Museum of Appalachia celebrates region’s culture
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“Dr. Carvenstein,” otherwise known as Ken Clayton, shows some visitors to the Museum of Appalachia’s Fall Heritage Days event last Thursday how he does “old-school freestyle” pumpkin carving. He’s turning this one into “Baby Shark.” Next to him is his wife, Lauren Love. - G Chambers Williams III
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Beth Cannon of Oak Ridge demonstrates the art of “rug hooking” with yarn to a group of visitors to the Museum of Appalachia’s Fall Heritage Days event last Thursday, Nov. 2. - G Chambers Williams III
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Potter Stan Taylor of Morristown throws a pot during last Thursday’s Fall Heritage Days event at the Museum of Appalachia in Norris. Looking on are Elizabeth Wilson and her son Mikey, 8, of Heiskell, along with another child (left) who was not identified. - G Chambers Williams III
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Karin Foust of Medford talks about the art of spinning wool into yarn during last week’s Fall Heritage Days event at the Museum of Appalachia in Norris. - G Chambers Williams III
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Andy, a draught horse from Stooksbury’s Sorghum Mill, pulls the mill to grind up sorghum cane during the Museum of Appalachia Fall Heritage event. - G Chambers Williams III
Thousands of guests, including school groups from all over the Knoxville area, explored the grounds of the Museum of Appalachia in Norris last Thursday and Friday as the museum held its annual Fall Heritage Festival.
The crowd was even better than expected, the museum staff reported, aided by sunny and mild fall weather.
More than 1,500 advance tickets were sold, so the museum was already expecting a good turnout, but the crowd swelled far beyond
that as people continued to pour in on both
days.
There were more than 100 home-school groups from Knoxville, along with plenty of public-school groups who came.
The event featured more than 20 exhibitors who demonstrated such activities as sheep shearing, sheep herding, weaving, soap carving, wool spinning, blacksmithing, bean stringing, sorghum making, rug hooking, pumpkin carving, beekeeping and more.
Bluegrass bands and other entertainers showcased Appalachian music and storytelling throughout the day.
The Museum of Appalachia is a working demonstration farm, which also has a collection of Appalachian farm buildings, artifacts, implements and even some animals.
Museum staff and volunteers helped herd cars into parking lots, and visitors into the barns and animal pen areas where some of the events took place.
The Museum of Appalachia, at 2819 Andersonville Highway, comprises more than 65 acres with a re-created Appalachian community complete with 35 log cabins, barns, farm animals, churches, schools and gardens.
It displays more than 250,000 artifacts in three buildings, with vast collections of folk art, musical instruments, baskets, quilts, Native American items and more. There is also a restaurant featuring Southern Appalachian country cooking,
along with a gift shop selling locally made crafts.
The museum, founded by John Rice Irwin in 1969, is a non-profit
organization that is also an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution.
G. Chambers Williams III | The Courier News
“Dr. Carvenstein,” otherwise known as Ken Clayton, shows some visitors to the Museum of Appalachia’s Fall Heritage Days event last Thursday how he does “old-school freestyle” pumpkin carving. He’s turning this one into “Baby Shark.” Next to him is his wife, Lauren Love.
G. Chambers Williams III | The Courier News
Beth Cannon of Oak Ridge demonstrates the art of “rug hooking” with yarn to a group of visitors to the Museum of Appalachia’s Fall Heritage Days event last Thursday, Nov. 2.
G. Chambers Williams III | The Courier News
Potter Stan Taylor of Morristown throws a pot during last Thursday’s Fall Heritage Days event at the Museum of Appalachia in Norris. Looking on are Elizabeth Wilson and her son Mikey, 8, of Heiskell, along with another child (left) who was not identified.
G. Chambers Williams III | The Courier News
Karin Foust of Medford talks about the art of spinning wool into yarn during last week’s Fall Heritage Days event at the Museum of Appalachia in Norris.