The mountains of western North Carolina are breathtaking. However, it wasn’t always an easy place to live. For many women, life in the Southern Appalachians was hard with raising children on very little means, caring for families and making a living in an isolated part of America. No matter the circumstances, these women faced whatever came their way with determination, grit and grace.
Some women achieved prominence in the arts, government, education and social causes while others achieved success through raising productive children. Regardless of their status, it is stories of these ordinary women leading extraordinary lives that must be preserved and shared to inspire future generations.
The Appalachian Women’s Museum is an all-volunteer organization, who has worked to open the doors of the Monteith Farmstead in Dillsboro, North Carolina to house and retell these stories through a living museum. The Monteith Farmhouse is finishing renovations and the AWM Board is actively planning exhibits working with WCU Mountain Heritage Center, WCU History Department, WCU School of Business and the Cherokee Preservation Foundation.
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