Housed in the historic Shelton House, this small museum focuses on the traditional craft traditions of western North Carolina and the broader Appalachian region — pottery, weaving, quilting, furniture-making, basketry, and metalwork. The collections document the craft lineages that stretch back to the original Scots-Irish and English settlers of the mountains, as well as the Cherokee traditions that predate European settlement.
The Shelton House itself is an attractive late 19th-century structure that was restored and adapted for museum use. The museum is worth a stop for anyone interested in Appalachian material culture, and the gift shop sells high-quality crafts by local makers at fair prices.