I had heard of the Museum of Appalachia back in 2012 at the Smokey Mountain Banjo Academy.  A fellow attendee said she lived nearby and that they had a wonderful collection of Banjos that I might enjoy seeing if I was ever in the area.  Then earlier this summer, I ran across a “Groupon” offering 2 for 1 admission and last Wednesday, we decided to take a day trip up to that area.

The museum was founded by John Rice Irwin who began collecting a few personal items from his grandma’s home and eventually collected anything and everything he could find to preserve the history of the people of Appalachia.  From personal items, to tools and buildings, he gathered everything he could and documented it with mostly hand written signs.  Mr. Irwin knew most of the local musicians and many of them gave (or sold) him their instruments and mementos.

If you find yourself in East Tennessee and want to learn a bit about the history and people of the area, drop in to the Museum of Appalachia about 16 miles north of Knoxville, TN, on I-75 at exit 122, then east 1 mile.