Changes improve visitor experience
Murphy – The Cherokee County Historical Museum is inside a building from 1922. Renovations began the second week of September to expand the space and create a more inclusive experience for visitors.
Museum Director Terrisa Carringer said the greatest challenge was securing funding.
“We were able to secure a grant from (the Cherokee County Tourism Development Authority) and and received a generous anonymous donation of $10,000,” she said. “The Town of Murphy has also been a huge help. They’ve given us the building, covered revamping the electric in the building and have ensured necessary safety upgrades have been made.”
The museum accepts donations in person, by mail or over the phone, but above everything they want to encourage local residents to visit. They hope to finish renovations at the beginning of December and hold a grand opening for the newly renovated portions come spring.
The renovations had several goals in mind, but the goal is to make the museum more accessible to everyone. They are moving the entrance so all visitors come in the same set of doors and can skip the stairs. They’re also going to move all of the Native American jewelry, pottery and other artifacts so they are kept together.
“One thing we’re most excited about is the creation of our research room, “ said Trevis Hicks, president of the museum’s board of directors. “People have always been able to come in and do research, but it’s been on a table in the middle of the museum. Now we’re going to have a room dedicated to this so that people can learn more about Cherokee County, the area’s history or their family.”
Another exciting portion of the renovations is the installation of an audio/visual room, where the museum plans to show pertinent films about the community.
“We’re hoping to get the Early College involved to produce films we could have available,” Hicks said.
The renovations will also allow the museum to store all artifacts on site rather than paying for storage options elsewhere.
“Terrisa has designed the layout and plans from the ground up. She’s managed the day to day and is the one really making this project happen,” Hicks said.
“I knew we needed the space and that the museum deserved the upgrades, but overall I wanted to utilize the space in a way that would better serve the local community and not just cater to visitors,” Carringer added.
She said there’s so much to see at the museum today. They’ve made accessibility a major focus for this project to ensure all members of the community can have an enjoyable experience with a lower-level entrance, easy access to the elevator and less crowded displays.
The Cherokee County Historical Museum would love to see more field trips with students visiting.
“Billy Ray Palmer, one of the local historians, goes into the schools to help teach students about Cherokee history. He’s also helped do tours here at the museum when we get field trips scheduled,” Carringer said.
The facility would love to start doing more “Night at the Museum” events, like the ones they have done in the past to encourage students to learn more about the area they live in.
The renovations won’t be done here because Carringer has big plans for the museum’s future.
“We’d like to redo the Cherokee displays downstairs. We have beautiful pieces we will be able to display with these renovations, but we’d like to make the room full of reading material more interactive,” she said. “We have a real Cherokee cabin from Kentucky and want the rest of the room to match that unique factor.”
Carringer expressed gratitude for everyone who has helped to make this possible through grants, donations and service.
“More than anything,” she said, “I just hope we’re making people proud of what’s here.”
Details: Carringer can be contacted via email at cchistoricalmuseum@gmail.com; Hicks can be reached at trevhicks007@gmail.com.
Want to go?
What: Cherokee County Historical Museum.
- Where: 87 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy.
- When: From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed from noon-1 p.m.
- Admission: $5 for adults; $2 for ages 6-17.
- Details: Visit cchistoricalmuseum.com.