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Town of Wilkesboro
Welcome to the town of Wilkesboro, where the mountains begin!
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      • - - Step 1) Zoning/Planning
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      • Schedule of Fees FY 20-21
      • Town Forms
    • For Visitors
      • Wilkesboro Tourism Development Authority
      • Attraction Maps
      • Civic Center Rental Information
      • Historic Wilkesboro Tour
      • Parks & Recreation
      • - - Cub Creek Park
      • - - Mountain Bike Trails
      • - - Community Commons & Pavilion Stage
      • - - Heritage Square Splash Pad
      • - - Rolling Pines Disc Golf Course
      • - - Wilkesboro Campground
      • Wilkes Co. Birding Trails
      • Wilkes Heritage Museum
      • Wilkes Transportation Options
      • Wilkesboro Sundial
      • Wilkesboro Music & Festivals
      • - - Brushy Mtn. Peach & Heritage Festival
      • - - Carolina in the Fall
      • - - Concerts in the Commons
      • - - Faithfest
      • - - Merlefest
      • - - Movies on Main
      • Yadkin River Greenway
  • I Want To...
    • Apply...
      • Town Job
      • Committees/Boards Application
      • Police Permits
      Contact...
      • Employee or Dept.
      • Help by Topic
      • Wilkes Resource Guide
      • Federal or State Government
      Get...
      • Account Balance
      • ACH Authorization Form
      • Attraction Maps
      • Building Inspection
      • Directions to Wilkesboro
      • Fire Inspection
      • Holiday Schedule
      • Recycling Information
      • Town Forms
      • Utilities Turned On
      • Utilities Turned Off
      • Water Quality Report
      Lookup...
      • Account Balance
      • Meeting Agendas & Minutes
      • Schedule of Fees
      • Transportation Options
      • Wilkesboro's Mapping / GIS
      • Wilkesboro's Ordinances
      Pay...
      • Civic Center Rental
      • Parking Ticket
      • Police Report
      • Town Taxes
      • Utility Bill
      Pickup...
      • Civic Center Key
      Report...
      • Report Missing Street Sign
      • Report Nuisance Animal
      • Report Pothole/Sidewalk Issue
      • Report Rollout Cart Problem
      • Report Street/Traffic Light Outage
      • Report Water/Sewer Problem
      • Report Other Issues/Problems
      Request...
      • Request Appointment
      • Request Civic Center Reservation
      • Request Fire Education Event
      • Request Utility Bill thru Email
      Schedule...
      • Bulky Item Collection
      • Electronics Recycling
      • Recycling Collection
      • Trash Collection
      • Yard Waste Collection
      • Schedule-Service Online
  • Town Government
    • Government
      • Local Government in NC
      • How NC Municipalities Work
      • What is Powell Bill?
      • Town's Budgets & Audits
      • Town's Financial Dashboard
      • Town's Form of Government
      • Town's Holiday Schedule
      • Town's Ordinances
      • Town's Organizational Chart
      • Town's Schedule of Fees - FY 20-21
      • 2019 ADA Transition Plan
      • 2020 ADA Transition Plan
      • Title VI Civic Rights Act
      Wilkesboro's History
      • Wilkesboro's History Overview
      • Tory Oak History
      • Wilkesboro's Cemetery Records
      • Library's Genealogy Room
      • Wilkes Genealogical Society, Inc.
      • Wilkes Heritage Museum
      • History Links
      Town Council
      • Meet Your Governing Board
      • Responsibilities
      • Code of Ethics
      • FAQ
      • Meeting Schedule
      • Agenda & Minutes
      • History of Town Board
      ABC Board
      • Board Responsibilities
      • Board Members
      • Meetings Schedule
      • ABC Webpage
      Cemetery Board
      • Board Responsibilities
      • Board Members
      • Meeting Schedule
      Historic Pres. Commission
      • Board Responsibilities
      • Board Members
      • Meeting Schedule
      • Agenda & Minutes
      • Historic Downtown Grants
      Landscape Planning & Review Board
      • Board Responsibilities
      • Board Members
      • Meeting Schedule
      • Agenda & Minutes
      Parks & Recreation Board
      • Board Responsibilities
      • Board Members
      Planning Board
      • Board Responsibilities
      • Board Members
      • Meeting Schedule
      • Agenda & Minutes
      Small Town Main Street
      • Board Responsibilities
      • Committees
      Tourism Dev Authority Board
      • Board Responsibilities
      • Board Members
      • Meeting Schedule
      Zoning Board of Adjustments
      • Board Responsibilities
      • Board Members
      • Meeting Schedule
      • Agenda & Minutes
  • Departments
    • Administration
      • Dept. Overview
      Finance
      • Dept. Overview
      • Accounts Payable
      • Cemetery Collections
      • Civic Center Rental
      • Beer/Wine License
      • Purchasing & Contracts
      • Taxes
      • Utility Billing
      Fire
      • Dept. Overview
      • Burning Permit
      • F.A.Q.
      • Fire Education Event
      • Fire Hydrant Testing
      • Fire Inspections
      • Fire Roster
      • How to Apply to FD
      • Meeting Schedule
      • Retired Firemen History
      • Fire Chief History
      Parks & Recreation
      • Dept. Overview
      • Community Commons & Pavilion Stage
      • - - Heritage Square Splash Pad
      • Cub Creek Park
      • - - Community Garden
      • - - Hidden Oaks Dog Park
      • - - Mountain Bike Trails
      • - - Creek Restoration
      • Rolling Pines Disc Golf Course
      • School Street Park
      • Westwood Park
      • Wilkesboro Campground
      Personnel & Payroll
      • Dept. Overview
      Planning & Community Dev't
      • Dept. Overview
      • Adopted Plans
      • Forms
      • Maps
      • Wilkesboro GIS
      • Wilkesboro's Ordinances
      Police
      • Dept. Overview
      • Annual Reports
      • Comment/Complaint Section
      • Crime Data & Statistics
      • Directions to Police Dept.
      • Parking Tickets
      • Police Chief History
      • Police Permits
      • Police Reports
      • Police Roster
      Public Works
      • Dept. Overview
      • Powell Bill
      • Public Buildings
      • Streets
      • Water & Sewer Construction
      Sanitation
      • Dept. Overview
      • Bulky Item Collection
      • Curbside Trash
        • Trash/Recycle Listing by Streets
      • Trash/Recycle Listing by Streets
      • Curbside Recycling
        • Curbside Recycling Schedule
      • Electronics Recycling-By Appt Only
      • Non-curbside Recyclable Items
      • Recycling Centers
      • Curbside Yard Waste Collection
      • Seasonal Curbside Leaf Collection
      Utilities
      • Cross Connection Control
      • NC Water & Wastewater Rates Dashboard
      • Wastewater / Sewer Plant
      • Water Filtration Plant
  • For Residents
    • Civic Center Rental Information
    • - - Online Reservation Form
    • Cemetery Plots & Information
    • Wilkesboro Utilities
    • - - Report Water/Sewer Problem
    • Other Utility Providers
    • Schedule of Fees FY 20-21
    • Wilkesboro Sanitation
    • - - Recycle/Trash Days by Street
    • - - Recycle Schedule
    • - - Request Rollout Cart Repair
    • - - Schedule Bulky Item Collection
    • - - Schedule Electronics Recycling
    • - - Schedule Yard Waste Collection
    • Report a Problem Form
    • - - Report Missing Street Sign
    • - - Report Pothole / Sidewalk Problem
    • - - Report Street Light Outage
    • Transportation
  • For Business
    • Wilkes Co. Economic Development
    • - - NC Dept. of Commerce ~ Wilkes Co Profile
    • - - Wilkesboro Livability Magazine
    • - - Transportation
    • How to Start a Business in NC
    • How to Start a Business in Wilkesboro
    • - - Step 1) Zoning/Planning
    • - - Step 2) Sign Permit
    • - - Step 3) Request Fire Inspections
    • - - Step 4) Water/Sewer Service
    • - - Step 5) Beer/Wine Application
    • - - All Building Inspections - inside Town and County
    • - - All Food Inspections
    • Meeting Space Rental Information
    • - - Online Reservation Form
    • Other Utility Providers for Business
    • Outside Trash Providers for Business
    • Schedule of Fees FY 20-21
    • Town Forms
  • For Visitors
    • Wilkesboro Tourism Development Authority
    • Attraction Maps
    • Civic Center Rental Information
    • Historic Wilkesboro Tour
    • Parks & Recreation
    • - - Cub Creek Park
    • - - Mountain Bike Trails
    • - - Community Commons & Pavilion Stage
    • - - Heritage Square Splash Pad
    • - - Rolling Pines Disc Golf Course
    • - - Wilkesboro Campground
    • Wilkes Co. Birding Trails
    • Wilkes Heritage Museum
    • Wilkes Transportation Options
    • Wilkesboro Sundial
    • Wilkesboro Music & Festivals
    • - - Brushy Mtn. Peach & Heritage Festival
    • - - Carolina in the Fall
    • - - Concerts in the Commons
    • - - Faithfest
    • - - Merlefest
    • - - Movies on Main
    • Yadkin River Greenway

Wilkes Heritage Museum 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Open 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
          Monday - Friday 
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home page > town government menu > wilkesboro's history menu > wilkes heritage museum

WILKES HERITAGE MUSEUM

wilkes heritage museum street view  
Wilkes Heritage Museum, Inc. is a private, non-profit organization formed in 1968 (as Old Wilkes Inc.) to celebrate Wilkes County's rich, unique heritage as it seeks to preserve the past.

The museum was originally built as the Wilkes County Courthouse. In 1902, over 100 Masons paraded to the building site and lifted the cornerstone into place.  A sealed time capsule was placed behind the cornerstone, where it remains to this day. The facade is a white brick Neoclassical Revival building and one of few survivors designed by Wheeler and Range. 

In the 1950s, the wings that you see now were added to each side of the courthouse to provide needed space.  The brick on the new wings did not match that of the original structure, so the entire exterior was painted white.oldcourt

The courthouse formed the heart of downtown historic Wilkesboro. Court days were social events during which people gathered on the courthouse lawn to hear proceedings & verdicts.

Wilkesboro was founded in 1847 and was named for the English political radical John Wilkes, an outspoken opponent of English loyalists during the Revolutionary War.  General William Lenoir divided the downtown land into a grid of streets and lots, with this public square in the middle for the courthouse and public facilities.

The old courthouse building is now home to the Wilkes Heritage Museum.  The museum opened in November 2005, with hundreds of artifacts on display. Additionally, the museum educational site includes the Wilkes Heritage Jail, 1779 log home of Captain Robert Cleveland, and the late 19th century Finley Law Office, which all have been was restored to their original appearances.

The Wilkes Heritage Museum educational site has undoubtedly contributed to the education and culture of the county's present and future. Through a collection of artifacts and images, numerous stories of early settlement, military history, industry, agriculture, medicine, communication, education, entertainment, and transportation are told. Among the artifacts is a real moonshine still. 

Did you know that Wilkes County was once known as the “Moonshine Capital of the World"?  Would you be surprised to learn that many of the first NASCAR race drivers learned their craft hauling moonshine and evading the law?” In the museum, you’ll also find NASCAR memorabilia, one of Junior Johnson’s racing cars, military uniforms and equipment, pottery from the area, as well as information about the area’s rich musical heritage.  

You will also find information on the “Siamese twins” Chang and Eng Bunker, who were a popular attraction in the 1800s throughout Asia, Europe, and North America.  The Bunker twins, born in Siam, settled in Wilkes County in the 1850s and married two local sisters.  Between them, they fathered 21 children.

The Wilkes Heritage Museum is also home to the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame, which will open in June 2008 with 10 initial inductees, including legends like Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs, Dolly Parton, and the Carter Family. 

OLD WILKES JAIL

The Old Wilkes Jail was completed in 1860 and is one of the few 19th-century prisons still standing. The Old Wilkes Jail held Union prisoners and stored Confederate provisions and ammunition during the civil war.

Tom Dooley was one of the famous inmates of the jail, pictured in the photo on the right.  Tom Dooley was a Confederate soldier who was tried and hanged shortly after the Civil War for the murder of his fiancée, Laura Foster.  You may be familiar with the song about this story, “Hang Down Your Head Tom Dooley,” made popular by the Kingston Trio.  

Another famous inmate was notorious escape artist Otto Wood.  Otto escaped from 10 jails and prisons over his lifetime.  The Old Wilkes Jail is the only jail that Otto never escaped from.  Can you figure out why?  In case you can’t stand the suspense:  the door and frame to the Old Wilkes Jail are embedded with nails set 1 inch apart, so that prisoners could not saw through the door.

ROBERT CLEVELAND LOG HOME 

The Robert Cleveland house is the oldest house remaining in Wilkes County, originally built in 1779 in Western Wilkes County.  The building was moved to Wilkesboro in the mid-1980s and restored. This was the home of Robert Cleveland, gentleman farmer, and his family of 17 children.  As you can see, it is not a large building.  Can you imagine so many people living in this one house? Robert was the brother of Colonel Benjamin Cleveland, who also lived in Wilkes County, and who led forces from this area to the Battle of Kings Mountain during the Revolutionary War.    

THOMAS B. FINLEY LAW OFFICE

This 19th-century building originally served as the Finley Law Office.  It is a diminutive, well-preserved carpenter gothic building. 

Thomas B. Finley was an influential businessman and lawyer.  He was one of the men who planned and founded the town of North Wilkesboro.  He was also the first man to advocate the establishment of the Bank of North Wilkesboro, and he served as a director of this bank.

WE INVITE YOU TO VISIT THE MUSEUM   

By purchasing a ticket to the Wilkes Heritage Museum, click here, which also gives you full access to the Old Wilkes Jail and the Robert Cleveland Log House. The Law Office is restored and rented out to a retail business.

    

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P.O. Box 1056 • 203 West Main Street • Wilkesboro, NC 28697 •  336-838-3951 3 3 6 8 3 8 3 9 5 1

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