items used by European settlers in the region.

After learning about Murphy, North Carolina’s fascinating history, you can enjoy its natural beauty at our Blue Ridge mountain cabins. Nestled in one of the most scenic areas in the South east, Mountain Country Cabin Rentals offers incredible views of Murphy’s gorgeous mountains. With opportunities for hiking, swimming, horseback riding and fishing, it is easy to see why the Cherokees and European settlers both considered North Carolina to be a paradise. Visit our Cabins page to find the perfect lodging for your next vacation!