TABLE OF
CONTENTS

THE WALDENSIAN MUSEUM

IMPORTANT
INFORMATION

The Waldensian Museum is dedicated to preserving the rich heritage and culture of the Waldensian settlers. It features several rooms and thousands of items that date back to the earliest immigrants, including: clothing, tools, books, pictures, and household items.

In 1947, the Session of the Waldensian Presbyterian Church appointed an Historical Committee to collect and arrange a place "to preserve anything relating to the early settling of Valdese." For eight years, items were stored in a room too small for display. Then, in 1955, they were displayed in the Tron Hall section of the Church. The collection continued to grow.

In 1968, Tron Hall was renovated to more adequately display the items. Appreciation of the collection grew, and hundreds of visitors came from far and near.

As a result of the growing collection, inadequate display space, and an increasing number of visitors, plans for a new museum building were drawn up. The congregation gave unanimous approval, and in 1973, the building was constructed on the corner of Rodoret Street and St. Germain Avenue.

In 2005, the museum underwent an expansion that effectively doubled its display space while adding an orientation room, a genealogy room, and an elevator. As was the previous building, the new structure is Waldensian in its exterior characteristics. The interior has been arranged in a variety of excellent displays, including photographs, clothing, crafts, home furnishings, church furnishings, farm implements, carpentry tools, wine making apparatus, toys, and miscellaneous items. Several books relating to Waldensian history are available for sale.

Currently, there are no regular hours scheduled for tours, but if you would like to visit the museum, you can contact them at the numbers listed below and someone will be made available to show you around. Admission to the museum is free and donations are appreciated.

The Waldensian Museum is owned solely by the Waldensian Presbyterian Church and is maintained and staffed by volunteers. Hundreds of special tour groups and thousands of visitors from 36 states and 23 foreign nations have toured the museum.

Tours are conducted Tuesday through Friday at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and other times by appointment only. Admission is $2.00 adult and $1.00 student.

For information or to arrange a tour, call: (828) 874-1111 or write to The Museum Committee at P.O. Box 111, Valdese, NC  28690. You can also visit their website at: www.waldensianheritagemuseum.com.

For information on a complete tour of Valdese, including the Waldensian Museum, click here.

Click here to return to the Attractions page.