Mystery Hill, Appalachian Heritage Museum and The Native American Artifacts Museum

Visitors will experience strange phenomena which some believe is attributed to a gravitational anomaly known as a vortex, learn about the ancient native people of the area, and see what it would have been like to live at the turn of the century at the Mystery Hill museums.

Preview your trip on the web: Mystery Hill, Appalachian Heritage Museum and The Native American Artifacts Museum

Learn more

• The Mississippian Moundbuilders and Their Artifacts Virtual display of artifacts left behind by Mississipian moundbuilders beginning in the 10th century A.D.
• Exploratorium — the museum of science, art and human perception Interactive, multimedia online exhibits that incorporate hands-on activities, audio, video, images, webcasts, and more that will teach you and your students about such topics as satellites, astronomy, Earth, machines, biology, languages, the human body, and lots more.
• Lesson plan: Pottery traditions Students will learn how Indian people of North Carolina made and used coiled pottery, summarize why archaeologists study pottery, and make and decorate a replica of a North Carolina coiled pot.
• Questacon A huge variety of interactives and mini websites about science and technology topics. Kids can investigate a carcass to determine how it was killed, research science and technology careers, learn about tornadoes, design a roller coaster, and tons more. Most of these features are accompanied by teacher guides.
• Lesson plan: Why is the past important? As an introduction to the study of North Carolina's archaeological heritage, students will use personally owned object to share the importance of their past and connect this importance with reasons why the human past is important.

Related pages

• Horizons Unlimited: This wonderful education center and museum provides hands-on programs for students in the areas of history and the physical and biological sciences.
• Museum of the Cherokee Indian: Official site of the museum of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina.
• Junaluska Memorial and Museum: Named an interpretive site along the Trail of Tears, the Junaluska Memorial and Museum "highlights the unique place Graham County has in the history of the Cherokee."

Related topics

• Learn more about American Indians, Cherokee Indians, North Carolina, Watauga County, history museums, optical illusions, physics, and science.

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These museums let students experience puzzling physical phenomena plus the opportunity to learn about the area’s history. Along with Mystery Hill, there are two adjacent museums, the Appalachian Heritage Museum and the Native American Artifacts Museum.

Mystery House began in 1949 when William Hudson noticed strange phenomena occurring on his land. "Visitors will experience themselves leaning at angle as they walk through the house. Broomsticks appear to stand on end with no means of support. Balls seem to roll uphill. The museum contains the Hall of Mystery — an ample collection of well-known and obscure optical illusion displays including the Spooky Spigot, Magic Light bulb, holograms and the Flying Mirror."

The Dougherty House, which was built in 1903 by brothers D.D. and B.B. Dougherty, the founders of Appalachian State University, houses the Appalachian Heritage Museum. It was the first home in Watauga County to have electricity and running water. It contains turn-of-the-century antiques and information about the Dougherty family.

The Native American Artifacts Museum began over 60 years ago with a handful of arrowheads and has grown into a collection of more than 50,000 Native American artifacts. The collection includes arrowheads, spearheads, knives, stone scrapers, moccasins, hide-manufacturing tools, pipes, bowls, pottery, bows and arrows from a wide range of time periods. Some even date back to 10,000 years ago.

An all-day pass gives visitors entry to four areas - the Mystery House, Hall of Mystery, Appalachian Heritage Museum and Native American Artifacts Museum. Located on Highway 321 between Boone and Blowing Rock, Mystery Hill is open seven days a week all year. Memorial Day through Labor Day: From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. After Labor Day: From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Contact: 828-264-2792.

In addition, see the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction documentary Cherokee: The Principle People

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