Opening Day at Banner House Museum

The Banner House Museum celebrates opening day for its 2025 season with free admission on June 7.

The museum, located in the 1865 home built by one of the town’s founders, Samuel Banner, tells the history of Banner Elk and demonstrates what life was like in the North Carolina mountains during the mid to late 1800s.

Museum visitors encounter period furnishings, farm tools, hand-stitched quilts, vintage clothing, photographs and paintings. All rooms are arranged to depict the culture of the late 19th century, and volunteer docents lead daily tours. The museum is owned and operated by the Greater Banner Elk Heritage Foundation.

Each season brings a different featured exhibit on the main floor of the house and the staff will unveil the featured exhibit for the 2025 season, which runs through September.

Opening day will also be a “listening day” as part of the kick off of an oral history project.