McMinn County Living Heritage Museum

The McMinn County Living Heritage Museum showcases the rich history and culture of the region through dozens of permanent and rotating exhibits​. More than 30 exhibit areas depict life in McMinn County from the Cherokee and pioneer eras through the 20th century – including a pioneer log cabin, a Victorian parlor, a general store, and artifacts from the 1946 “Battle of Athens” GI rebellion​​. The museum also hosts bi-monthly changing exhibits and is renowned for its annual quilt shows (one of the South’s largest) each spring and a Japanese quilt exhibit each fall​. Interactive children’s exhibits and educational programs encourage hands-on learning for young visitors​. Housed in a spacious two-story facility, the museum is open Tuesday–Saturday with a modest admission fee (members and children free). It’s a centerpiece of local heritage preservation in McMinn County.