The Mountain Gateway Museum will host the 21st Century Packhorse Librarians on March 1 to distribute free books.
The free, family friendly event will take place at the museum’s new location (78-C Catawba Ave., Old Fort, NC) from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Books ranging from children’s board books, to young adult titles, adult fiction, poetry, and more, will be available.
Inspired by the Packhorse Librarians of the 1930s who brought books to the community, Kirsten Turner launched a modern take on the group following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. The 1930s version was part of the Works Progress Administration programs delivering books to the communities of the Appalachian Mountains in Kentucky, while employing around 200 women. Often these women rode or walked into town on horses or mules loaded with books. Turner will deliver books from a trailer instead of a horse.
For more information, please call the museum at 828-785-9528 or visit our website at mgmnc.org. To learn more about the 21st Century Packhorse Librarians, visit them on Facebook at 21st Century Packhorse Librarians.
About Mountain Gateway Museum
A regional branch of the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh, the Mountain Gateway Museum & Heritage Center (MGM) is the westernmost facility in the N.C. Department of Natural & Cultural Resources’ Division of State History Museums.
Nestled at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of historic Mill Creek in downtown Old Fort (McDowell County), the museum uses artifacts, exhibitions, educational programs, living history demonstrations, and special events to teach people about the rich history and cultural heritage of the state’s mountain region, from its original inhabitants through early settlement and into the 20th century.
As part of its education outreach mission, MGM also assists non-profit museums and historic sites in 38 western NC counties with exhibit development and fabrication, genealogical research, photography archives, traveling exhibitions, and consultations.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.