Grandfather Mountain, Nature on a Whole Different Level

Nature Museum

The Grandfather Mountain Nature Museum houses more than two dozen excellent exhibits designed to elucidate guests about the natural history of Grandfather Mountain and the surrounding region.

animal exhibit

The principal designer of the exhibits for the Grandfather Mountain Nature Museum was Dr. Rolland Hower, former Chief of Natural History Exhibits for the Smithsonian Institution.

As guests enter the gallery, they encounter the finest collection of North Carolina gems and minerals available on public display. The cases contain some 62 different kinds of minerals (350 specimens in all) including crystals of the state's famed emeralds and rubies and the largest amethyst ever found in North America. The collection also features the finest group of Tar Heel gold specimens exhibited anywhere.

Other exhibits showcase the birds of North Carolina, early explorers to visit Grandfather Mountain including Daniel Boone, Andre Michaux and Asa Gray, Native American artifacts found on Grandfather Mountain, a scale model of the Mountain, and photo exhibits about each of the animals found in the Mountain's wildlife habitats.

Paul MarchandIn addition, guests will be enthralled by the life-like wax models of wildflowers, berries and mushrooms found on Grandfather crafted by the late Paul Marchand. During his lifetime, Marchand was the world's leading creator of artificial plant life. Only the museum in his hometown of Buffalo, New York, contains more of his work than the Grandfather Mountain Nature Museum.

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What People Say…

" President Theodore Roosevelt said one must visit the Grand Canyon before they die. I say one must also visit Grandfather Mountain. They are both "Grand." I lost my father to cancer many years ago and now I have a terminally ill mother. Going to the top of the mountain & crossing the bridge to the rocks I finally felt at peace. I was so proud of my 7 year old son crossing the Swinging Bridge on his first attempt. "

Stephen

Naperville, IL